One of the hosts of this year’s Eurovision song contest has said that he was not allowed to wear rainbow colours in protest of anti-gay laws across Europe.

Pilou Asbaek, who is best known as the tormented spin doctor Kasper Juul on Danish political drama Borgen, admitted that he was banned from donning the colours because Eurovision organisers said it would be tool political.

Speaking to The Guardian earlier this week, Mr Asbaek said "I asked them if I can wear rainbows. No. We're not allowed to be political. It's about music, not politics.”

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He went onto say: “But music and politics, you cannot divide them. Not in my mind.”

Mr Asbaek co-hosted the final of the competition last night alongside Lise Ronne and Nikolaj Koppel.

Although Mr Asbaek was not able to wear his rainbow-coloured motif, the winner of this year’s competition is likely to have left him smiling.

Austria’s drag act Conchita Wurst took home the top prize with her James Bond-esque song ‘Rise Like A Phoenix’.

The singer, real name Tom Neuwirth, has faced much transphobic since rising to prominence during the competition.

Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Eurovision 2014 Show all 32 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Eurovision 2014 1/32 Eurovision 2014 Conchita Wurst representing Austria performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 2/32 Eurovision 2014 Conchita Wurst representing Austria celebrates after winning the grand final of the 59th Eurovision Song Contest Reuters 3/32 Eurovision 2014 Cleo of Donatan & Cleo representing Poland performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 4/32 Eurovision 2014 Molly Smitten-Downes representing Great Britain performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Rolf Klatt REX 5/32 Eurovision 2014 Andras Kallay-Saunders representing Hungary performs during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 6/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Conchita Wurst representing Austria performs the song 'Rise Like a Phoenix' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 7/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta performs during the Eurovision Song Contest Getty Images 8/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Softengine representing Finland perform the song 'Something Better' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 9/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta performs during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 10/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Sanna Nielsen representing Sweden performs the song 'Undo' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 11/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Elaiza representing Germany perform their song 'Is it right' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 12/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Ruth Lorenzo representing Spain performs the song "Dancing in the rain" during the grand final of the 59th Eurovision Song Contest Reuters 13/32 Eurovision 2014 Sebalter representing Switzerland perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 14/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo of Belarus performs on stage during the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Getty Images 15/32 Eurovision 2014 The Tolmachevy Sisters representing Russia perform the song 'Shine' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 16/32 Eurovision 2014 Basim representing Denmark perform during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 17/32 Eurovision 2014 Basim representing Denmark perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 18/32 Eurovision 2014 Valentina Monetta representing San Marino performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 19/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 20/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Twin Twin representing France perform their song 'Moustache' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 21/32 Eurovision 2014 The Common Linnets representing The Netherlands perform during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 22/32 Eurovision 2014 Aram Mp3 representing Armenia performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 23/32 Eurovision 2014 Aram Mp3 representing Armenia performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 24/32 Eurovision 2014 From let to right: TV hosts Pilou Asbaek, Lise Ronne and Nikolaj Koppel present the Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the B&W Hallerne in Copenhagen, Denmark EPA 25/32 Eurovision 2014 Ovi of Paula Seling & Ovi representing Romania performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 26/32 Eurovision 2014 Carl Espen representing Norway performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 27/32 Eurovision 2014 Paula Seling of Paula Seling & Ovi representing Romania performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Getty Images 28/32 Eurovision 2014 Pollapoenk representing Iceland performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 29/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo representing Belarus performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 30/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Mariya Yaremchuk representing Ukraine performs the song 'Tick-Tock' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in the B&W Halls in Copenhagen, Denmark AP 31/32 Eurovision 2014 Dilara Kazimova representing Azerbaijan performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 32/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo representing Belarus performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 1/32 Eurovision 2014 Conchita Wurst representing Austria performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 2/32 Eurovision 2014 Conchita Wurst representing Austria celebrates after winning the grand final of the 59th Eurovision Song Contest Reuters 3/32 Eurovision 2014 Cleo of Donatan & Cleo representing Poland performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 4/32 Eurovision 2014 Molly Smitten-Downes representing Great Britain performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Rolf Klatt REX 5/32 Eurovision 2014 Andras Kallay-Saunders representing Hungary performs during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 6/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Conchita Wurst representing Austria performs the song 'Rise Like a Phoenix' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 7/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta performs during the Eurovision Song Contest Getty Images 8/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Softengine representing Finland perform the song 'Something Better' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 9/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta performs during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 10/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Sanna Nielsen representing Sweden performs the song 'Undo' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 11/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Elaiza representing Germany perform their song 'Is it right' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 12/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Ruth Lorenzo representing Spain performs the song "Dancing in the rain" during the grand final of the 59th Eurovision Song Contest Reuters 13/32 Eurovision 2014 Sebalter representing Switzerland perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 14/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo of Belarus performs on stage during the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Getty Images 15/32 Eurovision 2014 The Tolmachevy Sisters representing Russia perform the song 'Shine' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 16/32 Eurovision 2014 Basim representing Denmark perform during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 17/32 Eurovision 2014 Basim representing Denmark perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 18/32 Eurovision 2014 Valentina Monetta representing San Marino performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 19/32 Eurovision 2014 Firelight representing Malta perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 20/32 Eurovision 2014 The band Twin Twin representing France perform their song 'Moustache' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest AP 21/32 Eurovision 2014 The Common Linnets representing The Netherlands perform during the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest EPA 22/32 Eurovision 2014 Aram Mp3 representing Armenia performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 23/32 Eurovision 2014 Aram Mp3 representing Armenia performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 24/32 Eurovision 2014 From let to right: TV hosts Pilou Asbaek, Lise Ronne and Nikolaj Koppel present the Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the B&W Hallerne in Copenhagen, Denmark EPA 25/32 Eurovision 2014 Ovi of Paula Seling & Ovi representing Romania performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 26/32 Eurovision 2014 Carl Espen representing Norway performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 27/32 Eurovision 2014 Paula Seling of Paula Seling & Ovi representing Romania performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Getty Images 28/32 Eurovision 2014 Pollapoenk representing Iceland performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 29/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo representing Belarus performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 30/32 Eurovision 2014 Singer Mariya Yaremchuk representing Ukraine performs the song 'Tick-Tock' during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in the B&W Halls in Copenhagen, Denmark AP 31/32 Eurovision 2014 Dilara Kazimova representing Azerbaijan performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images 32/32 Eurovision 2014 Teo representing Belarus performs during the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark Getty Images

She was denounced as a “pervert” by Russian politicians Vitaly Milonov, while Vladimir Zhirinovsky said that last night’s victory was “the end of Europe”.

However, Ms Wurst took on her detractors head on, saying “I can only say ‘Thank you for your attention!’”

“If this is only about me and my person, I can live with it. I'm just a singer in a fabulous dress, with great hair and a beard,” she added in an interview with the Associated Press.

Interestingly, Israel gave 12 points to Austria, the nation is home to Dana International, the transsexual act who won the Eurovision song contest back in 1998.

Ms Wurst was declared the winner of the competition even before the all votes had been collected, scoring a total of 290.

Members of the audience in the B&W Halls in Copenhagen, Denmark were seen waving rainbow flags during the evening. Meanwhile the Icelandic entry Pollapoenk sang a song called 'No Prejudice', which called for equality for all.

Gay rights in Europe have fallen under the spotlight recently, particularly after Russia passed anti-gay laws that persecutes the LGBT community.

The Eurovision result can be seen as a triumph for the LGBT community across Europe, with many nations awarding the act 12 points.