Britain's Eurovision Song Contest entry Michael Rice has claimed he 'always knew' he would come last in the competition 'because of Brexit'.

The former X Factor hopeful, 21, claimed even Gary Barlow or Elton John would not have been able to take the crown in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday due to political bias.

He told the Sun: 'I always knew I was going to come in this position because of Brexit. Do you know what? If it was Gary Barlow or Elton John, they still probably would have come last too.

Politics: Britain's Eurovision Song Contest entry Michael Rice has claimed he 'always knew' he would come last in the competition 'because of Brexit'

'I've still had so much fun and I’ve not once doubted my talent or my singing.'

Michael placed 26th out of 26 entrants in the glamorous competition after gaining only 16 points for his performance of Bigger Than Us.

He was joined by an outfit of backing vocalists dressed in white as he broke into the song's gospel-influenced chorus.

Impossible: The former X Factor hopeful, 21, claimed even Gary Barlow or Elton John would not have been able to take the crown in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday due to political bias

He said: 'I always knew I was going to come in this position because of Brexit. Do you know what? If it was Gary Barlow or Elton John, they still probably would have come last too'

The singer was beaten to the Eurovision crown by Duncan Laurence, of the Netherlands, who won the 64th edition of the show with 492 points.

He was named the Eurovision front-runner shortly after releasing his anthemic piano ballad Arcade in March and remained the bookies' favourite ever since.

Italy's entry Mahmood followed closely behind with 465 points, followed by Russia's Sergey Lazarev with 369.

But despite Michael's unfortunate loss, the entrant took to Instagram to declare he 'absolutely f*****g smashed it, regardless of the result' on Sunday.

In a candid post, the former X Factor contestant reflected on the event, saying he was 'so happy.'

Last place: Michael placed 26th out of 26 entrants in the glamorous competition after gaining only 16 points for his performance of Bigger Than Us

'We have worked so hard everyday for the past 4 months solid, I’ve made memories for a lifetime that I will treasure & made some really good friends from this & most importantly have the best family around me,' he continued.

'We put everything into last nights performance and just had so much fun on that stage!

'There’s still a lot more to come - TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK, let’s keep climbing that chart we are number 16!!! This has been a dream come true.'

In the aftermath of the contest, Michael's family blamed Brexit for his low score, saying 'it is all political' after the former X Factor singer came last - without even a single vote from Ireland, reports the Hartlepool Mail.

'Smashed it': The singer from Hartlepool told his Instagram followers there was 'still a lot more to come' after he finished in last place in the Eurovision final

He said: ''We put everything into last nights performance and just had so much fun on that stage!' (Pictured on X Factor in 2014)

Michael's grandfather, Alan Rice, blasted the result, telling the Hartlepool Mail: 'We expected it but he should have got more than that.

'I think it is all political. But it is not everybody who gets to do something like that and he has done us proud.'

Commentator Graham Norton echoed Alan's thoughts, saying: 'Michael really does not deserve to be in last place. That is so unfair.'

The finale was watched by a peak of 8.1million viewers and an average of 7million, according to the BBC, despite calls for a boycott. Last year an average of 6.9million Brits tuned in.

Winner: Duncan Laurence, 25, of the Netherlands won the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, Israel, last night, where Britain came last

Tipped to win: Laurence on stage performing his piano ballad. He released the song in March and remained the bookies' favourite ever since

Plenty of viewers at home blamed the result on the current political climate, with one photoshopping Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage into the show as the representative revealing the jury vote from the UK.

One wrote: 'Seeing the UK finish last make me so proud to be British. They hate us because they ain’t us. Brexit means Brexit.'

Another shared a snap of the leader board, saying: 'Brexit means Brexit.'

The blame being laid at Brexit's door comes despite the UK consistently performing badly in the competition in recent years, with 2010's entry Josh Dubovie also coming dead last.