Sam Ryder on passing over the Eurovision torch, finding fame in his 30s and his near-disastrous Taylor Swift hug

Sam Ryder has been riding high since helping the UK earn its highest result at Eurovision since 1998.

While many have applauded him for breaking the nation’s ‘nil point curse’, he insisted it’s a title he can’t claim because in his mind there was no “curse” to begin with.

“The way I look at it, there wasn’t a curse to break,” he told The Standard. “I know we didn’t do particularly well in recent years but there’s a lot of countries that haven’t done well...

“I can’t claim that accolade.

“It was such a big effort from a wide team of positive people with the same kind of goal to not go into this thinking about the scoreboard but how we can hold and carry ourselves in front of the world in that time and not just three minutes at the end.”

Although Ryder’s humility is admirable, it was him along with his writing partners Amy Wadge and Max Wolfgang who have by default brought Eurovision back to the UK due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

While the contest has helped transition him from TikTok star to household name, the Essex native has said he won’t be putting himself forward for Eurovision 2023, and hopes to pass over the torch to a fellow fan of the competition.

“I would just love other people to experience the Eurovision,” he said. “It was such a special year to be a part of it and celebrating Ukraine.

“It was an incredibly important year for Eurovision and for music, for human kindness and solidarity in general.

“If I did it again, I’d have to ask myself, ‘What is the actual purpose? What am I chasing here?’ so no, I’d have to say it wouldn’t be in the stars for me to do it again.

“I just want someone else who is a fan of Eurovision to go in and experience and enjoy it and open the door for their career.”

Ryder also acknowledged the bittersweet circumstances in which the UK is hosting the contest in Liverpool, and shared his hope that it was be a “collaborative celebration” between the two countries as well as the winners, Kalush.

“It’s going to be amazing,” the singer said of Liverpool hosting the festivities on Ukraine’s behalf.

“Obviously it’s under bittersweet circumstances, but we’re going to do our best to celebrate Ukraine and make a really collaborative celebration, which we will rise to the occasion.”

The past few years have been a whirlwind for Ryder, who amassed 13.9million followers on TikTok after his covers went viral during the pandemic, and now calls Alicia Keys, Sia and Justin Bieber fans.

At 33, the singer is just a touch older than the usual Gen Z cohort, such as Charli D’Amelio, 18, or Addison Rae, 22, who have found fame on the app.

Living in an era where everyone wants everything now, success has become just another thing people expect to happen overnight, but Ryder has found purpose in the long game.

The All The Way Over singer said achieving notoriety in his 30s has allowed him to find validation within himself, not somewhere else, which has made his time in the spotlight all the sweeter.

Ahead of his second show at HERE, an events venue part of London's Outernet district, the artist reflected: “I really thank whatever forces were at work that success happened for me later.

“I was impatience just like everybody is when they’re in their late teens and twenties to realise their dream, to think, ‘I’m good enough to realise my dream now, why isn’t it happening?’ in a very stubborn way.

“When you get older and get to the place that I’m in, I know that my validation, happiness, purpose and fulfilment existed before people started coming to my shows so I’m not now in a position where I think I’m going to feel more validated if I’m playing in a stadium that doesn’t exist.

“I think that comes with age.”

With his debut album, There’s Nothing But Space, Man!, about to drop on Friday, December 9, currently wrapping up a European tour and another planned in 2023, the singer still has found the energy to soak up all the experiences and opportunities offered to him.

Most recently, Ryder presented an award at the MTV EMAs, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Rita Ora, Oscar-winner Taika Waititi and even borrowed Stormzy’s cab.

Yet, the cherry on top came as he sat next to Taylor Swift when she won one of her four awards on the night and got to give her a celebratory hug.

Although their first meeting almost ended in disaster when one of Swift’s £2,500 diamond Diane Kordas Jewellery earrings got caught in his hair, launching the glittering stud under singer Gayle’s shoe – and narrowly avoided being crushed.

“We had a hug when she won her award and my hair must have got caught and pulled her earring out,” he laughed about the surreal showbiz moment. “And I’m telling you, it wasn’t a Claire Accessories earring either.

“It was a serious business earring.

“Luckily, she noticed it. I didn’t even see it come out, and came back to get it afterwards. It was on the bottom of Gayle’s shoe so she was lucky she didn’t walk anywhere otherwise she would have stood on it.”

Reflecting on a year of an incredible highs, Ryder admitted he doesn’t take any of it for granted, in part to “knowing the grind” to get to this point.

“This world is to be taken with gratitude and as an opportunity to share my own music,” he said. “To also be reminded that the real stuff is at home and it’s after all the noise finishes and ceases that’s where the heart is for me.”

Sam Ryder’s album There’s Nothing But Space, Man! comes out on Friday, December 9