Skepta wins Hyundai Mercury Prize 2016

Skepta has won this year's Hyundai Mercury Prize.

In celebration of its 25th birthday, the Award tried a new format this year; the twelve-strong shortlist was reduced to just six finalists by a judging panel including Clara Amfo, Jarvis Cocker, Wolf Alice's Ellie Rowsell and producer Naughty Boy - but, for the first time, one finalist was also chosen by a public vote.

The Great British public opted for The 1975, who joined fellow finalists Laura Mvula, Skepta, Radiohead, Michael Kiwanuka and David Bowie. Lauren Laverne hosted the live broadcast of the ceremony from the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London, reminding viewers/would-be detectives that the live performances are scheduled "in no particular order."

Bowie is the award's first posthumous finalist, and the iconic musician (and bookies' favourite) was celebrated by actor Michael C Hall's devastating performance of Lazarus, from Blackstar. Mvula's luminous show managed to make a keytar look chic - a prizeworthy move in itself - and Matt Healy (The 1975) exhibited expectedly messy, table-climbing antics.

"They wanna know how I made it to the Mercury and I told them..." Skepta bellowed, with the Prize's audience gleefully filling in the lyrics to Shut Down. Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood sent an intense video performance of Present Tense to ring in their fifth Mercury nomination, and Kiwanuka gave a heartfelt performance of the title track from his second album Love and Hate. 

Last year's champion Benjamin Clemantine put in a spellbinding turn before judge - and previous Mercury Prize recipient - Jarvis Cocker announced the overall winner. After battling constant, prophetic shrieks of "SKEPTA!!" Cocker relented - "if Bowie was looking down, this is who he'd want the Mercury Prize to go to. Skepta."

On winning the prize, Skepta said: "I want to thank every single person that made Konnichiwa happen. It's so much more than just making the music. Everyone was there for me when I was going through depressed times." Surrounded by his crew, friends and emotional family, he concluded "I don't know man - I've been trying to do this music stuff and work it out for so long. No record label, nothing, we just travel the world.

"We just did this for us - but the love is very appreciated. Kane: for life, bro. We did it. Lastly, my mum and dad. And all my friends' mums and dads, because they made us. They gave us that voice in our heads. It's love. We all won today. More love, more blessings, more greatness. Konnichiwa." 

Mercury Prize 2016 Finalists

David Bowie – Blackstar
Laura Mvula – The Dreaming Room
Michael Kiwinuka – Love and Hate
Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
Skepta – Konnichiwa
The 1975 – I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It