Stormzy, Jorja Smith and Annie Mac are among the new judges of this year’s Mercury Prize.
The annual award will announce its 12-album shortlist on Thursday, whittled down from more than 200 entries.
They will be assessed by a 12-strong panel, made up of artists, journalists and music industry figures.
Stormzy, who made history with a storming headline set at this year’s Glastonbury, is the biggest name to enter the fold. His album Gang Signs and Prayer was nominated for the Prize back in 2017.
Smith was also given a nod by the judges, this time in 2018 for her debut LP Lost and Found.
Former Supergrass frotman Gaz Coombes is another new face on this year’s panel, as is Tshepo Mokoena, Vice’s editorial director.
Clara Amfo and Jamie Cullum are among the other artists set to be judging in 2019, with a variety of writers and broadcasters making up the rest of the panel.
Dave’s Psychodrama, Idles’ Joy As An Act of Resistance and Slowthai’s Nothing Great About Britain are currently considered among the bookies’ favourites for this year's accolade, with Black Midi, Self Esteem and Little Simz also among the hotly tipped artists.
Mercury Prize chairman David Wilkinson said: “This has been an exciting year for British and Irish music so it’s going to be tough for [the judges] choosing just 12 albums.”
Wolf Alice were the victors in 2018, praised for their album Visions of a Life. Sampha, Skepta, Benjamin Clementine and Young Fathers have also been named as winners in recent years.
