and jessie ware, i was speaking to, she said, it's an honour just to be here.like i'm having a lovely time putting all my fingers in the prize and enjoying myself. and i feel like there's not many artists that can do that. and i really appreciate the space that i've created for myself that other people have allowed me to be. and of course, there are a couple of people who can't be here tonight. the arctic monkeys are currently on tour. the dance act, fred, again, one of the big break—out stars of this year is absent and just the rapper. the only number one album on the list, the brutal and beautiful yard, a tongue twister, if ever there was one. he's had to pull out with illness, but we will see performances from all nine of the other acts and the winner will be revealed shortly after 10:00. yeah. and the reason that the mercury prize is so coveted, so sought it's notjust about a single or an album. it's about a body of work and the artist themselves, who they are, what they stand for. that's absolutely right. i mean, it's not about commercial success. the brit

favourites to win the prestigious award include raye, young fathers and jessie ware sport and time for

favourites to win the prestigious award include raye, young fathers and jessie ware first it was schoolse. raac has been found in theatres in dartford, cardiff, northampton and carlisle — from where our north of england correspondent danny savage reports. # and i saw herface

favourites to win the prestigious award include raye, young fathers and jessie ware sport and time forl round—up from the bbc sport centre. hello. we now know the names of the starting xv for englands rugby world cup opener on saturday and there are a couple of intriguing calls in there. alex mitchell and jonny may start against argentina in marseille despite initially missing out on the 33—man squad. mitchell was drafted in after jack van poorvliet was ruled out of the tournament and started england's final warm—up game against fiji, winning just his sixth cap. may meanwhile will start at right wing after anthony watson joined the world cup injury list. england are ranked eighth in the world and lost three of theirfour warm—up games heading into the world cup. wales number eight taulupe faletau has been passed fit to face fiji in his side's opening game in bordeaux on sunday. faletau missed all three world cup warm—up games with a calf injury but has recovered in time to win his 101st cap. the squad are confident ahead of their first match the boys were good, it is a good group and a