American group Antony And The Johnsons win the Mercury Prize - which should only be won by a British music artist.
Antony Hegarty of Antony And The Johnsons
Antony And The Johnsons have been named winners of the Nationwide Mercury Prize.
Their album I Am A Bird Now beat a shortlist of 12 including hot favourites Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay and The Magic Numbers.
But their victory immediately provoked controversy.
The band are American but qualify for the Brits-only £20,000 prize because singer Antony Hegarty was born in the UK.
Hegarty spent his early years in Chichester, West Sussex, and settled in the US aged 12 after a spell living in the Netherlands.
Standing 6ft 4in and with a shock of black hair, the 35-year-old has a voice as extraordinary as his looks.
It has been likened to Nina Simone and gay magazine Attitude described his album as "the gayest thing ever recorded''.
The prize was presented by Jools Holland in a ceremony at Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Hegarty said: "They must have made a mistake. I'm completely overwhelmed, I think it's insane.
"I love so many of the acts tonight and I think it's a bit bonkers to give the prize to one person. It's a bit nutty.
"It's kind of like a crazy contest between an orange and a spaceship and a potted plant and a spoon - which one do you like better?''
Antony Hegarty of Antony And The Johnsons
Antony And The Johnsons have been named winners of the Nationwide Mercury Prize.
Their album I Am A Bird Now beat a shortlist of 12 including hot favourites Kaiser Chiefs, Coldplay and The Magic Numbers.
But their victory immediately provoked controversy.
The band are American but qualify for the Brits-only £20,000 prize because singer Antony Hegarty was born in the UK.
Hegarty spent his early years in Chichester, West Sussex, and settled in the US aged 12 after a spell living in the Netherlands.
Standing 6ft 4in and with a shock of black hair, the 35-year-old has a voice as extraordinary as his looks.
It has been likened to Nina Simone and gay magazine Attitude described his album as "the gayest thing ever recorded''.
The prize was presented by Jools Holland in a ceremony at Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Hegarty said: "They must have made a mistake. I'm completely overwhelmed, I think it's insane.
"I love so many of the acts tonight and I think it's a bit bonkers to give the prize to one person. It's a bit nutty.
"It's kind of like a crazy contest between an orange and a spaceship and a potted plant and a spoon - which one do you like better?''
