Kate St John joins the Mercury Prize panel to vote on the contenders for last year (which includes Radiohead, Goldfrapp, Gorriaz and PJ Harvey).

Sadder news is the death of John Walters – radio presenter and previously producer for John Peel. John Walters was something of a champion for Virginia’s music, in particular back in 1982 when he conducted an interview with The Ravishing Beauties, along with a live session.