PJ Harvey wins the Barclaycard Mercury Prize in London

PJ Harvey has won the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Awards tonight at London’s Grosvenor House.

The show featured performances from all of this year's shortlisted artists apart from Adele who did attend but had throat problems.

PJ thanked her manager and loyal group around her that made everything possible in a short acceptance speech for her album 'Let England Shake'.

This is the second time PJ has won the award the first time being 10 years ago just after 9/11 when she was not able to attend the event.

Simon Frith, Chair of Judges commented, “In a very fine year for British music, PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake is a record off exceptional depth, passion and imagination: a musical meditation on Englishness that is gripping and profound ”.

Polly Harvey said of her win. “Thanks for the recognition of my work on this album. It took a long time to write. I wanted to write something that was meaningful, not just for myself but for other people - something that would last. I’m delighted and happy to have won the Prize tonight because I put so much into this album. It’s wonderful to have this recognized and to have the opportunity to reach out to a wider audience”.

"I'm glad I can be here this time. 10 years ago I was looking out of my hotel window looking at the Pentagon burn".

Lauren Laverne hosted the event, with Jools Holland hosting the Awards Show itself.

Music News were on hand to witness a welcome reception to the bookies favourite coming home to win the coveted prize with her 8th album.

The 2011 shortlisted albums of the year were:

Adele 21
Anna Calvi Anna Calvi
Elbow Build a Rocket Boys!
Everything Everything Man Alive
Ghostpoet Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
Gwilym Simcock Good Days at Schloss Elmau
James Blake James Blake
Katy B On a Mission
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins Diamond Mine
Metronomy The English Riviera
PJ Harvey Let England Shake
Tinie Tempah Disc-Overy

See PJs winners press conference below: