Jorja Smith joins Mercury Prize judging panel

The 22-year-old musician - along with fellow newcomer Stormzy - will join the likes of BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes and Vice.com’s editorial director Tshepo Mokoena to select the albums of the year and the overall winner.

Jorja was nominated for the Album Of The Year accolade at the Mercury Prize Awards last year for her debut release, Lost and Found.

The 2019 shortlist will be announced at a launch event on Thursday, which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music.

The judging panel, which also includes musician Jamie Cullum and broadcaster and DJ Clara Amfo along with other music journalists and broadcasters, have listened to more than 200 albums to narrow the shortlist for the industry prize down to 12.

The winner of this year’s prize will be announced at the 2019 Hyundai Mercury Prize awards show on September 19 at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London.

Last year’s prize saw rockers Wolf Alice scoop the accolade for their album Visions Of A Life, fending off competition from nominees including Lily Allen, Arctic Monkeys and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

Mercury Prize chairman David Wilkinson said: “There were over 200 albums entered for the 2019 Hyundai Mercury Prize – and the judges spend many months listening to these and then meet to decide on the shortlist of 12 albums of the year.

“This has been an exciting year for British and Irish music so it’s going to be tough for them choosing just 12 albums.

“After last year’s successful event, we’re looking forward to an equally diverse and eclectic shortlist being announced by Huw Stephens on July 25.”

The announcement continues a successful 2019 for former Aldrige School pupil Jorja, with this year seeing the star perform at Glastonbury Festival, be nominated for a Grammy Award and win the BRIT Award for Best Female Solo Artist.