Ex-Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall said she burst into tears when she found out her album was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize.
The singer was in Ibiza on a writing trip when she heard she was shortlisted alongside the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Raye, Suede and Olivia Dean.
Ahead of a show at Newcastle Utilita Arena when the winner will be announced, the singer from South Shields, South Tyneside, was delighted to be back in the North East at the venue where she watched acts when she was growing up.
Asked how she felt to be nominated for her album That’s Showbiz Baby! alongside Sir Paul, who was shortlisted for The Boys of Dungeon Lane, she said with some wonder: “I mean, sure, excellent.
“When it was first announced I was in Ibiza on a writing trip – not living it up – with my song-writing friends, and I got the call and I just cried, I was like ‘I can’t believe it’.
“I think especially when you do pop music, you don’t necessarily expect these sort of accolades.
“So to receive it, alongside such incredible musicians, I couldn’t ask for more.
“I am just so happy to be here whatever happens tonight, I am glad to be home, I am glad to be shortlisted, I’m glad to perform in the arena that I grew up watching shows in.
“(That’s) already winning for me, whatever happens.”
Pulp band members (left to right) Candida Doyle, Jarvis Cocker and Nick Banks attending the 2026 Mercury Music Prize awards show (Owen Humphreys/PA)
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Pulp were one of the bands that contributed to the War Child Records Help(2) album, which has been shortlisted, 30 years after they won with Different Class.
In 1996, the band gave the Mercury Prize to the War Child charity.
Singer Jarvis Cocker said: “It’s a history we’ve got, 30 years ago almost to the day is when we won it for Different Class and we gave that away to the first War Child album and here we are again representing the second War Child album and I think that’s great, there’s symmetry.
“It makes it seem like there’s something cosmic about it.”
Keyboardist Candida Doyle added: “As long as we’re not doing the same thing in 30 years.”
Drummer Nick Banks joked: “We will be pushing 50 in 30 years won’t we, so we definitely won’t be doing that.”
Suede, who won the Mercury in 1993, were nominated for their album Antidepressants and bassist Mat Osman noted how the event had changed.
He said: “It’s a lot bigger, it’s a lot more sober, the dressing room smells more of Ralgex than it did in 1993.
It’s lovely actually,
“I didn’t know if it would survive but it has been so prescient about music.
“It’s lovely to see it thriving.”
Newcastle jazz band Knats were hoping to follow Geordie hero Sam Fender, who won last year.
Bassist Stan Woodward said: “There’s some great music coming out of Newcastle.
“They have less opportunities so they have to work really hard.”
He grew up in Newcastle’s West End, close to the Arena, and was excited to perform at the venue.
He said: “It’s mental, it’s crazy, we’re here rocking.”
Kojey Radical, nominated for Don’t Look Down, said: “The beauty of the Mercury is it celebrates difference.
“Every artist is different, it’s hard to find a similar album in this bunch.
“It proves how diverse the music is that we’re making.”
(left to right) Newcastle United football players William Osula, Anthony Elanga, Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey attending the 2026 Mercury Music Prize awards (Owen Humphreys/PA)
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About being nominated alongside the Beatle, he said: “There’s some random things that happen to you in life that are pub-quiz worthy.
“I think that’s one of them.
“You know, ‘find the association between Kojey Radical and S Paul McCartney’ and in 10 years time, they’re not going to know.”
Newcastle United footballers Anthony Elanga, Will Osula, Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock also turned up on the red carpet and posed for photographers.
The Mercury Prize, created in 1992, is awarded each year to the best album by an artist from the UK or Ireland.
Albums are nominated based on musical merit, irrespective of how successful the record or act have been in the year.
Along with a trophy, the winner of the Mercury Prize receives £25,000.