Well done Sampha, a worthy winner for his debut album Process, which will make The xx very happy (scroll down for why).

But a massive thumbs up to all the 12 artists on tonight's shortlist after some pretty awesome performances. Even you Ed...

Scroll back down to watch them again and find out what happened over the course of a jam-packed evening.

We'll back back again tomorrow around midday for a bit of a New Music Friday vibe and some more reaction to tonight's award.

Some of the nominees will no doubt just be rolling into their hotel rooms by then but we do hope you can join us for a slightly shorter but nonetheless entertaining Music News LIVE.

Night night.

Make some noise for Sampha, ladies and gentleman!

Well, aside from being the man with the award and a cheque (do cheques still exist?) for £25k, he's also probably the most well-connected man in the room in a musical sense.

Here he is featuring on Beyonce's track Mine, alongside Drake.

Oh and speaking of Drake: Same goes here, external...

Like the Mercury panel, the the Knowles family are obviously big fans.

Bey's sister Solange's got Sampha to sing on her track Don't Touch My Hair from her critically-lauded album A Seat at the Table.

He's actually in the video for this one too...

He may have shot to prominence tonight in the eyes of the UK public, but it seems Sampha has been working the scene for some time.

In fact, here he is from way back in 2014, when he made the top five of the BBC's Sound of... poll.

The family theme was still strong in the air as he dedicated the award to his parents and his brothers.

Good man.

Some nice words from his fellow nominees and fellow artists too...

Check out the Mercury 2017 winner Sampha (above) on the recording of his album Process.

One of the judges, jazz singer and presenter Jamie Cullum took to social media soon after the result was announced to say he was "thrilled".

Was it a shock win? Perhaps.

Sampha wasn't out in front in terms of the bookies' race in the same way that Stormzy, Kate Tempest and Glass Animals were, but its hard to argue against the singer-songwriter's beautiful debut album Process.

Here are a few early reactions to the news...

Sampha takes over from last year's winner Skepta as the new incumbent of the award.

Luckily Skep rolled up just before his fellow Londoner was awarded, to deliver a show-stopping performance of his own track Man.

And we mean literally rolled up, in his motor.

Skepta mate - you've left your lights on! We don't want him getting a flat battery, that's all.

Image source, JM Enternational

After the "longest deliberation ever in the history of the prize", says Lauren...the Mercury Prize 2017 winner is...

Sampha - Process.

"I feel like I'm dreaming!" said the London singer/songwriter/producer, before thanking his parents for giving him and his family "the best upbringing possible."

"I can't believe this", he added. "Thank you so much..." before being beckoned to the piano once more.

Well deserved.

A text from Beyonce and/or Kanye probably winging its way over as we speak.

Image source, JM Enternational

That's the name of their "totally dance-able" track, according to Lauren, which we think is praise.

Glass Animals really go for it though, singer Dave Bayley whirls around the stage like a dervish.

If the judge are split on their album decision, will this be enough to swing it for today's new-found favourites?

Image source, JM Entertainational

Radio 1 DJ and Mercury judge Clara Amfo joins Lauren Laverne on the stage to talk us though the process.

She was part of the 2016 panel which awarded Skepta the winning album.

"It was tougher than last year," she says. "There was a lot of tension in the room but in a good way, a lot of passion, loud voices and verging on tears."

She also said the panel had decided on a winner.

Must be worrying for Glass Animals who hadn't performed yet...

Image source, JM Enternational

And it shows. He knows his way around those keys too.

"From a south London poet to a south London performer..." says Lauren.

Introducing the man who worked with the likes of Beyonce, her sister Solange and Kanye West - before plucking up the courage to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight, releasing his debut solo record in February.

And we're all sure glad he did.

Check him out below.

Has it ever really worked when a host goes into the audience?

Not yet...

One of the most lyrically and sonically challenging performances of the night comes from poet and rapper Kate Tempest.

We've all got a friend who gets like this after a couple of pints. The audience looks scared. But she gets a standing ovation from Stormzy.

Job done.

By here, we mean via a video screen.

Sorry. He's in Miami...

"We've been very lucky to have eleven of tonight's nominees here," said Lauren gamely.

"He was called a 'master of the modern pop song' by the judging panel.

"His album Divide sold 1m copies per week on its first six weeks and topped the UK chart for 16 weeks."

Over to a recorded message by Ed, who said: "It was one of things where it was always a goal of mine, to play Shepherds Bush Empire and get a Mercury nomination.

"It didn't happen on the first or second albums and I didn't expect it to happen on the third.

"Congrats to whoever the winner is."

Cut to a clip of Ed playing Shape of You on Jools Holland above.

Image source, John Marshall, JM Enternational

The only Manc indie band on the shortlist Blossoms, were just pipped to the post by gameshow host-turned-crooner Bradley Walsh as 2016's best selling debut album for their self-titled effort.

Resplendent in their new suits, the band performed Charlemagne from the album, although one observer noted: "Who wears loafers with no socks? Neanderthals. That's who".

Sound great though.

Image source, vvv

It's that time off the night folks.

What better to way to follow Stormzy than with nearly four minutes of experiential jazz courtesy of Dinosaur and their track Living Breathing.

The band make an incredible racket - and the drummer pounds his kit so hard that a cymbal flies off.

Check it below.

Image source, John Marshall, JM Enternational

It's the turn of Croydon-based MC Stormzy now.

He has brilliantly recreated the cover from his nominated album Gang Signs and Prayer

Like J Hus before him, he has mashed up two album tracks - First Things First and fan-favourite Blinded by Your Grace.

The judging panel called it a "brilliantly realised grime album".

Could be a worthy winner - even though he wants his pal J-Hus to win.

Image source, JM Enternational

Described by the judges as "an exhilarating celebration of the fun of being in a guitar band", London indie band The Big Moon put down the champers and picked up the first jangly guitars of the night on their track Cupid.

Possibly making host Lauren nostalgic, external about her own time in an indie band back in the day.

Guitarist Soph Nathan ends the performance on her knees, hugging singer Juliette Jackson.

Beautiful scenes. Check it below.

Well we're not even half way through yet but here are a few observations from people at home...

Alt-J are all about the atmos as they get their heads down for their stage performance.

Check it above.