Monkeys win Mercury Prize

The world's least cooperative band were one of only four nominees not to play live at the Grosvenor House hotel in Park Lane last night.

But in the end they gladly took to the stage to be part of a genuine turn-up in this most unpredictable of awards. For once, the favourites actually won.

In the past, "dead certs" such as the Streets and Kaiser Chiefs have lost out. But in a year dominated by the Arctic Monkeys, even the most grudging observer must admit this was the correct decision.

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not was Britain's fastest-selling debut album ever, shifting 360,000 copies in a week. The band have become as important as Oasis were to their elders.

The young Sheffield quartet, who accepted the £20,000 prize as a trio having sacked bassist Andy Nicholson, recognised the Mercury is usually won by groups that need a boost in stature: "Normally it doesn't go to a band that's sold so many records, to be blunt," said singer Alex Turner.

As he picked up the trophy he added: "Somebody call 999. Richard Hawley's been robbed." Asked at the press conference afterwards why the band won, he was less humble, saying: "We had the best record and the judges agreed."

Was their record more edgy than Sway's, more inventive than Hot Chip's or more moving than Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan's? Probably not, but with its raw, darting guitars, headspinning gear changes and Turner's remarkably assured lyrics, it has captured the public imagination like no other album in years.