Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

• Lauren Laverne and Steve Lamacq present live coverage on the night
• Digital radio station Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 6 Music builds up to the ceremony with a special week of programming

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is to broadcast comprehensive coverage of the Mercury Prize 2009 across TV, radio and online.

Coverage of the night will be presented live from the event by Lauren Laverne on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two and Steve Lamacq on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 6 Music.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two

From 10.00pm on Tuesday 8 September, The Culture Show and 6Β Music presenter Lauren Laverne presents live TV coverage on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔΒ Two (10.00-10.30pm) including the announcement of the result and reaction from the winner, plus clips of live performances from all 12 shortlisted artists.

An extended Mercury Prize special with Lauren will be broadcast on Friday 11 September (11.40pm) featuring, for the first time, full performances from all 12 shortlisted artists and highlights from the evening.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 6 Music

Steve Lamacq presents live coverage of the award ceremony (8.00-11.00pm) from the heart of the action at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Alongside interviews with some of the shortlisted artists, and the attending great-and-good of the music industry, the show features live performances from the night and expert analysis of proceedings from Lamacq, 6 Music news and industry insiders on the build-up to the live announcement of the winner.

Immediate reaction and analysis of the decision follow, plus an interview with the winner before the end of the show.

Paul Rodgers, Editor, 6 Music, said of the station's coverage: "This is a valuable opportunity for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and 6 Music to offer an in-depth look at this influential prize with the help of our expert presenters, including Steve Lamacq and Guy Garvey.

"And with 6 Music's Lauren Laverne presenting TV proceedings it will prove to be a big night for the station."

6 Music's special week of programming

Digital radio station Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 6 Music will also reflect the Mercury Prize in a week of special programming prior to the night. Highlights include:

A Month Of Mercurys

6 Music's Sunday slot A Month Of... is given over to Mercury shortlisted artists for the month of September, starting on 6 September (3.30-5.30pm) with a special two-hour programme by The Horrors who play and discuss the music that has influenced them. Other nominees under the radio spotlight include Friendly Fires, La Roux (in conversation with Steve Lamacq) and Sweet Billy Pilgrim.

Elbow's Finest Hour

On the day of the ceremony (8 September) Guy Garvey, 6 Music presenter and lead singer with Mercury Award-winning band Elbow, presents Elbow's Finest Hour (7.00-8.00pm), where Guy and his band mates discuss the making of the Seldom Seen Kid, highlights of the past year, and what's next for Elbow.

Mercury Winners: The Albums

In Mercury Winners: The Albums (12midnight-1.00am) a DJ from each of the six Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ music radio networks champions a previous winning album. A download of each programme will be available on bbc.co.uk/6music on the day of broadcast.

Online

The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Mercury Prize site – bbc.co.uk/musicevents/mercuryprize – offers audiences exclusive Mercury-related content, from video interviews with the shortlisted acts, to films from a selection of journalists, DJs and musicians, including Gary Lightbody and Roots Manuva, who discuss their personal picks for who should win. The site will have all the news as it happens on the night via Twitter as well as video performances from all the shortlisted artists.

Notes to Editors

Full schedule of programming in chronological order

Tuesday 1 to Tuesday 8 September

Mercury Winners: The Albums
12midnight-1.00am, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 6 Music

A DJ from each of the six Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ music radio networks champions a previous winning album.

1 September: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 1's Edith Bowman on Portishead's Dummy
2 September: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2's Stuart Maconie on Suede by Suede
3 September: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3's Jez Nelson on Antony & The Johnsons' I Am A Bird
4 September: 6 Music's Steve Lamacq on The Hour Of Bewilderbeast by Badly Drawn Boy
7 September: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Asian Network's Bobby Friction on Talvin Singh's O.K.
8 September: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 1 Xtra's Semtex on Dizzee Rascal's Boy In Da Corner

Sunday 6 September

Mercury Prize 2009: The Music Week
1.00-2.00pm, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 6 Music

As The Music Week anticipates the awarding of the 18th Mercury Prize, presenters Julie Cullen and Matt Everitt look back over the year that bookies favourite Florence and The Machine has had since they began tracking her progress on the show last December.

Mercury Prize 2009: A Month Of Mercury With The Horrors
3.30-5.30pm, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 6 Music

For the month of September, 6 Music dedicates its Month Of Sundays slot to getting under the musical skin of some of this year's Mercury Prize shortlisted acts.

First up, and making their presenting debut, are The Horrors. The Horrors are a five-piece band from Southend-on-Sea who formed in 2005. Their critically acclaimed Mercury-nominated second album Primary Colours was released in May 2009.

Drummer Rhys, guitarist Josh and bass player Tom have been busy digging in their crates of rare vinyl to play the A-Z of British psychedelia from the like of The Kinks, The Zombies and Yardbirds. Every track they play has a wicked rock 'n' roll story behind it which The Horrors tell as if they wish they were there. The guys share their touring stories and discuss what it's like to be shortlisted for a Mercury Music Award.

Other acts across September include La Roux, Friendly Fires, Sweet Billy Pilgrim.

Tuesday 8 September

Mercury Prize 2009: Elbow's Finest Hour
7.00-8.00pm, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 6 Music

Last year's Mercury Prize winners Elbow reflect on the events of the past year that has seen them gain critical acclaim and commercial success for their Mercury Prize-winning fourth album Seldom Seen Kid.

They discuss the making of the Seldom Seen Kid, highlights of the past year and what's next for Elbow. Presented by Elbow's lead singer Guy Garvey, presenter of Guy Garvey's Finest Hour on 6 Music (Sundays, 10.00pm-12midnight).

Mercury Prize 2009: Live With Steve Lamacq
8.00-11.00pm, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ 6 Music

Steve Lamacq presents 6 Music's coverage of the Mercury Prize 2009, live from the heart of the action at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

Alongside interviews with some of the nominees and the attending great-and-good of the music industry, the show features live performances from the night and expert analysis of proceedings from Lammo, 6 Music news and industry insiders on the build-up to the live announcement of the winner.

Immediate reaction and analysis of the decision follow, plus an interview with the winner before the end of the show.

Mercury Prize 2009: Live
10.00-10.30pm, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two

Lauren Laverne presents live coverage of the Mercury Prize awards show including clips of the live performances from all 12 shortlisted artists, the announcement of the winner and immediate reaction from a variety of guests.

The Mercury Prize exists to champion music in the UK, mainly through its album of the year competition, where the winner is chosen by a panel of music industry judges and based solely on the music on that album.

Now in its 18th year, this year's shortlist of acts features Bat for Lashes, Florence and The Machine, Friendly Fires, Glasvegas, Kasabian, La Roux, Led Bib, Lisa Hannigan, Speech Debelle, Sweet Billy Pilgrim, The Horrors and The Invisible.

Friday 11 September

Mercury Prize 2009
11.40pm-12.50am, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two

In a Mercury Prize special, Lauren Laverne presents extended coverage of the event, hosted by Jools Holland at London's Grosvenor House Hotel. It's a chance to catch full performances from all 12 contenders, including Florence and The Machine, La Roux and Kasabian, and relive the highlights of one of the most exciting and important nights in the music calendar.

CH