Chichester-born Antony Hegarty is now based in New York Antony and the Johnsons have won this year's Mercury Music Prize for the album I Am A Bird Now. Led by New York-based singer Antony Hegarty, they beat acts including Coldplay, favourites Kaiser Chiefs and hip-hop artist MIA. The £20,000 award is for the best album of the year by a British or Irish act. "I think they must have made a mistake," Chichester-born Hegarty said. "I am completely overwhelmed. I think that's insane." The pianist and torch singer's winning album, features contributions from Boy George and Lou Reed. It's not like any album I've heard before or since
Simon Frith, chairman of judges Ceremony highlights
Have your say on the Mercury winner Standing 6ft 4in tall and with a shock of black hair, the 34-year-old has a voice as unconventional as his looks. The Mercury Music Prize was voted for by a panel of industry experts, journalists and artists, and is said to reward originality and creativity rather than sales success. As he collected his award from host Jools Holland to a standing ovation, Hegarty said the competition was "a bit nutty". "It's kind of like a crazy contest between an orange and a spaceship and a potted plant and a spoon - which one do you like better?" he said. Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs had been favourites to win "What's really exciting about this night is just this wonderful biennial that shows the rich diversity of the spectrum of music that's going on at the moment. "It's been so wonderful to be here and just to meet everyone. I just love so many of the artists performing tonight, I think it's a bit bonkers to just give it to one person." He performed at the Mercury award ceremony in London's Grosvenor House Hotel, as did fellow nominees Kaiser Chiefs, KT Tunstall, Seth Lakeman, Bloc Party, Polar Bear, Maximo Park, The Magic Numbers and the Go! Team. Multi-million selling band Coldplay, nominated for their third album X&Y;, could not attend the ceremony as they were on tour in the US. Previous winners of the Mercury prize include hip-hop artist Dizzee Rascal, Primal Scream, PJ Harvey and last year's victors Franz Ferdinand. KT Tunstall was among the other performers at the ceremony Simon Frith, chairman of the judges, said Antony and the Johnsons won because they produced "such an extraordinary album". "It's not like any album I've heard before or since," he said. "It doesn't seem to have any obvious place where it's coming from - and yet play it to anybody and they're arrested. "Some of them hate it, some of them absolutely love it - but nobody can ignore it." The Mercury Prize was not designed to pick the least offensive album, he said, but to pick "a record that's really interesting, and this one is". 'American album' Chris Salmon, music editor of Time Out magazine, said it was a surprise choice. "There were a lot of strong albums on there and I don't think a lot of people thought Antony and the Johnsons would be the one," he said. "Some people thought of it as an American album - its whole genesis was in New York," he said. "But he's got a beautiful voice and he writes beautiful songs, so in that sense it shouldn't be a surprise - but I think it still is." Mercury Music Prize 2005 nominees: Antony and the Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now Bloc Party - Silent Alarm Coldplay - X&Y; The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike Hard-Fi - Stars of CCTV Kaiser Chiefs - Employment KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger MIA - Arular Polar Bear - Held on the Tips of Fingers Seth Lakeman - Kitty Jay Did What do you think of this year's winner? Did Antony and the Johnsons deserve to beat the other acts? Send us your reaction on the postform at the bottom of the page. Your comments The future of music began tonight
Chris McCooey, England Fantastic. Justice at last for music that moves the soul. The bar has just been raised to the highest mark ever and all future contenders should worry if they could ever reach as high. If not don't bother. The future of music began tonight.
Chris McCooey, England What a worthy winner. Go out and buy this album. It's just so different and he has one of the greatest voices.
Paul, UK I didn't see that coming! What a great result, it proves that the Mercury really is about originality and creativity.
Al Absolutely fantastic - I'll say no more
Alex, England A worthy winner, head and shoulders above the other entries. One hopes it translates to sales.
Dave, UK Worthy winner. For once with the Mercury it seemed the right choice in a stronger than usual field.
Alex N, UK Antony's voice is a stunning instrument!
Martin Jones, England This is great news. "I Am A Bird Now" is an amazing album and deserves wider exposure. Antony's voice is a stunning instrument!
Martin Jones, England Good choice, only original band on the list! Stunning tunes, interesting, beautiful, eerie, moving. Ride on Anthony!
Ralph Mathers, England The Mercury Prize has a history of picking unique talent as its winners, and they've done it again! Antony and the Johnsons are outstanding and unique in every way!
Nick, UK I just don't get him... How on earth did Kaisers/ Magic Numbers/ Hard Fi not win??!
Paul, UK Absolute genius!
Chris, England I get the impression that a lot of the public probably won't like this result as it's certainly not the most poppy of records and I doubt it will have much appeal to Kaiser Chiefs fans. However, in my opinion it's an amazing record and Antony has an incomparable voice.
Lee Cartwright, UK Antony and the Johnsons album is amazing - deserved to win - can't wait to see him live in December.
Charlotte, UK An absolutely brilliant decision!!! Anthony and the Johnsons fully deserve this accolade as their album is the most original and inventive record in years, and is of a quality far superior to that of any of the other nominees!
Chris Senior, England The underdog is victorious. So musically gifted and deserved.
J Flockton, UK All the nominees this year have produced outstanding work
Kieran, Berkshire, UK Great to see Anthony and the Johnsons win. While I am a fan of bands like the Kaisers and the Magic Numbers, I just loved the album I am a Bird Now and just kept listening to it again and again. All the nominees this year have produced outstanding work, but Anthony and the Johnsons just had that extra something. Well done!
Kieran, Berkshire, UK I think it was the strongest year for a long time, with M.I.A., The Go! Team and Antony and the Johnsons all deserved of the prize. Yet of those 3, only the winner is capable of moving me to tears!
Adam, UK Justice! I am happy that Antony and The Johnsons has won this award. One, because the music is something fresh amongst most of the other rubbish (ie Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, and last year's ludicrous winner) that is contemporary music.
Connor Wolf, UK Well deserved prize for a stunning album with beautiful heartfelt songs. It's number one on my playlist!
Tony Tansley, UK I think Antony deserved the award, especially compared to other artists, such as the Kaiser Chiefs, who are not all that novel in their sound. It's nice to see that the more interesting artist walked away the winner.
Ehsan Sheikh, USA Kaiser Chiefs were clearly robbed, but I don't think it will effect their record sales, they have the goods to match the hype, best band of 2005 definitely.
Claire, Ireland Another English-born songwriter with great talent. He really deserves all the accolades that are thrown his way. Antony is definitely one to watch...
Glen, Sanderstead, Eng So delighted that Antony has won this award. His album is so moving and we urge anyone who hasn't listened to this to give it a try. Well done Antony - and it was so well deserved. We were cheering you on from the sofa all evening!
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Antony & The Johnsons have won the 2005 Mercury Music Prize for their album ''I Am a Bird Now''.

Anthony Hegarty, born in Chichester, United Kingdom, won the award of £20,000 for creating the most original album by a British or Irish act during the last year.

Other nominees included Coldplay, M.I.A. and the bookies favourites The Kaiser Chiefs.