Olivia Dean nominated and Lily Allen snubbed in Mercury Prize list

Olivia Dean has been nominated for the Mercury Prize, while Lily Allen was omitted from the shortlist despite the critical acclaim of her recent break‑up album. The singer‑songwriter’s second album, *The Art of Loving*, which won Album of the Year at both the Brit Awards and the MOBO Awards, positions her as a favourite for the £25,000 prize that honours outstanding UK albums. Also nominated for the first time is Sir Paul McCartney, aged 84, with his nostalgia‑laden record *The Boys of Dungeon Lane*. The list further includes Suede, Jade, Raye and Nia Archives. Lily Allen’s *West End Girl*, described by reviewers as “breathtaking and heartbreaking” and “a brutal, tell‑all masterpiece”, was one of the biggest critical and commercial successes of the past year. The album examines the dissolution of her marriage to actor David Harbour in unvarnished detail. Because artists self‑submit for the Mercury Prize, it is unclear whether Allen’s absence reflects a snub or simply a decision not to enter. She had previously been nominated for her 2018 album *No Shame*. Other notable omissions from this year’s shortlist are Harry Styles’ *Kiss All the Time*, *Disco Occasionally* and Gorillaz’ *The Mountain*, a sweeping meditation on grief.