What's it like to be up for the Mercury?

What do you get up to on the day you find out if you've won the Mercury Prize? Newsbeat followed nominees The Invisible to find out.

The Invisible have seen their album sales rocket since the Mercury nomination

It's some build up. Not just the hours it takes to rig The Grosvenor Hotel's basement. It's the months of talk and nerves before hand which lead up to just one day.

All for host Jools Holland to say three short words - "The winner is..."

London experimental pop band The Invisible - rank outsiders at 40/1 - arrive hot and sweaty in the early afternoon.

"I've been dashing around getting ready for this," says Dave Okumu.

They are Dave Okumu (lead singer), Leo Taylor (drummer) and Tom Herbert (bassist).

They have been nominated for their self-titled debut album alongside Kasabian, La Roux, Florence And The Machine and eight others.

Once inside they're assigned a chaperone and a hotel room. The building itself is a warren, a hive of wiring and busy staff. 

The scene is set for the glittering awards ceremony

The trio spend the first couple of hours drinking caffeine, discussing Tom Kasabian's new, shorter haircut and watching hotel staff lay the 80 or so awards tables with sparkling cutlery.

Watching from the balcony, the afternoon sees a complete run-through of the evening's proceedings. 

Florence And The Machine's Florence Welch acts out her dance moves, mouthing as if looking in the mirror.

Speech Debelle wrestles with sound problems and Friendly Fires' Jack Savidge arrives with minutes to spare after being discharged from hospital ("because the doctor liked our band," says lead singer Ed MacFarlane). 

Meanwhile it’s confirmed that Glasvegas won't be performing because singer James Allen is “not very well”.

Fake trophy

"Apparently there's been a 134% increase in sales of our album," says Dave, taking a crafty cigarette break outside the hotel reception, "That’s ten copies now!"

With some last minute vacuuming going on around them, they run through their new single London Girl on a tiny corner stage, before being given a bottle of carbonated water as a fake trophy by host Jools Holland.

By now it’s 5pm, two hours before show time and the band are whisked to their hotel room to get changed.

Then they're in a car driven round the block and delivered to the ceremony’s doorstep to meet the assembled press throng.  

Agonising wait

"I've never been on a red carpet before," laughs Dave. "Apparently most of the other bands are gunning for us," says Leo, looking increasingly nervous.

A visit to make-up is bypassed as the threesome take a seat at their awards table full of sandwiches and wine.

Speech Debelle gave The Invisible a special mention

Agonisingly they're second last to perform, following ten others.

As the ceremony begins, rumours abound that Speech Debelle's odds have significantly shortened. 

Rapturously received after their performance the band clasp each other's hands as the judgement arrives. This year’s winner is Speech Debelle.

After jumping from her seat surrounded by well wishers, Speech’s first words at the mic are: "Big up The Invisible".

Dave's visibly disappointed but also upbeat.

"Man, that was really intense when Jools was playing around with the envelopes but we’re just so thrilled for Speech," he says.

"I thought there would be a more predictable choice."

Our five minute chat is invaded by Jools Holland, Gossip's Beth Ditto and Florence Welch, all heaping praise on the band.

"This man is really talented," says Jools, hanging around Dave's neck.

“The night is young. We’re going to be celebrating," he says in a moment of quiet.

"We’ve done something we’re really proud of, so we’re going to enjoy this moment.”

Introducing... Speech Debelle