The shortlist for the Mercury music prize has been announced, with The xx, Foals and Mumford and Sons among the nominees.

Though Dizzee Rascal won the award in 2001 for his debut Boy in da Corner he has been installed as the favourite to win this year’s prize. This would make the grime rapper turned pop star the first act to take home the award twice.

The xx are the joint favourites to win the prize, followed by Paul Weller, Corinne Bailey Rae, Mumford and Sons and Laura Marling who share the odds of 6/1.

I Am Kloot’s Sky at Night produced by Guy Garvey, the lead singer of 2008 Mercury winners Elbow, is at the less fancied odds of 10/1.

Some pundits have expressed shock that both Gorillaz and Fuck Buttons failed to make the shortlist, although it’s believed that both acts refused submit their new albums for nomination. In 2001, Gorillaz rejected their nomination describing the award as being “like carrying a dead albatross round your neck for eternity”.

Past recipients of the Mercury have included Gomez, Roni Size, Badly Drawn Boy, PJ Harvey, Arctic Monkeys and last year’s winner London rapper Speech Debelle

The winner of the 2010 Mercury prize will be announced on Tuesday 7th September.

The full 2010 Mercury prize shortlist:

Dizzee Rascal – Tongue N’ Cheek (4/1)
The xx – xx (4/1)
Paul Weller – Wake Up the Nation (6/1)
Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea (6/1)
Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More (6/1)
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can (6/1)
Foals – Total Life Forever (8/1)
Wild Beasts – Two Dancers (8/1)
Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions (8/1)
Villagers – Becoming a Jackal (10/1)
Kit Downes Trio – Golden (10/1)
I Am Kloot – Sky at Night (10/1)