Imagine tuning into a prestigious music awards ceremony, only to find that one of the most iconic performances of the night is hilariously—and inexplicably—paired with subtitles from a cozy British murder mystery. That’s exactly what happened at the Mercury Prize 2025, where Pulp’s electrifying performance was overshadowed by a bizarre technical blunder. But here’s where it gets even more intriguing: frontman Jarvis Cocker took to Instagram to share “compelling evidence” that their set was mistakenly subtitled with lines from an episode of Miss Marple. Yes, you read that right—a rock performance paired with subtitles from a classic whodunit. Cocker even quipped, “Whodunnit? I suspect the butler…..” leaving fans both amused and baffled.
The Mercury Prize, broadcast live by the BBC from Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, featured performances from some of the year’s most celebrated acts. Among them were Sam Fender, who took home the top prize for his album People Watching, FKA Twigs, Wolf Alice, and Pulp, who were joined on stage by Richard Hawley for their rendition of ‘Spike Island’. But it was Pulp’s unexpected subtitle saga that stole the spotlight—and not in the way they intended. Thanks to Peter Chilvers for gathering the evidence and Brian Eno for sounding the alarm, the blunder quickly became a talking point.
And this is the part most people miss: while the subtitle mishap was undeniably amusing, it raises questions about the technical preparedness of such high-profile events. Was it a simple oversight, or a deeper issue with the broadcast’s production team? Is this a sign of the challenges faced when merging live music with complex broadcasting technology? Let’s discuss in the comments—do you think this was a harmless mistake, or a symptom of larger issues?
Meanwhile, the night belonged to Sam Fender, whose win was met with a standing ovation. In a heartfelt acceptance speech, Fender led the audience in a chant of “Toon Toon” and thanked fellow nominees like CMAT and Fontaines D.C., calling them “great company.” He also dedicated the award to the late Annie Orwin, the inspiration behind People Watching. The ceremony, which moved north from its traditional London home to Newcastle as part of a partnership with local authorities, aimed to celebrate the diversity of talent in the region. Last year’s winner, English Teacher, had made history as the first non-London act to win since Young Fathers in 2014, setting the stage for Fender’s triumph.
But back to Pulp’s peculiar predicament: while the band’s recent album More was among the nominees, it’s safe to say their Mercury Prize performance will be remembered less for their music and more for the Miss Marple subtitles. Is this the most bizarre technical blunder in awards show history, or just a quirky footnote? Share your thoughts below—and while you’re at it, let us know if you’ve ever witnessed a live broadcast mishap that rivals this one. One thing’s for sure: the Mercury Prize 2025 will go down in history as the year music and murder mysteries collided in the most unexpected way.
