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Did Radiohead make it? What about Morrissey? And who the hell is James Blake? Here it is: the list of Blighty’s best, as chosen by JIM CARROLLand LAUREN MURPHY

IT WAS the editor’s fault. She decided it was time for a list and said we should have a look across the Irish Sea. Not “go across the Irish Sea and check out these bands on an all-expenses-paid jolly”. No, just have a look. Times are tough.

Lauren Murphy and I went to work. We were guided by three simple rules: (1) all solo acts had to have been born in Britain and/or hold British passports; (2) half or more of each band’s members had to have been born in Britain and/or hold British passports; (3) all acts had to have recorded or released music or played a gig since January 2009.

Each of us began by drawing up a list of 50 acts. The names who were on both our lists made the chart, but there was heated debate about the pecking order and the other acts who would make the cut. We were in firm agreement about the top 10. I gave in to Lauren’s insistence about Radiohead and Morrissey once she stopped saying “who the hell is James Blake?” So here it is. We know you’re going to agree with our choices. Right? JIM CARROLL