The Orange Prize is also unique in having only female judges, this year they are:

Bettany Hughes (Chair), Broadcaster, Historian and Author, Liz Calder, founder-director of Bloomsbury Publishing and Full Circle Editions, Tracy Chevalier, Novelist, Helen Lederer, Actress and Writer, Susanna Reid, Journalist and Broadcaster
__________________________________

The award ceremony took place in The Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London, on 8 June 2011. The winner received a cheque for £30,000 and a limited edition bronze figurine called the 'Bessie' - created by the artist Grizel Niven.

Previous winners have included Zadie Smith, Andrea Levy, Helen Dunmore, Anne Michaels, Carol Shields, Rose Tremain, Marilynne Robinson and Barbara Kingsolver

__________________________________

This year’s shortlist honours both new and well-established writers featuring three first novels and one previously shortlisted author; Nicole Krauss (2006).
 
“We are proud and pleased to announce our shortlist for the Orange Prize 2011,” commented Bettany Hughes, Chair of judges. “Our judging meeting fizzed for many hours with conversations about the originality, excellence and readability of the books in front of us - credit to the calibre of submissions this year.”
__________________________________