A wise old head among the many youthful acts which dominate this year’s shortlist, Paul Weller was initially seen as nothing more that an outsider for this year’s Mercury Music Prize. Things have been steadily changing over recent weeks however, and now bookies have dramatically cut the odds on Weller taking home the award after what they call an “unprecedented” rush of bets backing the former Jam legend to win.
Over the weekend, prominent bookmakers William Hill had cut the odds on Weller’s recent solo album ‘Wake Up The Nation‘ from from 20/1 to 1/10 after what it described as “extraordinary” activity which included over 100 bets of up to £100. “Literally within about two hours we had a succession of people walking into our shops,” William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams told the BBC News website.
“Before we knew it we had liabilities of over £20,000. Despite cutting the price, people kept coming and coming and coming. This is a pretty unprecedented gamble – certainly in the history of the Mercury, and also every other music award.”
Adams added that the flurry of bets, which are said to have come primarily from the Birmingham area, may be a result of a group joining together to back Weller. “It’s so co-ordinated that maybe it’s a syndicate of people who have got together and thought this is a good idea,” he continued.
Before the weekend, rapper Dizzee Rascal and The xx have been consistent favourites for the prize which will be awarded at a London ceremony tomorrow night (7/9).