Bookmakers across Britain are counting the cost after last minute betting on Paul Weller to win a Brit award saw them lose over £100,000.
As lead singer with The Jam, The Style Council, and then as a solo star, Paul Weller has an enviable back catalogue containing a glittering array of classics.
Few expected him to pick up ‘Best British Male’ at this year’s Brits, however. Touring extensively, last year’s ’22 Dreams’ album was a critical success exposing the Modfather as an artist keen to take risks.
Prior to the event Weller’s odds were as high as 5/1 to scoop the trophy, but after a series of suspicious bets these were soon dropped to 1/5 before all betting on the event was stopped.
A spokesman for bookmakers William Hill told British red top The Sun “it was our music department’s worst night for years.”
“It’s highly unlikely we’ll be betting on the BRITs again as there is no doubt the results are circulating up to a week before” the spokesman continued.
Countering this, a statement from the BRIT awards argued that “every precaution is taken to keep results under lock and key.”
