Roll Up For £1 Million Oscars

Helen Mirren continues to be the subject of a heavyweight gamble to win the Best Actress Oscar, with William Hill accepting eight four figure bets including one of £3000 placed by a female customer in their Park Lane Branch.

"You have to be very sure to place £3,000 to win £250 and it would seem that the British public are 100% sure that victory for Helen Mirren is a formality," said William Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.

With so much British interest, William Hill predict turnover on the Oscar betting could be in excess of £1 Million.

Elsewhere Departed has been popular to win Best Film at even money as has Scorsese for the Best Director, Peter O'Toole is one of the few outsiders to be supported at 5/1 to win the Best Actor Oscar.

Including one foresighted William Hill's customer, John Kelly from London, will be very pleased that Peter O' Toole has been nominated after placing a £100 bet in March 2006 that he would win an Oscar at 33/1 and should O'Toole win John will be £3,400 richer.