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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Great British Bake Off bets halted by Ladbrokes | Great British Bake Off bets halted by Ladbrokes |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Ladbrokes has halted betting on BBC show the Great British Bake Off after a flurry of wagers sparked fears the winner's name may have been leaked. | Ladbrokes has halted betting on BBC show the Great British Bake Off after a flurry of wagers sparked fears the winner's name may have been leaked. |
| "A run of bets" was placed for one contestant, many at shops in the Ipswich area, the bookmaker said. | "A run of bets" was placed for one contestant, many at shops in the Ipswich area, the bookmaker said. |
| It is not known which baker prompted the flurry or whether any contestants have connections with the Suffolk town. | It is not known which baker prompted the flurry or whether any contestants have connections with the Suffolk town. |
| The first episode of the popular amateur baking contest aired on BBC One Wednesday evening. | The first episode of the popular amateur baking contest aired on BBC One Wednesday evening. |
| It is the sixth series of the show, which challenges 12 hopefuls to impress judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. | It is the sixth series of the show, which challenges 12 hopefuls to impress judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. |
| Each week the amateur bakers are expected to tackle a baking challenge, with minimal instructions, and present a "signature dish". | Each week the amateur bakers are expected to tackle a baking challenge, with minimal instructions, and present a "signature dish". |
| 'Soggy bottom' | 'Soggy bottom' |
| The bookmaker said a flurry of bets came in for one of the 12 contestants whose odds started at 12/1 and were reduced to 6/1, 3/1 and then evens. | The bookmaker said a flurry of bets came in for one of the 12 contestants whose odds started at 12/1 and were reduced to 6/1, 3/1 and then evens. |
| "We offered prices on Monday and, almost before the ink was dry, an unusual number of punters were in a rush to back only one contestant," David Williams of Ladbrokes said. | "We offered prices on Monday and, almost before the ink was dry, an unusual number of punters were in a rush to back only one contestant," David Williams of Ladbrokes said. |
| "On Tuesday and Wednesday it was more of the same one-way traffic. That was enough to set our alarm bells ringing and, as a precaution, we suspended our betting. | "On Tuesday and Wednesday it was more of the same one-way traffic. That was enough to set our alarm bells ringing and, as a precaution, we suspended our betting. |
| "Hopefully, we'll go back up with revised odds sooner rather than later, but we didn't want to get caught with our pants pulled down and a soggy bottom, so we've decided to take a breather until we are reassured that Bake Off hasn't gone off already. | "Hopefully, we'll go back up with revised odds sooner rather than later, but we didn't want to get caught with our pants pulled down and a soggy bottom, so we've decided to take a breather until we are reassured that Bake Off hasn't gone off already. |
| "When you see a run of bets like this for one contestant at the expense of everyone else that can be a sign to suspend betting for a bit to assess the situation," he added. | "When you see a run of bets like this for one contestant at the expense of everyone else that can be a sign to suspend betting for a bit to assess the situation," he added. |
| Several of the bets placed were the maximum the bookmaker would take for wagers made on the show's outcome, and 90% were placed on one contestant. | Several of the bets placed were the maximum the bookmaker would take for wagers made on the show's outcome, and 90% were placed on one contestant. |
| The suspension would not affect bets already placed, the company said. | The suspension would not affect bets already placed, the company said. |
| The first contestant to be knocked out of the competition on Wednesday evening was Stuart Henshall from Surrey. | The first contestant to be knocked out of the competition on Wednesday evening was Stuart Henshall from Surrey. |
| The 11 remaining contestants are from Berkshire, Lancashire, Cambridgeshire, London, West Yorkshire, Manchester, Essex, Swansea and two from Perthshire. |