U.K. Bookmaker Suspends 'SPECTRE' Theme Betting After $23,000 Radiohead Wager
By Alex Ritman
British band Radiohead has emerged as a sudden favorite among U.K. bookmakers to be named the performers of the theme for SPECTRE, the latest James Bond.
One bookie revealed that it had suspended betting after an anonymous customer asked to put a £15,000 ($23,000) wager on the band.
The news just came a day after Ellie Goulding became the frontrunner after posting an Instagram photo of her leaving Abbey Road studios — where Adele recorded the title track for Skyfall — with the words “that’s a wrap.” The singer had previously been among the bookies’ favorites, alongside Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran. Smith himself tipped Goulding earlier in the month.
Related: James Bond: Who Will Sing the ‘SPECTRE’ Theme?
“The first gamble of the day was Ellie Goulding and punters were backing her as if she already had the gig but just as we were thinking of pulling the plug we had a load of bets for Radiohead including one customer who asked to place a £15,000 bet on the band at 10/1,” said a spokesperson for the William Hill bookmakers on Wednesday.
“There seem to be all kinds of rumors and the plot has had more twists and turns than a classic Bond tale, but surely nobody risks £15,000 on a hunch.”
Director Sam Mendes last week said that the song had already been recorded and that there wasn’t long to wait before the big reveal. Both he and Daniel Craig are known to be Radiohead fans, with Craig himself having spoken to lead singer Thom Yorke in 2013 for an article in Interview magazine.
Related: ‘SPECTRE’ Crewmembers Get Special Cameo in Latest James Bond Trailer
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