David Bowie is the bookies’ favourite to win the Mercury Prize 2016

With the nominees in for this year’s Mercury Prize, the bookies have wasted no time whatsoever in racking up the odds for a victory from each artist. David Bowie has emerged as the early favourite, with a win for his final album ‘Blackstar’ given 2/1 odds.

Hailed as the iconic musician’s final swan song and farewell, Bowie released his 25th studio album just two days before his death, and his co-producer Tony Visconti called it “parting gift”.

Radiohead - the prize’s very own Leonardo DiCaprio, with five Mercury nominations to date, and still no victory - follow closely behind, with 5/1 odds on a win for ‘A Moon Shaped Pool’. Meanwhile, The 1975’s ridiculously titled ‘i like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it’ has odds of 12/1. Savages and Laura Mvula are at 16/1, meanwhile, with The Comet is Coming and Jamie Woon are both ranked as outside shots at the moment - they’ve both got odds of 25/1.

The full bookies’ tips are as follows (odds taken from Ladbrokes):

David Bowie - 2/1
Radiohead - 5/1
Anohni - 5/1
Skepta - 8/1
Michael Kiwanuka - 10/1
The 1975 - 12/1
Kano - 12/1
Laura Mvula - 16/1
Savages - 16/1
Bat For Lashes - 16/1
The Comet Is Coming - 25/1
Jamie Woon - 25/1

Please bet responsibly, pals!