Following the Bank of England’s request for the public to nominate scientists for the face of the new £50 note, bookies have priced up the contenders.
Stephen Hawking has been Paddy Power’s favourite since it was announced the note was ready for a makeover. He is is now 5/2 in from 9/1 to be featured, making it two times more likely than before.
With many calling for a woman to be on the note, Dorothy Hodgkin (4/1) is rated most likely, as the only female Briton to have ever won a science Nobel prize.
However, mathematician and scientist Alan Turing has been well-backed in the market by punters, and is the 10/3 second favourite for selection.
Spokesman Paddy Power said: “We’ve had Stephen Hawking as our favourite for the face of the new £50 note for a while, and the latest Bank of England announcement has forced us to cut our odds further.
“With the character on the cash set to be a scientist, punters have been placing their money on Hawking, following support on social media from the likes of Professor Brian Cox.
“However, with many suggesting a woman should be selected, we’ve noted a rise in bets on both Dorothy Hodgkin and Ada Lovelace.”
WHO WILL APPEAR ON THE NEW £50 NOTE?
5/2 Stephen Hawking
10/3 Alan Turing
4/1 Dorothy Hodgkin
5/1 Ada Lovelace
9/1 Rosalind Franklin
16/1 James Clerk Maxwell
20/1 Kathleen Lonsdale
33/1 Ernest Rutherford
33/1 Frank Whittle