Helen Mirren - Mirren Oscar A Sure Bet

Bookmaker William Hill is paying out bets to punters who have backed Dame Helen Mirren's Oscar win even though the awards ceremony is yet to be held.

The bookmaker has closed the book and won't be taking any more bets on Dame Helen's chances to win best actress, paying out 66/1 odds to punters.

Some payouts have reached over £50,000.

"Should the unimaginable occur and Dame Helen fails to win the Oscar then she will have been robbed and so will we," said spokesman Rupert Adams.

"We have not taken this decision lightly, but it has been one-way traffic since we opened the betting with almost every penny accepted on the best actress market for Dame Helen.

"She has swept the boards at all the major awards and looks a certainty to walk away with the Oscar," he said.

This is the first time in 20 years that William Hill has paid a bet out early.

Other bookmakers are still taking bets on the award, with a Paddy Power spokesman telling BBC News that the Oscars usually serve up "at least one surprise".