Britons Bet on Failure for Magician David Blaine

[TexasStooge]

LONDON (Reuters) - They have bared their breasts and buttocks at him; bombarded him with eggs, golf balls and insults. Now many Britons are beginning to have doubts that American illusionist David Blaine can last the course on his latest stunt.

Bookmakers William Hill said Wednesday they had been forced to shorten the odds on Blaine managing to go 44 days without food after a rush of new bets.

It is now offering odds on him succeeding of 4/9, having started taking bets at 2/9. "Almost all the money we are taking is for Blaine to fail," said spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"Despite the fact that he has achieved every other target he has set himself, people seem to think that this may just be one stunt too far," he added. "His chances are getting slimmer, like him."

The 30-year-old New Yorker is staging his fast in a clear box hanging from a crane by London's landmark Tower Bridge. Almost from the start, 12 days ago, he has attracted as much abuse as support from Londoners and Tuesday a man was charged by police over an attempt to cut the water supply to Blaine's box.