Who will win this year’s Booker?

THE winner of the most prestigious award in fiction publishing will be revealed on Tuesday when this year’s Man booker prize is announced.

The six finalists, three men and three women, couldn’t be more different: three debut novelists are up against veterans such as Paul auster with his 20th book, while Mohsin Hamid and ali Smith have been shortlisted before — in fact, autumn represents Smith’s fourth appearance on the list. The judges, chaired by baroness young, have whittled down 144 submissions to this final half-dozen.

Hours of debate will end in a £50,000 cheque and a guaranteed sales boost for one worthy (and very grateful) author. Plus, no doubt, masses of controversy as armchair critics disagree . . .

To help you make an informed guess, our reviewer EITHNE FARRY brings you the plots, authors and bookies’ odds of their winning.

TO FIND out the winner, tune in to the BBC News channel from 9.30pm on Tuesday.