It is second time lucky for Banville, whose novel The Book Of Evidence was shortlisted for the Booker in 1989.

BBC: John Banville won a closely-contested prize

The U's faithful will be hoping it is a case of second time lucky after missing out in the play-off final under Quinn last year.

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Five years later Mr Saumarez Smith decamped to the Royal Academy of Arts and Mr Penny was second-time lucky.

ECONOMIST: London's National Gallery

And it is the second time the McKibbins have struck lucky in recent months.

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I'm also pregnant as I write this and I hope and pray that everything will go well a second time and we will be lucky enough to have a brother or sister for Emily.

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