What will be the Christmas number one song? Latest odds for the festive chart topper
IT’S that time of year again, the decorations are up, the presents are ordered and the celeb singers and charities alike are doing vocal warm-ups ready to release their Christmas singles.
The winner of the coveted Christmas number one will join the likes of The Spice Girls, Michael Jackson and Queen to secure their place in music history.
If you feel like throwing your hat in the ring, there’s still time! The cut-off point for sales and streams to be counted toward the chart, which in 2016 is midnight on December 22, so you need to get your track out there at least a week before.
The full Christmas Top 40 chart is set to be announced on BBC Radio 1’s official chart show with Greg James, on Friday December 23.
But who is in the running so far and what do their chances look like? Here are some of the bookies’ favourites and the odds…
X Factor winner 2/1
Despite previously dominating the Christmas charts X Factor has taken a back seat recently only bagging the top spot two years out of the last five.
Louisa Johnsons’ Forever Young flopped, coming in at just number nine.
But this year Mr Cowell is bringing out the big guns, having drafted in song writing royalty Ed Sheeran to pen his winner’s song in the hope that it will make a bigger impact on the Christmas charts.
The London Hospices Choir – The Living Years 2/1
The Christmas charts love a good old charity single and there are plenty in this year’s selection.
The London Hospices Choir is made up of patients, staff and volunteers from 18 hospices across the capital who are all hoping to replicate the success of last year’s NHS Choir single.
Inspiral Carpets – ‘Saturn 5’ 5/1
This year fans of 90s band Inspiral Carpets are campaigning to get them to the top of the charts for their late drummer Craig Gill.
Craig passed away on November 22 at the age of 44, and followers of the Manchester group are keen to get their 1994 single Saturn 5 back in the charts in his memory.
James Corden – The Greatest Gift for Christmas is Me 10/1
James Corden has stepped away from the wheel of his carpool karaoke long enough to record the single for Sainsbury's Christmas TV campaign.
The song The Greatest Gift for Christmas is Me, is the sound track for the TV adverts and now many be topping the Christmas charts.
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Vaults – One Day I'll Fly Away 10/1
The second of our list to have come from the year’s Christmas adverts, Vaults’ cover of Randy Crawford's One Day I'll Fly Away featured in John Lewis’ Christmas campaign.
The south London trio will be hoping to bag the top spot after two previous John Lewis Christmas ad tracks topped the Christmas charts.
James “SHINNy” Davenport - Christmas Number 1 12/1
If there’s one thing Simon Cowell learned from “Rage Against the Machine-gate” it’s to never underestimate the power of social media.
James “SHINNy” Davenport is drumming up support for his #XMasNo1 in aid of Mscmillan Cancer Care.
The Salford singer’s Facebook group has over 85,000 supporters and he’s often seen pushing the cause on Facebook live.
Gareth Malone 16/1
Gareth Malone is going for gold and hopes to join the likes of The Beatles and Spice Girls by bagging multiple Christmas number ones.
The popular choirmaster topped the festive charts in 2011 with help from the Military Wives as well as nabbing a number one with the Children in Need All Star Choir.
This year his album, A Great British Christmas, even features a track with Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson and has a TV show promoting the record.
Terry Wogan - The Floral Dance 22/1
Adoring fans of the late, great Sir Terry Wogan are honouring his memory by taking to social media to ask people to launch his debut single, 1978’s The Floral Dance to number one.
The Irish presenter’s track originally peaked at number 21 but with momentum gaining on the 'Floral Dance for Christmas Number 1' Facebook page, it could just make it to the top of the pops.
Robb Johnson and the Corbynistas – JC for PM for me 33/1
Keen Corbyn supporters and fans of Christmas can combine their two passions with this political pro-Corbyn festive tune.
Proceeds from the bonkers single will be donated to Trussell Trust charity who work to stop poverty and hunger in the UK.
Sir Cliff Richard – It’s Better To Dream 33/1
Sir Cliff has enjoyed a long history of Christmas number ones notching up four Christmas number ones on his festive bedpost.
This year he is hoping to do it again with his song It’s Better To Dream , a reworked version of a track on his recent album Just… Fabulous Rock ‘n’ Roll.