December's release schedules may not be written yet but this year's Pop Idol winner is already bookies favourite to get the Christmas number one. William Hill are offering 4:1 on whoever wins the ITV show to top the charts. Whoever wins Fame Academy is second favourite at 7:1. Justin Timberlake, Busted, Kylie and Robbie Williams are all also in the running.
The previous series of Pop Idol did not fit in with the Christmas number one schedule – but last year's Popstars The Rivals show was specifically designed to have its winning teen bands ready for the Christmas market, and the second series of Pop Idol has followed suit. A William Hill spokesman told reporters: "We may not know who is going to win these reality TV shows, but they will finish nicely in time for Christmas. Last year Popstars: The Rivals generated huge interest with their competition for the Christmas number one, and Pop Idol is our favourite to do it this year."
Whether ITV / BMG bosses will allow the Pop Idol runner up to also release a single in time for Christmas, thus creating a 'Rivals' style battle, remains to be seen. Otherwise it may turn into a BBC/ITV Fame Academy/Pop Idol contest. Though the latter seems to be the favourite just now lets not forget this time last year One True Voice were favourites to beat Girls Aloud to the Christmas number one and future pop glories.
Other odds for the festive chart topper line up as follows: 4/1 Pop Idol 2003 winner; 7/1 Fame Academy 2003 winner, Girls Aloud; 8/1 Justin Timberlake; 9/1 Busted; 10/1 Westlife; 12/1 Robbie Williams; 14/1 Kylie Minogue; 16/1 Christina Aguilera; 20/1 David Sneddon, Elvis, Britney Spears; 25/1 Gareth Gates, Madonna; 33/1 Cheeky Girls, Eminem, Liberty X, Sir Cliff Richard.