Music Blogs

The sub-arctic conditions in the UK this week remind us not only that this country is really not suitable for humans but that Christmas is just around the corner. With "Top Of The Pops" set to be rightly resurrected by the BBC and not (praise be!) Simon Cowell for a one-off festive special, our thoughts turn to the imminent annual pop chart bun-fight, as well as the Little Baby Jesus, of course.

Inevitably, the unmentionable, dastardly music mogul's dirty fingerprints will be all over this year's Number One, particularly if the torpedo-chested Ruth Lorenzo triumphs. Boom boom. The latest odds suggest the 2008 "X-Factor" winner is an absolute shoo-in to claim the big prize, with bookmakers offering 1/4 that they will have more than just a doomed singing career to celebrate come December 25.

Here are the current runners and riders:

Winner of "X Factor" 2008 (1/4)
Terry Wogan & Aled Jones (3/1)
Geraldine Mcqueen (16/1)
Leona Lewis (16/1)
Take That (16/1)
Katie Melua (20/1)
Bob The Builder (33/1)
Cliff Richard (33/1)
Girls Aloud (33/1)
Ricky Hatton (33/1)

Good to see Cliff Richard in there. And Ricky Hatton. Anyway, back to the "X-Factor", because today's tabloids suggest the judges are on collision course once again, this time over which song the show's winner will present to the nation. Apparently Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is the favourite, which has prompted claims of bias in favour of Diana Vickers, who has already sung it during filming.

"Tempers are running high. They feel it is just the latest in a series of stunts that have left them wondering if the competition has already been won", a ‘source' ranted. "Simon came out at a charity dinner saying his choice to win was Diana. And now they feel the winner's song has been chosen because it suits her vocals." Well, many acts have tried to conquer "Hallelujah" but Famethrowa's personal favourite is Jeff Buckley's. This year's "X-Factor" winner may not need a miracle to top the festive pop charts but they will to top this.