The Christmas Novelty Markets Are Awash With Odds-On Favorites
Author:
Roy Brindley
If you like to bet on novelty markets, there is very little to excite you on TV this weekend. Strictly Come Dancing appears to be a done deal. At 1/8 Rose Ayling-Ellis looks home and hosed in Saturday’s final. The following evening – if you believe the bookmakers – Emma Raducanu has the Sports Personality of the Year award in her tennis bag. You can still back the teenager but be prepared to take odds of 1/20!
The bookmakers believe Emma Raducanu has the Sports Personality of the Year award in the bag. ©GettyImage
The following weekend we will discover who has won the race to Christmas Number One. We probably already know the outcome. When it was announced Elton John and Ed Sheeran had collaborated on the LadBaby song ‘Sausage Rolls For Everyone’ they became the 1/8 favorites to top the charts on Christmas Day.
The Midwife May Be More Popular Than the Queen’s Message
And the odds-on shots keep on coming. Call The Midwife is strongly fancied to be the most viewed program on December 25th. 2/5 is the best price on offer amongst the best sports betting sites.
The BBC show had the second-highest number of viewers on Christmas Day in 2020, with an average audience of 5.43 million. 12 months ago, it was well adrift of The Queen’s Christmas Message which attracted 8.14 million viewers across both the BBC and ITV.
However, most bookmakers quote the individual BBC broadcast of the Queen’s Christmas Message in their betting list. This explains why Call The Midwife is positioned at the top of the betting list. Other candidates are Mrs Brown’s Boys (12/1), Strictly Come Dancing (16/1) and The Masked Singalong (18/1).
Can Boris Last Another Few Weeks?
If Boris Johnson were to leave his Downing Street office before the end of the year the news story would attract some equally impressive television viewing figures.
Can it happen? When a leaked video of Number 10 staff joking about holding a Christmas party went public last week, most bookmakers cut the Tory leader into 8/1 from 25/1 to walk from the leadership before the end of the year.
Some online sportsbooks, such as William Hill, are even shorter about a pre-2022 Prime Minister resignation. They offer just 6/1. The firm’s odds compilers believe a departure during any part of 2022 is more likely and rate that scenario at 5/6.
Connor Ball has been backed to skate off with the Dancing on Ice title. ©GettyImage
How Will Ball Fare on the Ice?
A new series of Dancing On Ice is just around the corner. For many, it is more entertaining than politics. From a betting viewpoint, the 2022 show is wide-open.
Bookmakers have reported early support for pop star Connor Ball. The 25-year-old Vamps guitarist was initially priced at 20/1 to win the ITV show. A steady flow of money has seen his odds shrink and he is now a 12/1 shot.
Brendan Cole, better known for his time on Strictly Come Dancing, remains the 3/1 front-runner. Former Love Island Contestant Liberty Poole is the 4/1 second favorite.
