Pop Idol finalists are bookies' tips for Christmas number one

Pop Idol finalists Will Young and Gareth Gates are already joint favourites to have the Christmas number one single.

Online bookmakers Blue Square quote the pair at odds of 8/1 to top the festive charts.

Blue and Westlife are also 8/1 shots, followed by Robbie Williams at 10/1.

Blue Square are also offering odds of 33/1 on third-placed Pop Idol contestant Darius Danesh.

Other artists in the Christmas number one betting include S Club 7 at 12/1, Bob The Builder at 14/1, Kylie Minogue at 16/1, and Ronan Keating at 20/1.

Hear'Say, Britney Spears, Cliff Richard and former Steps stars H and Claire are all outsiders at 50/1.