Pop Idol favourite for Xmas number-one

News - ELSPA and Ladbrokes reveal their picks

Trade body ELSPA last week released their picks for the UK's Christmas number one spot, in association with bookie Ladbrokes. Of course no one can be sure which game will be number one come Christmas day, but the ELSPA / Ladbrokes list looks hard to bet against - placing Pop Idol as 2/1 favourite.

There are however some other strong contenders with much longer odds. Such as Mario Kart. We're not quite sure whether this hype will succeed in generating the kind of furore that surrounds a Christmas number one in the music charts, however its encouraging to see how mainstream gaming is increasingly becoming with such dialogue taking place at all.

Here's ELSPA and Ladbrokes predictions, and their respective odds should you fancy a flutter.

1/2 Favourite Pop Idol
5/1 Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
10/1 Eye Toy: Groove
10/1 FIFA Football 2004
14/1 LOTR: Return of the King
14/1 The Sims Bustin' Out
14/1 Tony Hawk Underground
20/1 Manhunt
40/1 Mario Kart: Double Dash!
50/1 Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

A spokesperson for Ladbrokes commented: "With Pop Idol fever gripping the nation and the game appealing to all age groups, we believe that this will top the charts come Christmas. We're sure it's going to be a hit. There may even be more people being put down by Simon Cowell at 3pm on Christmas Day than watching the Queen's Speech!"