Ed and Sir Elton white hot favourites to land 70th festive chart-topper

• Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John’s highly-anticipated Christmas collaboration is now 4-5 favourite following its release.
• Their simply-titled track, Merry Christmas, dropped on Friday December 3, featuring a host of celebrities and referencing other hit Christmas music videos.
• Sausage roll loving Dad, LadBaby, is even-money second favourite, despite remaining tight-lipped about contesting a potentially historic, fourth successive chart-topper.
• Bookmaker William Hill instituted the now traditional flutter on the Christmas Number One back in the late seventies. 

Having just released their brand new festive offering, chart superstar Ed Sheeran and music icon Sir Elton John have been made short-priced favourites with William Hill for the 70th Christmas Number One. 

Simply titled, Merry Christmas, the track landed on Friday December 3, and is one of three Christmas collaborations the pair have recorded together. Bookmaker William Hill, which instituted the now traditional flutter on each year’s festive chart-topper, when taking bets on 1977’s No1, Mull of Kintyre, has it priced as short as 4-5 favourite to clinch 2021’s festive chart-topper.

Sheeran had revealed his friend and mentor Sir Elton approached him to collaborate on the charity track, initially penciling it in for Christmas 2022. But in truth, he wrote the chorus to Merry Christmas that same day.

The music video references other famous festive tracks, whilst also featuring cameo appearances from the likes of Mr Blobby, Jonathan Ross, Big Narstie, Michael McIntyre and The Darkness.

Apparently, Sir Elton ‘reached out’ on Christmas Day 2020 after discovering his Christmas song ‘Step Into Christmas’ had reached the top 10 for the first time ever.

All proceeds raised from the single will support the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Should other firm favourite LadBaby, real name Mark Boyle, fail to deliver a Christmas single this year, then the coveted crown looks destined to be shared by Ed and Sir Elton.

However, LadBaby has kept his cards close to his chest as to whether he will stake a claim for a historic fourth consecutive number one. Achieving such a feat – William Hill has LadBaby locked in as even-money second favourite – would see the Nottingham YouTubers draw level with The Beatles, who have four Christmas Number Ones to their name. 

Comedians Adam Rowe and Dan Nightingale have launched a bid to top the Christmas music charts, and, as things stand, the hit podcast, Have A Word, is an 8-1 chance, with their track Laura’s Gone, which takes its title from a running gag on the show.

After the rip-roaring success of her fourth studio album, 30, and an emotional An Audience With, powerhouse songstress Adele currently has three songs on track for a number one spot – but will she be at the top of the good list for this year’s Christmas Number One? William Hill has given her a 12-1 chance of claiming the Christmas cracker. 

Rising Indie band from Wigan, The Lathums, had chart success with the release of their debut album How Beautiful Life Can Be earlier this year. As their credentials continue to rise and more gigs are booked, can the four-piece band keep up the momentum and get their anti-festive tune Krampus to the top of the tree? William Hill has them at 20-1.

Comeback supergroup ABBA have entered the race for the first time this year with their single Little Things, which is a 25-1 shot, while St Martin’s Voices’ first foray into the music charts, is installed at 33-1, and Christmas Queen, Mariah Carey, is 50-1 and well primed to storm this year’s festive charts.

The 70th Christmas Number One will be announced at 17:45 on Friday December 24.

To Land The 70th Christmas Number One

Elton John & Ed Sheeran – 4-5

LadBaby – Evens

Adele – 12-1

The Lathums – 20-1

Abba – 25-1

St Martin’s Voices – 33-1

The Wanted – 50-1

Leona Lewis – 50-1

Mariah Carey – 50-1

Wham! 50-1

Cliff Richard – 50-1

Gary Barlow & Sheridan Smith – 50-1

Westlife – 66-1

Lola Young – 66-1

Justin Bieber – 66-1

Megan McKenna – 66-1

Craig Revel Horwood & Rietta – 66-1

*odds correct at time of publishing*

To view the Christmas Number One market, please visit: https://sports.williamhill.com/betting/en-gb/tv-specials/OB_EV21915074/uk-christmas-number-one-2021