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TV choirmaster Gareth Malone has become a hot tip for the Christmas number one with bookies slashing his odds to make him second favourite.
The BBC Two presenter is now the closest contender to take the prized festive top spot behind the X Factor winner, according to William Hill.
He is to release a single with a choir of military wives after TV viewers were gripped by his latest quest to get their singing skills into shape.
Radio 2's Chris Evans has already championed the track, Wherever You Are, and encouraged listeners to ensure it has a chance of becoming a number one.
Viewers last night saw the finale of the series The Choir: Military Wives as the women performed at the Royal Albert Hall on Remembrance Sunday.
William Hill now puts them 7/2 second favourites for the Christmas Number One.
Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams said: "This is a fantastic move in the market and they have a real chance of beating the X Factor."
The as-yet-unknown winner of this year's X Factor is 2/5 favourite.
Other strongly fancied artists to take the festive number one include Nirvana with Smells Like Teen Spirit and Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber's All I Want For Christmas Is You. Both tracks are ranked 7/1.
