Early days but talk is already out about the Christmas Number 1. Nobody seems capable of stopping Simon Cowell and his X Factor juggernaut so attention turns to the best placed runner-up! Could be a swing back to the 90s with Boyzone and Take That apparently interested.

Paddypower is offering all our readers a free bet on the Christmas Number One 2008

Here are the odds:

Singles Only. Applies to the highest placed previously released christmas song in the UK Top 40 (BBC Radio 1) on Christmas Day 2008.

The Pogues - Fairytale of New York  5 - 4 
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas  20 - 1 
Aled Jones - Walking in the Air  80 - 1 
Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas  6 - 4 
Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas  25 - 1 
Cliff Richard - Mistletoe and Wine  100 - 1 
Wham - Last Christmas  12 - 1 
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmas Time  33 - 1 
Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree  100 - 1 
Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday  14 - 1 
Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song  33 - 1 
Boney M - Mary's Boy Child  100 - 1 
Shakin Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone  16 - 1 
Bing Crosby - White Christmas  40 - 1 
Dean Martin - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!  100 - 1 
Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody  18 - 1 
Elton John - Step Into Christmas  50 - 1 
David Bowie and Bing Crosby - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy  100 - 1 
Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time  20 - 1 
Perry Como - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas  80 - 1 
Kylie - Santa Baby  100 - 1 

Here is the market without the X-factor

UK Christmas No.1 w/o X Factor Winner 
Singles Only. Applies to the highest placed single without the 2008 X Factor Winner on Christmas Day 2008 according to BBC Radio 1 Chart. Others on request. Dead Heat Rules May Apply. 

Aled Jones  11 - 8 
Katie Melua  50 - 1 
Michael Buble  80 - 1 
Leona Lewis  6 - 1 
Beyonce  50 - 1 
Carrie Underwood  80 - 1 
Peter Kay  12 - 1 
Christina Aguilera  50 - 1 
Dido  80 - 1 
Take That  14 - 1 
Band Aid  50 - 1 
Amy Winehouse  100 - 1 
The Priests  18 - 1 
Britney Spears  50 - 1 
Dean Martin  100 - 1 
Victoria Hart  18 - 1 
Rihanna  50 - 1 
Andy Williams  100 - 1 
Men Aloud  20 - 1 
Mariah Carey  50 - 1 
Paul McCartney  100 - 1 
Status Quo  20 - 1 
Same Difference  66 - 1 
Glam Chops  100 - 1 
George Sampson  20 - 1 
Cliff Richard  66 - 1 
Spice Girls  150 - 1 
Killers & Elton John  25 - 1  
Kings of Leon  66 - 1 
Shayne Ward  150 - 1 
Girls Aloud  25 - 1  
Will Young  66 - 1  
Shakin Stevens  150 - 1 
Boyzone  25 - 1 
Sugababes  66 - 1 
Nat King Cole  150 - 1 
Ricky Hatton  33 - 1 
Pink  66 - 1 
Lemar  150 - 1 
The Wombats  33 - 1 
Ian Reddington  66 - 1 
Kylie  150 - 1 
The Pogues  40 - 1 
Snow Patrol  66 - 1 
Westlife  150 - 1 
Tom Jones  40 - 1 
Leon Jackson  66 - 1 
Elvis Presley  150 - 1 
Rolf Harris  40 - 1 
Wizzard  80 - 1 
James Blunt  150 - 1 
Any of High School Musical Cast  40 - 1 
Slade  80 - 1 
Celine Dion  150 - 1 
Bo Pepper  40 - 1 
Keane  80 - 1 
Bing Crosby  150 - 1 
Gabriella Cilmi  40 - 1 
Eric Clapton  80 - 1 
Anastacia  150 - 1 
Libera  40 - 1 
Ne-Yo  80 - 1 
Alicia Keys  150 - 1 
Wham!  40 - 1 
The Feeling  80 - 1 
Ben & Jerry's Christmas Cowal  150 - 1 
Mr.Superfly  40 - 1 
Salvation Army  80 - 1 
Jason Donovan  150 -  1

Click here to go to Paddypower and to pick up that free bet