Sam Bailey’s odds slashed again in face of ‘relentless’ support
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Prison officer Sam Bailey is a dead cert to be crowned winner of this year’s X Factor, according to the latest odds.
In the face of what Ladbrokes has described as “relentless support” for the 36-year-old, the bookmaker has slashed the price on a win for the likeable contestant – dubbed “Screwbo” by fans – to 1/4.
Bets have been flooding in for Bailey to win Sunday night’s showpiece finale, which will see her take to the stage with judge Nicole Scherzinger, and such is the X Factor’s dominance of the festive music scene that she is also heavily fancied to land a Christmas Number One.
Odds of 4/6 say the singer’s debut single will land the coveted chart spot, while rival Nicholas McDonald is priced as the 6/1 second favourite alongside U2, Susan Boyle and Elvis Presley and AC/DC.
McDonald is also second favourite to win the talent contest at 9/2, while 17-year-old Luke Friend is seen as the rank outsider at 12/1.
However, Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes claimed the result is a foregone conclusion, saying: “Sam’s popularity has blown the rest of the contestants out of the water.
“Nicholas and Luke may as well not even bother turning up to Wembley as punters cannot see Sam losing.”
Show bosses hope that teaming the contestants with stars like Scherzinger will see the series – which has lost out in the ratings war to BBC rival Strictly Come Dancing – end with a bang.
An audience of between 10 and 12 million tuning in can be backed at evens, while those anticipating further apathy towards the show can back fewer than 10 million at 3/1.
While Bailey has confirmed that she will perform with Scherzinger – who has no remaining contestant to mentor – rivals McDonald and Friend will sing with Shane Filan and Ellie Goudling respectively in a bid to cause arguably the biggest upset in X Factor history.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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