Former Wigan wedding band The Lathums 8-1 shot for Christmas Number One

Indie band The Lathums have been slashed from 150-1 to 8-1 to secure the 70th Christmas Number One, according to William Hill.

The bookmaker, which instituted the now traditional flutter on each year’s festive chart-topper when taking bets on 1977’s No1, Mull of Kintyre, has their uplifting new Christmas single Krampus at odds of 8-1.

The Wigan-based foursome, the latest in a wave of British groups to enjoy UK chart success this year, scored with a Number 1 debut album with How Beautiful Life Can Be last month and could now complete their remarkable rise to the very top, by registering the 70th Christmas Number One.

Their Christmas single with a twist dropped on social media on November 12, as a thank you to their loyal following of fans. It came accompanied by the caption “Our brand new Christmas single ‘Krampus’ drops at midnight for everyone’s listening pleasure. It was written in the blistering heat on one of the hottest days we’ve had in a long time, which is quite unusual as it’s cold and rainy most of the time here. Enjoy x”.

Talking about penning the track in 2020, frontman Alex Moore said: “It was about halfway through the first lockdown when Johnny played the bassline in rehearsals and I thought it sounded like a Christmas song. Scott and I had been round at his house watching the Inside No.9 Christmas special, which is where I found out about the horror of Krampus. If we were to do a Christmas song, I wanted to do it with that dark side.

“I am not a massive Christmas fan, but always eventually get my paper hat on and join in the fun, I can’t help it. After the year we’ve had we’ve got so much cause to celebrate, so this single is one last ‘thank you’ to everyone that’s supported us for the year. See you all, even bigger and better, in 2022”

William Hill spokesperson Rupert Adams said: “This year has been the best year for new British groups in well over a decade, with bands right across the UK breaking through. The track has come out of nowhere really, and it is now considered a serious contender for this year’s festive chart-topper. The band’s huge following will have been a big factor in their odds being slashed, but how great is it to see a former wedding band going toe-to-toe with some of the chart’s big guns!”

And they have been plunged right into the thick of it, sandwiched between powerhouse songstress Adele, fresh from her first new music in six years, Easy On Me, and all the record-obliterating feats that came with it, while Swedish supergroup ABBA are about to launch their first ever Christmas track.

Adele, whose new album, titled 30, is due to drop later this week, and is one of the best selling artists of the 21st century is 5-1 to join the Christmas music hall of fame, which includes the likes of The Beatles, Queen, Sir Cliff Richard and The Spice Girls.

ABBA’s festive single, Little Things, is described as a “gentle reflection on the joy of Christmas morning and family time,” and with their first album in 40 years becoming the fastest selling album of 2021, with over 204,000 chart sales in its first week, the four-piece are currently 12-1.

Chart superstar Ed Sheeran and music icon Sir Elton John remain firm favourites to land Christmas Number One at 8-13, or as much as a 61% chance of clinching top spot.

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.

The powerhouse pair have created three new Christmas songs, the first of which will be released at the beginning of December, and is called Merry Christmas.

LadBaby, real name Mark Boyle, 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 is offering odds of 7-4 (second favourite) – would see Boyle draw level with The Beatles, who have four Christmas Number Ones to their name.

And they keep on coming, with recently reunited boy band The Wanted setting their hearts on securing the top festive single at 33-1, rising star Lola Young, the voice of John Lewis’ cute Christmas curtain raiser, also at 33-1, and Gary Barlow and Sheridan Smith’s pending duet of How Christmas Is Supposed To Be available at 40-1,

Sir Cliff Richard’s re-recorded version of Mistletoe and Wine, 1988’s Christmas Number One, is 40-1, and leads a host of other Christmas classics, including; Wham! At 33-1, and Mariah Carey, primed for another Last Christmas at 40-1, while Westlife (66-1), who have just released new single My Hero, and Leona Lewis, who has announced a repack of her 2013 festive album, now titled Christmas, With Love Always, at 40-1, make this year’s battle to finish top of the tree an absolute bumper.

Christmas Number One Odds

Elton John & Ed Sheeran 8-13

LadBaby – 7-4

Adele – 5-1

The Lathums – 8-1

Abba – 12-1

The Wanted – 33-1

Lola Young 33-1

Wham! 33-1

Leona Lewis 40-1

Mariah Carey 40-1

Coldplay 40-1

Cliff Richard – 40-1

Gary Barlow & Sheridan Smith – 40-1

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