Strictly Come Dancing

This week it was the Wid-Wag double causing quite a stir amongst punters. For those who haven’t heard what that is it’s the combined odds for both Anne Widdecombe to win Strictly Come Dancing and Brazil nut Wagner walking away with The X Factor.

Impossible we hear you say? Not quite! Wagner’s odds have already been slashed dramatically to 7/1 from an all time high of 100/1 as the online campaign to drive him to victory appears to be gathering momentum while former Tory Ann Widdecombe also can’t seem to put a foot wrong with the public on this year’s Strictly with her odds plummeting to just 13/2 to win the show outright.

The recent gambles means punters are snapping up the 50/1 on offer that Widdecombe and Wagner will pull off a shock win!

In I’m A Celebrity, Gillian McKeith’s odds have also come in from a staggering 80/1 to just 25/1 to be crowned Queen of the jungle, although she’ll need a small miracle to beat the lovable 4/7 favourite Stacey Solomon.

THIS WEEKENDS REALITY TV BETTING UPDATE

X-Factor
Matt Cardle is still the 7/4 favourite but One Direction are closing the gap at odds of 9/4. All the chat however is about Wagner. This could turn out to be Simon Cowell’s worst Christmas ever!

Strictly Come Dancing
Who would have thought a politician could be so popular? Former Tory Ann Widdecombe is not the best dancer on this year’s show but she’s a massive hit with viewers, while Matt Baker and Scott Maslen are still the ones to beat.

I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here
She’s spoilt and she’s annoying but above all else Gillian McKeith is entertaining. The fact Sheryl Gascoigne went first could be an indication that Gillian has a lot more fans than initially thought. As Stacey would say ‘Go on Gillers’! (more…)

Paddy Power is offering 66/1 on a sensational Wid-Wag double as momentum builds for Anne Widdecombe and Wagner Fiuza-Carrilho to win their respective Saturday night shows.

Despite being placed as this year’s ‘comedy’ acts on Strictly Come Dancing and the X Factor Widdecombe and Wagner are proving so popular that the double bet for both stars to claim an unexpected win, originally offered at 100/1, has been snapped up by punters with an increasing belief reality TV fans are fed up having their voting manipulated by the judges personal or financial preferences.

Wagner, originally a 100/1 shot to win X Factor, has also been cut by Paddy Power since last weekend from 20/1 to just 9/1 with the Brazilian crooner by far the worst result on the bookie’s X Factor market. Paddy Power estimates Wagner would land X Factor punters an early Christmas present of more than £3million across the industry should he go all the way.

Paddy Power, said: “A Wagner victory and a Wid-Wag double have been the bets punters are looking to get on in the last 24 hours and suggests the worm may have turned in the nation’s reality TV watching. It would be a great Christmas present for all the punters that backed them although Cheryl and Simon might be left choking on their turkey.”

Meanwhile Paddy Power has also started betting on what will top the TV ratings in this year’s Christmas battle. Eastenders are the hot favourite to secure victory for the BBC at just 2/5 whilst rival soap Coronation Street is out at 10/1. The BBC also have the second and third favourites in the ratings betting with the Royle Family and Doctor Who at 6/1 and 8/1, respectively. (more…)

Another dramatic weekend in the world of reality TV with veteran actor Nigel Havers quitting I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Paige Richardson getting the boot from X-Factor and Felicity Kendal becoming the seventh celebrity to leave Strictly Come Dancing.

I’m A Celebrity….

As usual the bookies were quick to react to news Down Under with Paddy Power shortening Stacey Solomon to 4/6 to be this year’s Queen of the Jungle and Happy Mondays front man Shaun Ryder now the 7/2 second favourite.   Gillian McKeith remains the 7/4 favourite for Thursday’s first eviction with Paddy Power now taking bets on how many more times she faints; two is the 9/4 favourite!

X-Factor

With Cher’s unlikely inclusion in the bottom two, Paddy Power have pushed her odds from 8/1 from 14/1.  One Direction have replaced Rebecca Ferguson as the 2/1 second favourite and now appear to be closing the gap on outright favourite Matt Cardle.  Despite her cloud pleasing performance of ‘Help’ on Saturday night, Katie Waissel remains the 5/4 favourite to be eliminated next.

Strictly Come Dancing

With his first two tens in the bag Matt Baker is now the strong 11/8 favourite with Paddy Power to win this year’s series ahead of Scott Maslen at 9/4 and Kara Tointon at 7/2.  Patsy Kensit is tipped for next elimination at 11/10 ahead of rugby ace Gavin Henson at 11/4.

(more…)

With X Factor in its eighth week, Strictly Come Dancing hotting up and now I’m A Celebrity back on our screens, it’s non-stop in the world of reality TV.

Matt Cardle remains the man to beat in X Factor while Katie Waissel looks certain to finally get her marching orders this week.

In the jungle, former X Factor finalist Stacey Solomon is proving to be a massive hit with viewers and is already the 8/11 red hot favourite to be crowned Queen of the jungle.

The BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing is a little more unpredictable. Who’d have guessed Ann Widdecombe would still be in it to win it? The former politician is very entertaining and could go far if the public continue to get behind her.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Between X Factor, Strictly and now I’m A Celeb, reality TV is taking over our lives – it’s getting harder to leave the sitting room these days never mind the house!”

THIS WEEKENDS REALITY TV BETTING UPDATE

X-Factor
It’s Beatles week on X Factor this weekend but even that won’t be enough to save Katie Waissel. We’ve lost count of the amount of times she’s been in the bottom two and the odds would suggest she’ll need a small miracle to survive this week! Brazilian nut Wagner on the other hand is threatening to go all the way at 20/1!

I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here
Ever year there is a chosen one. The chosen one usually gets picked to do the majority of trials because the public want to see them squirm. Think Katie Price and Janice Dickinson! This year’s ‘chosen one’ is celeb nutritionist Gillian McKeith. Unfortunately Gillian is allergic to and afraid of pretty much everything, meaning the camp could soon starve if she’s not booted out! Unlike Katie Price or Janice Dickinson there isn’t enough of the ‘entertainment factor’ there with Gillers and she could be in trouble when it comes to the public vote!

Strictly Come Dancing
Matt Baker and Scott Maslen are setting the standard on this year’s Strictly but we’re loving former EastEnder and his has to be said, absolute stunner – Kara Tointon. It’s difficult to see her winning though as the public just don’t seem to share our love of the actress. In fact, they’re loving former politician Ann Widdecombe a lot more it seems! (more…)

Paddy Power are betting there could be wedding bells in the air for Strictly Come Dancing beauty Kara Tointon and her hunky Russian dance partner Artem Chigvintsev.

The former EastEnder has been setting pulses racing with her smouldering Paso Doble and Cha Cha dance routines and is alleged to be smitten with her new hip wiggling beau!

Artem has even been home to meet Kara’s mother setting tongues wagging that their romance is the real deal and prompting bookies Paddy Power to bet 10/1 that the pair will be dancing up the aisle before the end of next year!

It’s not the first time that love has blossomed on the BBC One show. Retired undefeated boxing champion Joe Calzaghe also met his Siberian siren lover Kristina Rihanoff on the popular dance show last year with the couple even quoted in magazines that they would consider marriage!

However, although things look to be heating up between Kara and Artem, slipping a ring on her finger will be no easy task, particularly with her ex of two years Joe Swash still hanging around! The fellow EastEnder is said to be desperate to win Kara back after splitting earlier this year and according to Paddy Power there’s an 11/10 chance he could be back on her harm by January!

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Strictly has caused a couple of relationship splits down the years so it’s nice to see love blossoming among the shows singletons for a change. Kara and Artem make a very hot couple. Who knows, we could soon see our first Strictly wedding!” (more…)

This year’s X Factor is wide open according to Paddy Power. Unlike previous years there’s little separating the acts and it’s proving impossible to separate three of the top five in the betting!

At the moment Matt Cardle remains the 7/2 favourite, but only by a hair! Hot on his heels is Blackpool lad Aiden Grimshaw, Liverpool lass Rebecca Ferguson and pop wannabes’ 1 Direction all at 9/2.

Cheryl Cole’s mini-me Cher Lloyd follows at 6/1 with Mary Byrne a steady 7/1.

Strictly Come Dancing on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish altogether! Matt Baker has stomped his way into pole position at 15/8 to be crowned this year’s King of the dance floor, while former goalkeeper Peter Shilton looks likely to drop the ball this week with Paddy Power quoting just 6/4 that he’ll be eliminated.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “There are at least six acts who could win the X Factor this year. The standard is very high meaning the competition is going to be fiercer than ever this year!” (more…)

Gavin Henson is the 7/2 favourite to win this year’s Strictly Come Dancing however Paddy Power are also betting on what the Welsh rugby player is arguably even more famous for – the colour of his fake tan.

The bookie has produced its own Henson Hue Chart for punters to bet on the colour shade of the Welshman’s fake tan for the first show of the new series. The favourite is Welsh Walnut at 9/4 followed by Ronseal at 5/2. Other shades include a dance-themed Tango Orange at 12/1, Valleys Varnish at 8/1 and a Jordan like fake tan at 7/2. The darkest shade of all, David Dickinson, is 4/1 whilst an unlikely light Snowdonia is the 33/1 outsider.

Henson is also 9/1 to break Strictly’s backstage tanning machine during the series.

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “Henson was often criticised in the macho rugby world for being more interested in his tan than his rugby, now punters are guessing on whether he’ll be more interested in his tan or his tango. Viewers should be warned not to adjust their sets when Gavin waltzes on stage as his fake tan has the ability to be even more dazzling than Strictly’s sequinned costumes.”

In the betting to win the dance contest favourite Henson is followed in the market by former Eastender Kara Tointon at 9/2 with Matt Baker and Tina O’Brien at 5/1.

Rabbits

Paul Daniels is the 3/1 favourite to be one of the show’s rabbits in headlights and be eliminated first followed by Ann Widdecombe at 7/2. In other Paddy Power specials, former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton is 3/1 to drop his dance partner whilst Paul Daniels is 40/1 to pull a rabbit out of his dance partner’s dress during a show. (more…)

The full line up for this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing has not yet been revealed but already Paddy Power have made gorgeous model Kelly Brook their 11/4 red-hot favourite to return to the show and dance her way to victory.

The lads’ mag queen previously took part in the show three years ago but had to pull out of the competition after her father passed away. Now, fresh from her role in Hollywood movie Piranha 3D, Kelly is tipped to leave the rest of the rumoured contestants for dust!

Paddy Power have made Welshman and rugby player Gavin Henson their 7/2 second favourite to win the show followed by EastEnders Kara Tointon at 5/1, and Destiny’s Child singer Michelle Williams at 8/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “With her killer curves and knockout dance moves Kelly showed star quality when she appeared on the show in 2007. Three years on she’s more popular than ever and she’d be very hard to beat if she decides to give it a go again!”

Paddy Power are tipping this Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing launch show to fetch between 8million and 9million viewers at 9/4 while it’s 2/1 that the series will peak at between 12million and 13million viewers this year. (more…)

Geordie genii Ant and Dec are the bookies red-hot favourites to win their ninth consecutive award for Best TV presenters at the National TV Awards on 20 January.

Bookies Paddy Power make the nations favourite hosts just 1/4 to bag the award while their popular show ‘The Saturday Night Takeaway’ is also short odds at 11/10 to beat The Paul O’Grady Show, Big Brother and Ant and Dec’s other TV gem ‘I’m A Celebrity’ to the accolade.

In other categories, David Tenant looks set to take the gong for Best Drama Performance for his role as the Doctor while ‘Doctor Who’ itself is 1/3 to win Best Drama. EastEnders Lacey Turner is the 5/4 tip to walk away with the Best Serial Drama Performance for her challenging role as Stacey Slater while EastEnders is 4/6 to beat rivals Corrie and Emmerdale in the Best Serial Drama category.

The most hotly contested category looks to be in the Best Talent Show where both Simon Cowell’s X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent will battle it out with Strictly Come Dancing to be crowned King.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “These really are the awards that matter as they’re completely voted for by the public. It will be a case of déjà vu for Ant and Dec who are heading for their ninth win but the other categories could still throw up a few surprises!” (more…)

Bookmaker Paddy Power has chalked up a wide array of New Year showbiz and celebrity bets to help you kiss goodbye to the noughties and say hello to the teenies.

Punters can sink their teeth into a number of tasty specials such as which celebrity couple will tie the knot first to which eligible bachelor decides to settle down. There’re even odds on which celebrity twit will become the first to leave twitter!

2009 was a turbulent year for Kerry Katona but nothing compared to the bogie of a year golf legend Tiger Woods played – it’s these controversies which have ensured Paddy Power’s ‘Dispatches’ market is more popular than ever. Prince Harry and Chelsy are the 4/1 favourites to split first while a massive gamble on Cheryl and Ashley Cole to have the first baby of 2010 has seen the odds on them splitting up drift out to 8/1 from 5/1.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Who could have predicted this time last year that squeaky clean Tiger would be in this position? Some of our New Year novelty bets might seem a little far fetched but they do happen!”

Take a look at what you could have won last year:
•    Cheryl Cole was voted Sexiest Woman             – Paddy Power offered 4/1
•    Katy Perry was the 1st celeb bad mouthed by Lily Allen     – Paddy Power offered 12/1
•    Bruce Springsteen headlined Glastonbury         – Paddy Power offered 16/1
•    Prince Harry & Chelsy were 1st to split         – Paddy Power offered 20/1
•    Slumdog Millionaire won Best Film at The Oscars     – Paddy Power offered 20/1
•    Oasis were the first band to break up             – Paddy Power offered 33/1 (more…)