Christmas number one odds 2018: Who is the favourite to top this year's chart?

3 December 2018, 12:14 | Updated: 5 December 2018, 10:28

Could Queen do it for a third time?

Bookmakers have begun taking bets on the Christmas number one for 2018, and some iconic faces come near the top of the list.

Sir Elton John has odds of 10/1 to grab his first ever Christmas number one, according to Ladbrokes. The singer is featured in this year's John Lewis Christmas advert. However, with the song yet to chart in the top 40, and the advert already out for some time, its chances are rather slim.

Queen also have odds of 10/1 after the release of Bohemian Rhapsody. Queen have scored two Christmas number ones in the past, both with 'Bohemian Rhapsody', in 1975 and 1991. However, with the film already released and no Queen songs charting yet, this feels unlikely to happen again.

Elton John - Step Into Christmas

Ariana Grande is currently the favourite with her current number one single 'Thank U, Next' with odds of 2/1, while Ava Max follows at 5/2.

X Factor winner Dalton Harris has odds of 6/1 for his cover of 'The Power of Love', a duet with James Arthur.

Wham! currently have odds of 40/1, after George Michael fans recently launched a fresh campaign to get 'Last Christmas' to the top.

Christmas number one 2018 odds so far:

Ariana Grande - 2/1
Ava Max - 5/2
Dalton Harris - 6/1
Flakefleet Primary School - 6/1
James Arthur - 6/1
Miley Cyrus & Mark Ronson - 8/1
Clean Bandit - 10/1
Elton John - 10/1
Mariah Carey - 10/1
Queen - 10/1
Wham! - 40/1

Ed Sheeran bagged last year's Christmas number one with 'Perfect', despite a spirited effort from George Michael fans to get Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' to the top. In the end, it peaked at number two in the week after Christmas.