Darkness heat up Christmas charts

The Darkness have been a sensation in 2003

Rock band The Darkness have overtaken the Pop Idol 12 to emerge as favourites for the Christmas number one.

Their single Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) is now 1-3 with Ladbrokes bookmakers.

The Pop Idol 12's Happy Xmas (War is Over) is currently at 9-4 with William Hill and 8-1 at Ladbrokes.

"Nobody seems interested in backing the Pop Idol 12 - we didn't take a single bet on them yesterday," said a William Hill spokesman.

The Christmas chart will be unveiled on Sunday.

"If it carries on like this it will be a one-horse race by the weekend," the spokesman added.

Ladbrokes odds on Christmas Number One 1-3 - The Darkness, Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) 3/1 - Michael Andrews feat Gary Jules, Mad World 8/1 - Pop Idol 12, Happy Xmas (War is Over) 25-1 - Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne, Changes 50-1 - Avid Merrion, Proper Crimbo

Gary Jules' Mad World is at 3-1 with both bookmakers. A Ladbrokes spokesman said the song, which was used in cult hit film Donnie Darko, had overtaken the Pop Idol 12.

Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne's Changes currently has odds of 25-1 with William Hill and Ladbrokes, despite topping the charts on Sunday.

The Darkness have released their single on three different CD formats in the race, one of which costs just £1.99, which is thought to be helping their chart chances.

The Idols' song was recorded by all 12 of the TV talent show's finalists before they began to get voted out of the contest.

William Hill odds on Christmas Number One 8-11 - The Darkness, Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) 5-2 - Pop Idol 12, Happy Xmas (War is Over) 2-1 - Michael Andrews feat Gary Jules, Mad World 25-1 - Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne, Changes 50-1 - Avid Merrion, Proper Crimbo

But, as a song about war ending, it has been criticised by some as a poor choice given the current situation in Iraq.

CND have called for profits to go to humanitarian organisations and called the release "insensitive and offensive".

The Christmas number one will be announced one day after this year's Pop Idol winner is chosen by viewers.

The battle is down to the final two - Mark Rhodes and Michelle McManus - who will spend the week touring the country on their own battle buses.

Favourite Sam Nixon was voted off the show on Saturday, when viewing figures hit 10 million for the first time this series.

An average of 10.1 million watched the contestants perform, while 8.6 million tuned in to see Sam hear his fate.