BOOKIES ODDS PLACE KATE WINSLET AS FAVOURITE FOR CHRISTMAS NUMBER ONE SINGLE

October 31, 2001Oct 31, 2001, 11:00 PM GMT

As her divorce from husband Jim Threapleton goes through, a romantic track sung by Titanic star Kate Winslet has become the odds-on favourite for the number one slot this Christmas.

British bookmaker William Hill issued odds of 3-1 on the single, which is entitled What If and is taken from the upcoming animated movie A Christmas Carol, after it was announced that British cartoon character Bob the Builder would not be releasing a Christmas record.

A spokesman for record company HMV, Gennero Castaldo, says Kate’s vocal effort is certainly in with a chance. “When you hear it, you think maybe she missed her vocation. It’s a really Christmassy song, and a very powerful ballad.”

Fellow actress turned songbird Nicole Kidman could also be jostling for the season’s top position with a version of the Frank Sinatra classic Somethin' Stupid which she has recorded with Robbie Williams.

Second favourites, however, are the professional all-girl band Atomic Kitten. The trio, who have already had two number one hits this year, were originally neck and neck with Irish outfit Westlife, but have pulled ahead with odds of 5 to 1.

Perennial loiterer at the top of the Christmas chart, veteran British crooner Cliff Richard, joins trendy teen idol Britney Spears in being backed 25 to 1, while the Spice Girls, who have also enjoyed festive glory in the past, are down as rank outsiders with odds of 50 to 1.

The track which has put crooner Kate in the running for the number one Christmas single comes from the animated adventure A Christmas Carol. In it, Kate she plays a new character called Belle, who was once in love with Scrooge

Kate's fellow thespian, the Australian actress Nicole Kidman, whose vocal talents were recently showcased in Moulin Rouge, is also in the running for her collaboration with Robbie Williams on a version of Frank Sinatra's Somethin' Stupid

Chart topping trio Atomic Kitten, who were originally given the same odds on the top slot as Irish outfit Westlife, have now romped ahead to secure second place

Sign up to HELLO! Daily for all the latest and best celebrity coverage

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.