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Boyle Betting Boils Over at William Hill

Date published: 27 November 2009

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It's not often that bookmakers suspend bets, but one that has is leading land and online betting firm William Hill which suspended the betting line on X-Factor extraordinaire, Susan Boyle the aesthetically-challenged 48-year-old Scottish lady who boasts a remarkable set of vocal chords.

The oddsmakers at William Hill thought they were being smart when the included Susan Boyle in the running to get the number 1 selling record in the UK Christmas charts. However, little did they know just how many people would back the frizzy-haired singer who gained the love of the nation this year.

When she appeared on the X Factor, everyone, including the judges and the millions of television viewers, took one look at the unremarkable-looking lady from Scotland and dismissed her. But as soon as she started singing you could've heard a pin drop as her sweet voice brought tears to many eyes.

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And while she finished second in the X Factor and had a more than a few public meltdowns here and there, she seems to have emerged from her newly found fame as a stronger woman than when she started. And this has been reflected in her record sales this week, which have William Hill running scared.

On the first day alone Boyle's album sold over 130,000 copies and by the end of this week sales are expected to be in excess of 500,000 copies. Clearly someone at William Hill is a big Boyle fan and expects her to top the charts this festive season which would mean paying out loads of Boyle bettors.

But not so quick to elevate the singer to platinum status just yet is popular bookmaker, Paddy Power, which has kept the singer firmly in the running, albeit as the overwhelming favourite to grace Christmas stockings nationwide this year. And this is despite having some pretty tough competition to beat.

Here are Paddy Powers' odds on who will have the UK Number 1 Album on Christmas Day 2009:

Susan Boyle 8/11
Leona Lewis 7/4
Rihanna 8/1
Take That 10/1
Westlife 12/1
Alexandra Burke 12/1
Michael Jackson 16/1
Robbie Williams 18/1
Michael Bubble 18/1
Cheryl Cole 20/1
Lady Gaga 20/1
JELLS 25/1
Ronan Keating 25/1
Britney Spears 33/1
Will Young 33/1
Food Fighters 33/1
Dizzier Rascal 33/1
Whitney Houston 40/1
Mile Cyrus 40/1
The Pope 40/1
Norah Jones 40/1
Sting 40/1
Andrea Borelli 50/1
Cliff Richard and the shadows 66/1
Queen 66/1
Madonna 100/1
Shirley Basset 100/1
Mariah Carey 150/1
The Saturdays 150/1
The Priests 150/1