X Factor 2009 Betting: And the (most likely) winner is

X-Factor / Mike Norman / 05 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

The four X Factor judges will all be confident of success this year with their various acts... actually... forget Louis Walsh!

"She is a good singer who should be able to cope with the demands of all styles of music, and she has the potential to be a very sellable artist. Her appearance on breakfast TV show GMTV has already made her a popular figure amongst the British public and I believe she will go a long way in the competition."

"Mystical" Mike Norman has seen every audition, had a Bootcamp party, and watched intensely as this year's X Factor contestants sang at the judge's houses. Now he's ready to reveal who he thinks will become champion singer of 2009.

I have a good feeling that this is going to be the year of the entertainer, not the year of the diva.

I know this because I posted two video clips on Youtube; one of my gorgeous sister belting out a Celine Dion classic, the other of me dancing whilst drunk, tripping over the hoover, and breaking my leg. My clip has been viewed 100 times more than the one of my sister, suggesting entertainment is definitely more in demand. And for anyone wondering about my wellbeing, I'm picking up well thanks!

This year's X Factor has reached the stage where we are left with just 12 acts, all ready to perform in front of a live TV audience commencing on Saturday night. And a bit like last year, six of them (who know how to entertain) have a great chance of winning; the other six may as well start contacting Haven Holidays right now.

Danyl Johnson is a guy I like a lot. At [6.4] to back in the Winner market he is just about my idea of the winner as things stand now. He has an outstanding make-up - good looking, great singer, knows how to entertain, and above all, he's a primary school teacher.

Now that last fact might appear at first a tad irrelevant, but believe me, when ITV start showing clips of Danyl bonding so well with a group of cheeky school kids, his popularity will grow enormously.

The favourite to win this year's show is 18-year-old Welsh singer Lucie Jones ([4.6]). She is a massive talent, and in a way very similar to previous winners Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke by virtue of being potentially brilliant at performing love songs and power ballads. But my one worry is that she could struggle with up-temp songs, whereas some of the other leading contenders will thrive when performing them.

Lucie is available to back at [2.0] in the Girls market, but I think she will be out-lasted by dippy, but incredibly likeable Essex girl Stacey Solomon ([2.4]).

Stacey is a single mother who hasn't had the best of times in life but views everything in a positive light. She is a good singer who should be able to cope with the demands of all styles of music, and she has the potential to be a very sellable artist. Her appearance on breakfast TV show GMTV has already made her a popular figure amongst the British public and I believe she will go a long way in the competition.

In the Boys category Joseph McElderry is unquestionably the stand-out performer. For whatever reason 95% of the country love Geordie accents - but that's not the only reason why Joe will poll the votes. He has sung brilliantly in what we have seen so far and seems a very confident young man. His smile is enlightening, he looks and performs like a pop star, and if the vile Gareth Gates can win a show like this, then at [11.5] to back, Joe must have an outstanding chance.

The only other two acts that I think are in contention are Jamie 'Afro' Archer ([7.4]) and Olly Murs ([11.5]), both of whom have that entertainment factor that I believe will be crucial this year.

One man who won't be winning this year's X Factor is camp judge Louis Walsh. Once again he has been lumbered with the Groups, only this year his three acts (apart from Miss Frank perhaps) have the potential to be car-crash television. Irish twins John and Edward are the most irritating lads in the word, so much so that if Woolworths were still around to clear their debts, all they would have to do is produce dartboards and footballs with pictures of these two creatures on!

Louis is available to back at [17.0] in the Winning Manager market but that won't be happening. Smug Simon Cowell is the [2.34] favourite and will take a hell of a lot of beating.