Ward's That's My Goal made it to No 1 on three days' sales

"The winner of this year's X Factor has to start clear favourite," said bookmakers William Hill, citing the success of 2005 winner Shayne Ward.

William Hill has given the X Factor winner odds of 1-3, ahead of quartet All Angels and boy band Take That.

Dionne Mitchell and Kerry McGregor were voted off the ITV talent show in a double elimination on Saturday.

The decision about whether to release an X Factor Christmas single will be made toward the end of the current series.

"Christmas Number One is a national institution with hundreds of thousands bet annually on the winner, all of which has been changed by the X Factor, which is in danger of becoming the Scrooge of Christmas Number One betting," said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.

XMAS NO 1 ODDS X Factor winner - 1-3 All Angels - 7-1 Take That - 10-1 Cliff Richard and Brian May - 16-1 Cliff Richard and Daniel O'Donnell - 16-1 Source: William Hill

"We can only hope that groups such as Take That and All Angels can break the mould."

All Angels' cover version of the Robbie Williams single Angels, the official single of the British Legion Poppy Appeal, is released in December. Take That's comeback single Patience is released next month.

However Gennaro Castaldo, spokesman for retailer HMV, believes Sir Cliff Richard may be in line for his fourth Christmas Number One, with a cover of his hit single Move It, featuring Queen guitarist Brian May.

"You can never rule out Sir Cliff when it comes to Christmas," said Mr Castaldo.

"And by teaming up with the likes of Brian May and Daniel O'Donnell, and their considerable fan bases, he's giving himself every chance of landing his 15th UK number one - putting him just two behind The Beatles."

"I think it was a fair decision. I'm not the most talented dancer," said Georgina, 30, who was belatedly drafted in to replace sports presenter Gabby Logan.

"I had a gut instinct that I was leaving."

Nine couples now remain in the celebrity contest.