31 October 2006
Mirror
Derek Mcgovern
SATURDAY'S X-Factor was tough on those punters who backed Kerry at around 6-1 to be evicted.
The Scot did indeed wave farewell but because she got the boot AFTER well-backed Dionne, the bets were losers.
Bookies have been stung so many times on reality TV shows that their rules are crystal clear. On Saturday they were betting on 'next eviction' - and so will only pay out on Dionne Mitchell, the only Dionne in the world with a surname not also the name of a town (Dublin, Warwick, Burton).
Favourite Ben has for once drifted in the betting. Despite whispers that he's getting twice the votes of any other X-Factor hopeful, Ladbrokes pushed him out to 5-4 (from evens) in the face of heavy support (all of it on the nose) for Leona, now 7-4 from 3-1.
Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne are neck-and-neck in the betting (11-10 each) to be winning manager. The two were necking and necking on Saturday in a manner that looked every inch a betting coup. After all, would you kiss Osbourne if not for a bet?
But though bookies were betting on Osbourne to throw water over Cowell, to slap him in the face, and even to marry him, none was betting on her to snog him.
Betfair odds: 13-8 Ben, 12-5 Leona, 5-1 Eton Road, 13-1 Ashley, 24-1 Ray, 31-1 Robert, 54-1 Nikitta, 84-1 The MacDonald Brothers.
Next eviction (Ladbrokes): 2-1 MacDonald Brothers, 5-2 Nikitta, 4-1 Robert, 5-1 Ashley, 7-1 Ray, 16-1 Eton Road, 40-1 Leona, 50-1 Ben.
