Punters floored by a double whammy

TELEVISION votathons are not really my cup of tea when it comes to betting, but the two talent shows which dominate Saturday night viewing are given pride of place this week following a couple of major shocks which left punters reeling.

Many big-hitters were convinced that ballroom bungler John Sergeant, an engaging character but a total wally on the dance floor, was heading out of Strictly Come Dancing last weekend.

The judges certainly thought so – Craig Revel Horwood gave the political commentator one out of 10 – yet the show’s viewers voted to retain Sergeant, thus relegating M People singer Heather Small to a dance-off which she lost.

Sergeant is the 10-11 favourite to go this weekend and, if he finishes in the bottom two after the judges’ and viewers’ votes, he will definitely be on his way.

Maybe the public will bail him out and those nasty judges will be seething for a second successive week.

As for who wins the competition, Austin Healey has drifted from 5-4 to 13-8, while Tom Chambers is 100-30 and Cherie Lunghi 13-2.

Lisa Snowdon, whose dance partner Brendan Cole seems to have had a personality transplant (he has actually been quite affable during this series), has been a steady mover in the betting market and is down to her lowest price of 8-1.


AN even bigger surprise in TV land was the eviction from the X Factor of singer Laura White.

The Lancashire lass had been the second favourite to win the title and the riches that go with it, but out she went at the weekend, much to the chagrin of a work colleague who had piled on with the bookies after seeing Laura sing at his niece’s wedding.

Laura’s exit seems to have left the way clear for Diana Vickers, who is a best-priced 6-5 to triumph.


NO doubt the new series of the dreadful I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, which starts on ITV on Sunday, will provide its own fair share of surprises, but with the final list of contenders only established last night, bookmakers have yet to chalk up a list of prices.

What I can tell you, however, is that Skybet are going 6-4 that one of the “celebrities” (aka has-beens) will vomit during a bushtucker trial.

Presenters Ant and Dec have clearly been blessed with stronger constitutions as they are 20-1 to fail to keep their breakfast down.


TO more serious matters and the Rugby League World Cup.

England fans were certainly not laughing last Saturday when our lads threw away a 24-8 half-time lead against New Zealand, conceding 28 points without reply in a disastrous group encounter.

The two teams clash again in this Saturday morning’s semi-final in Brisbane, where England will welcome back St Helens aces James Roby, Leon Pryce, James Graham and Ade Gardner, and Leeds Rhinos half-back Danny McGuire.

They could make a difference and England are no forlorn hopes at 7-4 to win this match, but New Zealand are justifiably favourites at 8-15, given their second-half domination last weekend.

One way to go from a punting perspective could be to back England to lead at half-time and New Zealand at full-time.

That’s what happened in the last game and 6-1 for an action replay is not to be sniffed at.

FRESH – if that’s the right word – from their dismal display against Mumbai in their final warm-up game on Tuesday, England’s cricketers take on India in the first of seven one-day internationals in Rajkot on Friday.

Kevin Pietersen’s men will be hoping to take up where they left off against South Africa during the summer, but the bookies rate them 7-4 shots to win the series and 11-8 to get off to a winning start.

I hope they do so, but Indian conditions do not suit our lads and the hosts are expected to prevail in both Friday’s match and the series.


RECOMMENDATION: England RL to lead at half-time v New Zealand, NZ to win full-time, 6-1 (bet 365).