X Factor's Little Mix set to lose Christmas chart battle

X Factor winners Little Mix could lose the fight for the Christmas number one to The Military Wives Choir.
The soldiers' wives are the favourites to take the top spot with their tearjerker Wherever You Are.
Little Mix will probably top the chart on Sunday with Cannonball but the army wives are already online store Amazon's most pre-ordered track.

 

The 100-strong choir look set to beat Little Mix after they have have the support of Radio 2 host Chris Evans and footballer Joey Barton.

The last time the X Factor winner did not have the Christmas top spot was in 2009 when campaigners got behind Rage Against The Machine keeping Joe McElderry off number one.
Bookmakers William Hill had The Military Wives Choir at 1/8 to triumph, with Little Mix behind them at 11/2.

A spokesman said: "We never believed it possible to beat X Factor again after what was thought to be a one-off victory for Rage Against The Machine.

"But X Factor will have lost a week's sales by the time the Christmas number one is counted.
"It looks like the Military Wives can't be beaten."

The choir's song was inspired by love letters written by husbands and boyfriends in Afghanistan.
The ladies from two bases in Devon are led by choirmaster Gareth Malone and the track was written by royal composer Paul Mealor.

Wife Emma Williams said: "It has been absolutely amazing to be in the running for the No1.
"We all just feel really privileged and chuffed to be involved.
"But we also want to raise loads of money, and make it the best Christmas ever for the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association."