November 2, 2001 14:14

CHRISTMAS CLIFFHANGER!

The evergreen star's odds are slashed - but he'll have to go some to pip bookie's faves Kate Winslet or Atomic Kitten...

CLIFF RICHARD has had his odds on being this year's Christmas Number One slashed from 33/1 to 10/1 following a series of heavy bets.

Cliff is releasing a cover version of 'Over The Rainbow' on December 3. A spokeswoman for William Hill bookmakers said: "Having been hit in the pocket twice before with Cliff taking the Christmas Number One position we are always on the alert and take his bid for the Number One position very seriously."

The favourite for the Christmas top spot is Kate Winslet at 3/1 with 'What If', from the forthcoming animated film 'A Christmas Carol', in which she stars. Also favoured more strongly than Cliff are Atomic Kitten at 5/1, with Westlife and Robbie and Nicole Kidman at 7/1.