Leona Lewis tipped for the top at Christmas

The bookies weren't giving me any tips on where to place our hard earned, in fact they were rather annoyed with our impressive ante-post betting selections.

We went back in profit a fortnight ago with my biggest bet of the year - Joe Swash - winning I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here at odds of 2/1.

It's a big couple of weeks for us with some nice ante-post bets going into the Christmas period.

We have Lewis Hamilton at 2/1 to win BBC Sports Personality Of The Year, along with Rachael Stevens at 6/1 to win the Strictly Come Dancing finale on Saturday night.

Another bet I really like the look of is Leona Lewis at 2/1 to be the Christmas number one without the X Factor winner.

It's usually a certainty that whoever wins the X Factor final will have the Christmas chart topper and bookies are taking no chances whatsoever in making the winner 1/20 again this year.

But to spice things up the bookies have been betting on who will be second (ie number two in the charts) and Lewis is a good thing at 2/1.

She is probably more popular now than ever and the likeable Londoner's rendition of Snow Patrol's Run is a very moving and could sneak it.

The usual array of rubbish is out, with Terry Wogan and Aled Jones falling into that category.

The bookies make them favourites for the runner's-up slot, but Lewis is the bet and 2/1 is great value.

Bookies have been betting on next manager markets in Premier League for a few years now and it has become big business with almost £500,000 bet on the outcome every time a top boss receives his P45.

The Sunderland job is up for grabs at the moment after Roy Keane's sudden departure and Sam "please give me a job" Allardyce is the bookies' jolly at 2/1.

Although he's a former Sunderland player Allardyce isn't the ideal candidate as he managed their arch-rivals Newcastle United and such is the tension between the two clubs I would be amazed to see him end up in the Stadium of Light hotseat.

Former Charlton and West Ham manager Alan Curbishley is second favourite for the job but seeing what a mess us loveable cockneys have made of Newcastle it would be a brave appointment and one I believe Curbs won't accept.

The word on the street, as I hear it, is the man Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn wants is former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier.

The Frenchman is a well-respected coach and did wonders at Anfield, winning three cups in one season. With big question marks over the top two in the betting, Houllier is proving to be very popular at 10/1.

Get on!

Running total: +£250

Suggested bets:

£50 Leona Lewis at 2/1 to be Christmas number one without X Factor winner.

£10 Gerard Houllier at 10/1 to be next Sunderland manager.