While Cliff continued to defy his critics by staying at the top for a second week the bookies it seems were less impressed. Cliff’s ‘Millenium Prayer’ has now dropped back to second favourite with Westlife reinstalled as favourites with their double A sided ‘I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun’.

Although both Alice Deejay and R Kelly climbed the top ten this week it seems that any threat to the top spot will come from a new release out this week. Those who will be aiming high include Vengaboys with ‘Kiss (Me When The Sun Don’t Shine)’ and the beautiful ‘Barber’s Addagio For Strings (Ferry Corsten Mix)’ by William Orbit, better known for his work as Madonna’s producer.

Making the tricky change from teen idols to serious musicians are B*witched. It seems they have enlisted Ladysmith Black Mambazo to guest on their new single ‘I Shall Be There’, and while this time last year they were in pole position it does seem unlikely they ‘will be there’ this year.

Those stuck with ideas on what to give Auntie this Christmas could do worse than to look at the new releases section of their record store. Middle aged favourites Andrea Bocelli and Daniel O’Donnell both have festive offerings out this week and only a fool would rule them out of a top ten spot.

Bryan Adams return with ‘Best Of Me’, but unless the title is supposed to be ironic, then he has dropped well short of the mark. Lou Bega might as well rereleased ‘Mambo No. 5’ for all the differences you can spot in his new song ‘I Got A Girl’. I can’t judge whether he has a girl or not, but he certainly does not have more than one tune! MC Neat releases ‘A Little Bit Of Luck’ which has been filling dance floors across the country while The Charlatans are back with ‘My Beautiful Friend’. Enrique Iglesias follows up ‘Bailamos’ with the inferior ‘Rhythm Divine’ and Breze should run away with the youngest group of the week – they are four girls with an average age of ten!

Other notable new releases this week come from Progress introducing Boy Wunda with ‘Everybody’ (which samples the strings from ‘Papa Don’t Preach’), TLC with ‘Dear Lie’, the remixed ‘Under Pressure’ by Queen / David Bowie, ‘Alive’ by the Beastie Boys, and the truly awful duet between Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews entitled ‘It’s Cold Outside’. Finally I should round off by mentioning Y Tribe with ‘Enough is Enough’ and Len with ‘Steal My Sunshine’, released in the UK due to popular demand.

In previous years the Christmas number one race would be panning out and it would be easy to judge the winner. With all but two of this years chart toppers entering straight at number one all the major contenders have left it to the last minute. John Lennon, Cuban Boys, Westlife, Solid Gold Chartbusters (aka one half of The KLF) and the lovely Charlotte Church all release their songs next Monday. Watch this space for my tip to take festive honours.

IA