The former Pop Idol winner, Will Young, has been installed as the 7/2 favourite to win the 14th edition of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing as they hope to avoid a repeat of the allegations of a rigged result during last year’s final.

In my gambling prime, I was well known for losing thousands of pounds on football matches, horse racing and every obscure American sport you can think of. What I am less known for are my winning bets in Reality TV contests.

I was a star.

If I could stop the tears pouring out of my eyes long enough to find the right odds, I was guaranteed to make money on the likes of the X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, and the X-Factor winnings in particular made sure Santa didn’t have to bother getting his arse burned climbing down my chimney.