Is it just me or is it more enjoyable betting in running on TV talent shows than some football games? As well as performance you have to weigh up sentiment, contestant background, the make-up of the voting audience and other factors (including sex, race and religion if we were all being honest) that the UK TV audience uses to make their voting decisions.

Based on reading the above factors, I took a 100/1 punt on Stavros Flatley getting through their semi-final. They came top of the public vote I laid if off to lock in a £400 profit (I won’t mention the loss on DJ Talent but I did get 2000/1 – he nearly made it!).

Stavros is now 10/1 to win outright on Paddy Power. If he does I’ll be kicking myself for laying off so much but as with all talents shows, the public likes to have at least one joke act in the final but things tend to get more serious on the night.

Paddy Power tend to lead the way on novelty bets. Check out the novelty bets section in the left hand navigation on their site.

My tip? Whoever’s in the final bet on the one that the Mum’s and daughters will be voting for. I’m not sure if Susan Boyle will last the pace so their is a good lay opportunity there (you know what I mean). She is slightly mad and that could either annoy or endear. I guess Simon Cowell has written the script already but who knows, maybe Stavros will do it on the night?! We all love our comedy cockney diamond Dad geezers with a Greek twist…