Robbie Williams insisted he doesn’t stand a chance of nabbing the Christmas number one spot with his new festive songs despite being hotly tipped by bookies. With the release of his new Christmas album, The Christmas Present, he has plenty of potential chart-toppers out there which could take the coveted Christmas number one title. However, Robbie himself has little faith in it happening.
“I don’t know how they think that’s going to happen,” he said of bookies’ odds. “My audience don’t stream.
“If people don’t know at home, the charts are mainly about streaming,” he told Smooth Radio.
“It’s really messed things up, really. It makes it almost impossible to break the top 20, for a middle-aged artist. I wish it was different. It’s not,” he added.
“If there were still physical sales, I think I’d be in with a shout,” Robbie explained. “But it’s streaming. So, I don’t think I will be.”
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“I wouldn’t put your money on it, but hey, it could be a Christmas miracle.”
According to Ladbrokes, Robbie’s chances of getting the Christmas number one spot are currently 5-1, right behind frontrunner Lewis Capaldi on 3-1.
Hot on his heels is Stormzy, whose new album Heavy Is The Head comes out next Friday, priced at 6-1 and George Michael on 8-1.
The current chart-topper Tones and I come in at 8-1 as well.
Coral also have Robbie at 5-1 behind Lewis, with their spokesperson John Hill telling Express.co.uk: “Robbie Williams has a real shot at the Christmas number one this year and punters have been rushing in to back him to land the top spot ever since he released his Christmas album.”
Robbie’s Christmas album, The Christmas Present, has been three years in the making and was recorded earlier this year.
During an interview on Heart Breakfast, the former Take That star revealed he had approached one superstar singer for a potential duet on the album but had sadly been turned down.
“Check this out,” he began. “I asked Britney Spears to duet with me on Fairytale of New York. She said no. What a lovely story.
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“She’s not working right now,” he added. “She’s having a rest. Maybe it’ll happen in the future.”
Tonight, a one-off special on ITV will see Robbie take to the stage at the Alexandra Palace Theatre to perform a bunch of his greatest hits and some festive new additions to his catalogue.
As well as singing, he will also be joined by a host of celebrity guests including David Walliams and Jamie Cullum.
Sharing his enthusiasm for tonight’s programme, he said: “I’m so excited to be working with ITV on this very special programme.
“I’ll be bringing new songs from my Christmas album, The Christmas Present, as well as the classic hits, to this beautiful and iconic venue.”
The Christmas Present features plenty of other star-studded duets, including Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and, of course, Tyson Fury.
Fans will have to tune in to find out if any of them will join the special guests on tonight’s show.
It’s Not the Robbie Williams Christmas Show airs tonight at 8pm on ITV.
