To understand just how powerful this beauty pageant is, try this fact -Miss World still brings in massive television audiences around the globe. It’s estimated that the viewing figures are around 2 billion that’s one third of the World’s population watch the crowning ceremony.

With over 100 countries represented, there is some fervour in the Miss World betting stakes. Top favourites to win the Miss World pageant this year is between Miss Peurto Rica, Miss Mexico and Miss South Africa (coming from the host nation counts for something in this competition). Of course with such a bevvy of beauties on display there undoubtedly will be a few others that will catch the judges eye.

The UK’s entry for Miss World 2009 is the very sexy (need to watch what I’m writing here incase the missus peeps over my shoulder) Katrina Hodge or better known as Lance Corporal Katrina Hodge, she is a soldier in the British Army and has been given leave to represent her country at the Miss World 2009 contest, we wish her well.

Miss World 2009 Betting Odds

Miss Puerto Rico	2	13/8	11/8	1
Miss Mexico	4	4	4	9/2
Miss South Africa	8	9	8	8
Miss Barbados	10	12	10	9
Miss France	8	14	10	6
Miss Belguim	14	16	16	16
Miss Gibraltar	14	25	25	20
Miss Dominican Republic	20	25	25
Miss Croatia	25	25	20	25
Miss Canada	33	20	33	25
Miss Panama	25	33	25
Miss Venezuela	33	33	33	33
Miss India	25	33	16	18
Miss Costa Rica	33	33	33
Miss USA	25	33	33
Miss Jamaica	40	20	20
Miss Brazil	33	40	25	20
Miss Japan	33	33	40	25
Miss Columbia	40	40	40
Miss Ukraine	33	40	40	28
Miss Italy	25	25	33	40
Miss Norway	33	40	33	25
Miss Philippines	40	40	25	18
Miss New Zeland	33	40	33	33
Miss Portugal	40	40
Miss Slovakia	40	50	40	20
Miss England	40	40	50

This year’s show has a head-scratching line-up, with a couple of names I’m not familar with, such as Camilla Dallerup (Strictly Come Dancing) who has a ‘creepy crawly’ phobia which if your going to try and beat such a said phobia then this is the show to do it in. Others that vaguely ring a bell are Gino D’Acampo (Chef), Sabrina Washington (Singer) and Stuart Manning (Actor from Hollyoaks).

Other celebs include, the perma-tanned Actor George Hamilton, 80′s page 3 pin-up Samantha Fox, gay design couple Colin & Justin, former Eastender Lucy Benjamin, snooker player Jimmy White and my favourite already Kim Woodburn (the cleaning woman off the tv).

Rumours are abound that Katie Price aka Jordan aka Peter Andre’s Ex is to return to the Jungle. I’m not sure it would work that great for I’m A Celebrity as apart from her hardcore fans most of the public just see her as a headline seeker. They say ‘never go back’ and it’s advice that Katie Price and ITV should seriously consider before signing of contracts or advancements paid.

I’m A Celebrity 2009 Betting Odds

Jimmy White	4	5	4	5	3	9/2	7/2	3
George Hamilton	8	8	8	7	8	8	15/2	8
Stuart Manning	6	8	6	7	8	8	8	6
Gino D’Acampo	8	7	6	7	4	8	7	6
Lucy Benjamin	8	7	8	7	5	11/2	5	7
Camilla Dallerup	10	8	8	12	9	10	8	7
Katie Price	12	8	10	8	12		10	12
Kim Woodburn	6	10	8	10	12	10	8	10
Sabrina Washington	12	16	10	10	14	9	18	12
Colin Mcallister	18	16	20	16	20	14	16	18
Justin Ryan	18	16	20	16	20	16	14	18
Sam Fox	16	20	16	16	20	12	16	16

Coach, McGeechan, was undoubtedly pleased with the finishing peroformance against the invitational side, but knows the matches are only going to get tougher as they near the first test against the Springboks on June the 20th.

Tomorrow night (3rd of June) the British and Irish Lions play the Xerox Golden Lions in Johannesburg. Brian O’Driscoll has been named captain and only 3 players from the Royal XV match will feauture. McGeechan’s intention is to have all of the British and Irish Lions squad to have played at least one match in their first 3 opening games. It will hopefully give McGeechan a better understanding of his players and their current attitude in games prior to the start of the 3 tests later this month.

British and Irish Lions vs South Africa Betting Odds June 20th 2009

South Africa	1/3	4/11	1/4	2/7	1/3
British Irish Lions	12/5	2	11/4	5/2	5/2
Draw	22	18	20	20	16

Susan Boyle
Sure, Susan Boyle may be a YouTube phenomena that has spiralled her into Worldwide fame overnight, but it’s the British public who are voting and all this new found fame may well work against the bushy eyebrowed songstress. The bookies still make her red-hot favourite and she’s bound to have a No 1 album by proxy but I’m not sure she’ll win this show.

Aidan Davis
11 year old Aidan is a self taught street dancer/popper and his style of dance and routine was so professional and unflawed it really caught the attention of the judges and the viewing audience. Not 100% convinced that a young dancer will win it for the second year in a row, no matter how talented and gifted they are.

Shaheen Jafargholi
Little Shaheen nearly never made it through after he began his performance singing an Amy Winehouse number, Simon Cowell quickly stopped the youngster early in his performance and asked him if he had another song choice … he did, and young Shaheen gave a magnificent show, good chance of winning this contest.

Diversity
Dance group that add drama into their performances to give them that added uniqeness, if their semi-final performance is of the same standard then they have a great chance of winning the show.

Stavros Flatley
I like this act, I really do, I’m not 100% sure how they can follow-up this routine with anything fresh but just for sheer entertainment value and a Father and Son having a right good old laugh together they are priceless.

Britain’s Got Talent Betting Odds 2009

Susan Boyle	1	10/11	1	6/5	1	8/11
Aidan Davis	7/2	7/2	3	11/4	10/3	3
Jamie Pugh	15/2	7	7	8	6	7
Shaheen Jafargholi	12	12	8	14	10	12
Diversity	10	10	12	16	14	12
Julian Smith	16	16	16	20	16	16
Shaun Smith	14	16	12	16	10	18
Hollie Steel	14	12	20	20	8	12
Flawless	16	20	12	20	16	20
Natalie Okri	14	20	20	25	25	20

When later quizzed about his resons for departure, Grobbelaar stated that his emotions were on edge and that the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster was also affecting his judgements. Grobbelaar was Liverpool’s goalkeeper on that fateful day.

Hell’s Kitchen chef, Marco Pierre White, pleaded with Grobbelaar to stay, saying he ‘Needed him in his kitchen’ however, Grobbelaar was adamant that his time on the pressure-cooker show was at an end.

Grobbelaar’s exit has blown Hell’s Kitchen betting odds wide open. Ade Edmondson (4/6) and Linda Evans (5/2) are now hot favourites to win the show. But as we all know, it just takes one slip-up to change everything and with the ever competitive Anthea Turner (12/1) waiting in the background, Hell’s Kitchen is sure to serve up a few surprises before it finishes.

The Apprentice

15 sales hotshots (or wannabe hotshots) pit their wits against each other and try and come out as top-dog with Sir Allan Sugar obviously holding the leash. The candidates that perform or underachieve each week are uncerimoniously FIRED! Currently The Apprentice Betting 2009 is in its 4th week and screens on BBC One @ 21:00 15 Apr 2009.

Britain’s Got Talent

Had its first screening on Saturday there, and already onto a winner. This is a talent show that has found some great acts in the past and judging by the latest screening, we are about to discover another this series. It certainly has put the word ‘variety’ back into the Saturday night ‘variety’ TV shows.

Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Dubbed as Europe’s Favourite TV Show (their catchphrase, not mine) the Eurovision is back on our screens this May. Moscow holds the finals, and with the United Kingdon enlisting the help of the great Andrew Lloyd Webber to try and get us back some respect (*cough*) with our song singing talent. Eurovision betting looks hot already with Norway heralded as early favourite. Somehow, you get the feeling that it will be another eastern european country that wins it again.

Hell’s Kitchen

I’m not normally a massive fan of celebrity focused shows, but Hell’s Kitchen is different. Eight celebrity contestants are put to work under the watchful eye of top Chef, Marco Pierre, as they try to feed 60+ eager diners, each and every night for over a week. Egos are quickly set-aside in this team focused tv program. Early Hell’s Kitchen betting odds look to be with married, competitive couple, Grant Bovey & Anthea Turner.

Picture Courtesy of celebrity.itv.com

David did, however, get dumped last night and the last three face the final countdown tonight. So who’s it going to be? It will be a tough one for the voting viewers who will not want to make a loser out of the excruciatingly consistent winning persona of the 52 year-old Martina Navratilova who won her first Wimbledon in 1978 and went on to treat tennis betting fans to a further fifty eight Grand slam titles in her glittering career. Nor will they want to snub the magnificent George Takei who, in his guise as Mr Sulu, piloted Captain Kirk, Lieutenant Uhuru, Scotty, Bones and all the rest of us to the ends of the universe and safely back again. His presence on the programme has been a consistent display of his perfect manners and glorious generosity of spirit, acceptance of the downside of others and his calm in the face of adversity. He gets my vote.

Astute ‘I’m A Celebrity – Get Me Out Of Here’ betting enthusiasts will put there money elsewhere, though. Despite the presence of these two towering humans, the humour, all-round natural good-heartedness and effortless caring nature of Joe Swash will win the hearts and minds of the great British public and they will have overwhelmingly crowned him the ‘King of the Jungle‘, when the dust settles on the camp tonight.

Kilroy – Not A Happy Camper

Kilroy claims that all of the camp wants to leave. Apparently it’s a bit uncomfortable in there and the food isn’t very nice and it sometimes rains and they miss their family. Oh dear. Er, Hellooooo – you chose to go there, it’s only for three weeks, you’ll get a million pound advertising deal if you play your cards right. Someone needs to go in there and bang a few heads together. In fact, Kilroy is probably exaggerating. I think Esther is just getting going, George is going to hang in there, Martina will never give up on anything and David and Timmy will fight it out to the end. The oldies don’t throw the towel in easily.

If there’s any justice in the world, Nicola and Carly will be out soon, if only because they whine too much for people to be able to stand them much longer. Dani, more gorgeous than the two put together, has disappointingly gone in the second eviction. That leaves Simon and Joe. Simon is OK but a bit distant and doesn’t project his personality very strongly. He’ll be kept in for a while but will fade towards the end. The final four will be Joe, Martina, George and Esther but Joe will be crowned King of the Jungle because his childlike qualities of spontaneity, laughter, enthusiasm and boundless energy are what we all aspire to and dearly want in ourselves.

Fellow competitors were also non-plussed, as the worst dancer in the competition got stronger as each week passed and bookies making him one of the hot favourites to win in the Strictly Come Dancing betting stakes.

You have to question why did they (the producers) put him on the show from the beginning. From looking at John Sergeant you don’t have to see him dance to know he can’t dance. Strictly Come Dancing is a light entertainment show that now wants to be taken seriously. But for that to happen it needs support from the public. But the public have already shown what they want to see by keeping John Sergeant safe every other week. I’m sure Strictly Come Dancing won’t be the same without him. Murder on the dance floor no more.

This show puts our prejudices to the test and a celeb we might initially want to annihilate can later redeem themself in a completely unexpected way. Janice thingy, the brash American ex-model in the last series was an example of someone who I initially loathed but later came to adore for her honesty and capacity to deal with anything that arose. In my case, this is unlikely to happen with Kilroy who I have wanted eliminated for many years. Martina Navratilova could be a winner if she didn’t keep insisting that she is the greatest tennis player of all time. That kind on attitude might work in America but not here.

Kilroy is already after the beauties in his blood curdling kind of way. Devoid of an awareness of how people see him, he is destined to fail in whatever he does. Mr Sulu is there. For some reason he keeps fantasising that he is an actor called George Takei, when we all know he is an intergalactic star sailor who has been to the far reaches of the universe with Captain Kirk. He is a fit 71 year old who is about as sound as can be, polite, erudite and perfect and he should win hands down, in my view. Esther Rantzen is playing the perfect game, thinking she has the measure of the public as usual. Fortunately for us, her transparent, holier than thou demeanour will be her downfall. Brian Paddick is already demonstrating why he didn’t get elected Mayor of London. The ex-policeman is also a liberal democrat and shares with them the terminal blandness with which they are all afflicted.

Carly Zucker (WAG), Nicola McLean (page 3 girl), and Dani Behr, who used to present ‘The Word’, are the three you want to ogle in the shower while Simon Webbe and Joe Swash struggle to be noticed. All in all, this is a good show, if you can put up with Ant and Dec, and should expose some classic clashes between the various strong personalities. About half way through you will have a pretty good idea of the finalists, so I’m A Celebrity – Get Me Out Of Here! betting enthusiasts should stick with £20.00 free bet wagers on the eliminations for the time being.