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Strictly Come Dancing 2013: Susanna Reid is odds-on favourite to win

The BBC Breakfast presenter's closest rival is model Abbey Clancy

Friday 20 December 2013 14:14 GMT

Susanna Reid dances the cha-cha on Strictly Come Dancing 2013 (BBC)

Susanna Reid is the current hot favourite to win Strictly Come Dancing this weekend, with bookmakers placing odds of 5-4 on the BBC Breakfast presenter to triumph.

The 43-year-old’s closest rival in the all-female 2013 final is model Abbey Clancy at odds of 9-4, while “Murder On The Dancefloor” singer Sophie Ellis Bextor has been tipped for third place.

Coral Bookmakers’ former frontrunner Natalie Gumede, has seen her odds rise to 10-1. The Coronation Street actress is now the underdog to lift the Glitter Ball trophy on Saturday night. She found herself in the dance-off last Sunday before Casualty actor Patrick Robinson was sent home by the judges.

The BBC celebrity dance competition has repeatedly beaten Simon Cowell’s talent show The X Factor in the weekly ratings battles this year.

To date, Strictly Come Dancing's audience record for a series final stands at 14.3 million in 2010, when soap star Kara Tointon was crowned champion with her dance partner Artem Chigvintsev, who is currently tutoring Gumede.

Nicola McGeady from Coral said: “Susanna Reid has proved to be one of the most popular contestants to grace the BBC dancefloor and, since last weekend’s extravaganza, 90 per cent of the bets we have taken have been on her.

“Abbey Clancy is fighting her for favouritism but if the money talks, Susanna has the Glitter Ball in the bag.”

Last week, Reid joked she had been saved because her dance partner Kevin Clifton had "showed his chest". In 2012, Olympic gymnast Louis Smith won Strictly Come Dancing after performing his final show dance topless.

One journalist who will not be competing in any future series of the show is Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, who said he would "pay good money not to watch newsreaders making twats of themselves" after being approached to follow in Reid's footsteps and take part.

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Show all 12

1/12Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Caroline Flack

Caroline Flack triumphed ahead of Frankie Bridge, Mark Wright and Simon Webbe to lift the 2014 Glitter Ball trophy with Pasha Kovalev.

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Abbey Clancey

Model Abbey Clancy won the 2013 series with her dance partner Aljaz Skorjanec.

BBC

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Louis Smith

Last year's winner was Olympic gymnastics bronze medallist Louis Smith, who took part fresh from the glory of the London games. He won Strictly with Flavia Cacace after Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh, Denise Van Outen and Danni Harmer challenged him in the final.

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Harry Judd

McFly drummer Harry Judd and his partner Aliona Vilani took the trophy in 2011 after seeing off competition from Jason Donavan. He had previously won a Children in Need special of Strictly, in which he beat The Saturdays' Rochelle Wiseman to the title.

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Kara Tointon

EastEnders star Kara Tointon was the second actress to win Strictly in 2010, partnered with debut professional Artem Chigvintsev. She has appeared in Pygmalion in the West End with Rupert Everett.

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Chris Hollins

News presenter and sportsman Chris Hollins won in 2009 with Ola Jordan to beat actor Ricky Whittle to the crown. He managed to avoid the dance-off for the entirety of his run. He presented the BBC Breakfast sports news while appearing on Strictly.

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Tom Chambers

Holby City actor Tom Chambers won in 2008 with Camilla Dallerup, who was competing in her last series of the show. Model Lisa Snowdon and S Club star Rachel Stevens lost out in the final. He currently stars in the West End.

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Alesha Dixon

Singer and former Strictly judge Alesha Dixon was crowned champion of the 5th series in 2007. She won with Matthew Cutler after a close final with Matt Di Angelo. She holds the record for the highest average score in Strictly history with 36.5, despite never achieving a perfect 40 points. She joined the judging panel from 2009 to 2011 and is now on Britain's Got Talent.

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Mark Ramprakash

Proving that cricketers can flourish on Strictly, Mark Ramprakash followed Darren Gough's footsteps to win Strictly in 2006 with dance partner Karen Hardy. Rugby player Matt Dawson lost out to him in the final.

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Darren Gough

Cricketer Darren Gough won the third series with Lilia Kopylova, defeating athlete Colin Jackson and presenter Zoe Ball. Gough never finished top of the judges' leaderboard but was still crowned champion by the public! He now co-presents a talkSPORT radio show.

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Jill Halfpenny

EastEnders actress Jill Halfpenny won the second 2004 series with Darren Bennett after beating off competition from comedian Julian Clary and Olympian Denise Lewis. She still holds the highest score for a Jive in Strictly history, scoring the full 40 points from the judges. She now has a West End theatre career.

Strictly Come Dancing past winners

Natasha Kaplinsky

Newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky was the first winner to lift the glitterball trophy with her dance partner Brendan Cole in 2004, beating EastEnders actor Christopher Parker in the final.

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