Strictly Come Dancing looks set to be a two horse race in 2025

After a dramatic week in the ballroom, the odds have shifted once again and bookmakers have now ‘named’ their clear favourite. With BBC’s iconic dancing competition in its 23rd series, and the final run with Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, the show is heading into a pivotal semi-final weekend.

George Clarke has reasserted himself at the top of the Strictly Come Dancing betting, with William Hill trimming the internet star into the 8/11 favourite to lift the Glitterball Trophy. His resurgence comes after a brief challenge from former England footballer Karen Carney, who has now drifted to 5/4.

Dave James of What Are The Odds said Clarke’s move back into odds-on territory “signals a major shift in momentum” ahead of the semi-finals.

“George Clarke has firmly reasserted himself at the top of the Strictly market, shortening to 8/11 from 6/5, and he may now be the one to beat,” he explained.

“Karen Carney had enjoyed a remarkable surge, but drifting to 5/4 from 5/6 suggests the tide has turned again. Balvinder Sopal and Amber Davies remain lively contenders, yet at 12/1 and 28/1 the market still views them as outsiders. With the competition heating up, punters are clearly anticipating a tight two-horse race as we head into the final stages.”

Behind the front runners, there is a notable gap in the market. Balvinder Sopal is priced at 12/1, while Amber Davies who has achieved several perfect scores this series — sits further back at 28/1.

With one of the four remaining celebrities set to lift the Glitterball Trophy later this month, Saturday night’s semi-final on BBC One promises to be crucial.

Will Clarke extend his lead, or can Carney mount one final challenge?

Wolves look destined for relegation from the Premier League after a disastrous start that has yielded just two points from their opening 14 matches. They welcome Manchester United to Molineux on Monday evening with hopes fading rapidly and the club rooted to the bottom of the table.

What TV Channel is the Game on?

The match will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event at the kick off time of 8PM in the UK.

A month has passed since Wolves appointed Rob Edwards as manager in place of Vitor Pereira, yet the change has brought no noticeable improvement.

Wolves have lost five consecutive league matches without scoring a single goal, a stark indication of the scale of the challenge facing their new boss.

Wolves remain the only Premier League side without a win this season, and history offers little encouragement. No team has ever survived relegation after collecting such a low points total by this stage of the campaign.

Their league form is worryingly bleak as they enter Monday’s game on an 18-match winless run. Recent records on Monday nights are equally grim, with just one victory in their last ten fixtures played on that day.

Edwards’ immediate priority is to stabilise a team that has conceded at least two goals in seven of their last ten home games. Wolves have beaten Manchester United only once in their last seven meetings at Molineux, and their defensive issues will need urgent attention if they are to avoid another difficult night.

Manchester United arrive in the West Midlands frustrated by their own inability to climb the table. The Red Devils passed up another chance to gain ground on the teams above them when they failed to protect a lead in Thursday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham at Old Trafford.

They now sit twelfth, although the congestion in the league means a win could move them significantly closer to the top five.

United are unbeaten in their last four Premier League away matches, their longest such run since the 2021-22 season, but inconsistency remains a problem. Their defensive record on the road is also a concern, with no clean sheets in their last twelve league away games.

United have not won back-to-back away fixtures in the league since February 2024, but with Wolves in freefall, this match presents a clear opportunity.

Given both sides’ poor defensive showings, a high-scoring contest would not be a surprise as United look to extend Wolves’ misery and strengthen their own league position.

Keir Starmer’s future as Labour leader and UK Prime Minister is under growing scrutiny after a turbulent first year in Downing Street, with bookmakers now cutting odds on several rising figures inside the party.

Labour stormed back to power in last July’s General Election, securing a landslide victory and ending 14 years of Conservative rule. But the honeymoon period is already showing signs of strain.

Starmer’s personal ratings have slumped, Labour’s showing in the 2025 local elections was branded “dire” by party insiders, and criticism of the government’s budget statement has intensified questions over whether his leadership can withstand another year of political pressure.

Those close to Starmer have publicly defended him but behind the scenes, attention is shifting toward who could step in if the party decides a change is needed.

Streeting Installed as Clear Favourite

Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North and the current Health Secretary, has been installed as the 7/2 favourite to become the next Labour leader, according to Skybet.

The outspoken frontline minister has found himself at the centre of Westminster gossip, with reports claiming he is being positioned as an alternative to Starmer.

Streeting dismissed the rumours with a tongue-in-cheek swipe at reality TV drama, saying:

“I think whoever’s been briefing this has been watching too much Celebrity Traitors — it’s about the worst attack on a faithful I’ve seen since Joe Marler was kicked out in the final!”

Despite the light-hearted response, his positioning in the betting markets reflects a notable shift in sentiment among political observers.

Burnham and Mahmood Close Behind

Trailing Streeting but still firmly in contention are two heavyweight figures with strong support bases inside the Labour movement:

Andy Burnham (7/1) – The Mayor of Greater Manchester remains a popular figure nationwide and has long been tipped as a potential future leader.

Shabana Mahmood (7/1) – The high profile Secretary of State is increasingly seen as one of the party’s sharpest communicators and a serious contender if the top job becomes available.

A Leadership Question Westminster Won’t Ignore

While Starmer remains firmly in post, political insiders admit he is entering a critical phase of his premiership.

With economic pressures biting, internal unrest growing, and the Conservatives beginning to regroup, senior Labour figures fear that a weakened Starmer could become a liability ahead of the next General Election cycle.

For now, the Prime Minister’s allies insist he will weather the storm but as bookmakers continue to shorten the odds on his potential successors, the question of “what comes next for Labour” is quickly becoming one of Westminster’s biggest talking points.