I don’t know about you, but when I look at this picture, and unite it with his name, Leon Jackson, I get a sense of void. Who the hell is he? I wouldn’t noticed him if I fell over him on the street. If anything, I’d think he was the lovechild of Gareth Gates and Dave Hill of Slade fame, but even then I’d have to squint a few times and call my friend up in Solihull to confirm. Back to the point though, this small boy was Christmas number one 2007. Blimey, I have no recollection of this and why so? I have no idea. (Great intro eh? I've made such an impact I know...)

So yes, Christmas is just around the proverbial corner and no bugger seems to be interested in who will grab the number one entry. This may be due to a) the downloading culture rinsing all the fun out of the race to the topspot, or b) the X-Factor. And before you start thinking, 'ahh yes, good point, very black and white, but good, Cat', let's forget that argument and look at a far more interesting list:

 

Contenders for 2008 Christmas number one 

- Jaunty-hairy-man-pint-holding-beardybeardy types will be pleased to hear that The Fratellis will be releasing a depressing Christmas single for "lonely people". By the beard of Zeus, why oh why?

- INSERT NAME OF WINNER HERE of X-Factor fame will be murdering, I mean, covering, Leonard Cohen's, Hallelujah.

- John Sergeant aka "dancing pig in Cuban heels", an unlikely contender, indeed, but with a song penned by Squeeze writer Chris Difford, "Let’s Not Fight This Christmas", may be in with a chance.

- Glasvegas with "A Snowflake Fell (and it felt like a kiss)". Aw, what a pretty title but they probably have no chance.

- Terry Wogan and Aled Jones doing their own version of Bing Crosby and David Bowie Christmas collaboration, "Little Drumming Boy/Peace on Earth". If you’ve never seen this version of Bowie and Bing then please watch it now...


It is hilarious. Back in tut day me and brother use to be convinced that Bing really didn’t know what he was singing or what he was doing in that room with Bowie, in fact. His "pa-rum-pum-pum-pums" seem so out of time, almost like he’s trying to join in and doesn’t know the words so just mumbles. You know how it is. We all do it. Almost like an old man with dementia, you say? Exactly that, spot on.

At the beginning of the video B&B (not Bradford and Bingley, but Bing and Bowie) have some classic textbook banter. I’d like to see this happen in the Wogan and Jones one:
 

Wogan: Hello there Aled, are you the butler?
Jones: No, I am the small boy, now man, who sang The Snowman
Wogan: I know, great song and good times. So how are you, boy?
Jones: I sang the Snowman
Wogan: I know, and that’s great, but..
Jones: And I was on Loose Women
Wogan: .........
Jones: I'm walking in the air





(I added this for effect)