Bookies are making Bradford singer Gareth Gates hot favourite to win through to the final of television show Pop Idol.

Viewers will get the chance to vote for the 17-year-old on Saturday night when he competes with nine other contestants for a place in the final.

Bookmakers Blue Square and Manningham company John Wood have made Gareth odds-on favourite to win the heats on Saturday, to the extent that his name appears in every bet.

Twenty-one-year-old Julianna Hoy, of Warrington, is the favourite to join him in the final at odds of 2/1.

A spokesman for John Wood said: "We are only taking bets on the contestant who will qualify with Gareth.

"The reason we are so confident he will get through is not just because he is a lad from Bradford, but so far his singing is better than the rest of them. We are 100 per cent convinced he is going to qualify - we wouldn't even take bets on it snowing in Greenland at Christmas like we are on Gareth getting through.

"We have taken quite a few bets on who will qualify with him."

William Hill and Ladbrokes have not put odds on the show as yet, though a spokesman said: "When the final ten are revealed I am sure we will do something."

Gareth, a student at Dixons City Technology College in Bradford, won the affection of the nation after he overcame his stutter in his audition to perform Westlife hit On Angels' Wings.

He has been attending a special class in Birmingham to conquer his stutter and his mum Wendy thinks he has greatly improved.

"He is 100 per cent better. He is working hard at it and I am really proud of him," she said.

With his performance of the Robbie Williams hit Rock DJ, Gareth won through to the last 50 competing for the prize of a solo career.

The pop hopefuls have now been split into five groups of ten and the public will be able to vote for Gareth in Saturday's programme.

The show will go out live on ITV at 6pm and the two finalists will be announced at 9.55pm. If Gareth wins he will have to wait until February for the grand final.