'Miserable' Christmas chart bid

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The odds are shortening on the chances of a Scottish songwriter being this year's Christmas number one.

Malcolm Middleton's song We're All Going To Die promises to be an antidote to the usual helping of festive cheer.

Bookmaker William Hill had set his chances of hitting the top spot at 1,000 to one, the longest odds it had ever given on a Christmas number one.

However, in the latest odds offered by the bookie that has been reduced to nine to one.

Mr Middleton, described as a "miserabilist", is best known as one half of indie band Arab Strap, who split last year.

The Falkirk songwriter's single is due to be released on 17 December.

People don't want to be lied to by Cliff Richards any more Malcolm Middleton

With lyrics like "We're all going to die, what if there's nothing, we'll all have to face this alone", the single might appear an unlikely contender for a Christmas number one.

However, the trend for upbeat festive melodies was halted by the 2003 success of Mad World by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews.

Mr Middleton, 33, said that although his song featured no sleigh bells or choirs of angelic children, there was a still a message of hope.

He said: "Christmas is the best time for a song like this to be released into the mainstream consciousness, especially now in 2007.

"People don't want to be lied to by Cliff Richards any more.

"It's maybe time they were told what's really waiting for them inside their Christmas stockings."