192: CLIFF v RIFF; Peter Pan of pop world and guitar rockers The Darkness will battle for Christmas Number One slot.

Byline: JOHN DINGWALL

ANOTHER sickly festive helping of mistletoe and whine could pip retro rockers The Darkness and Bo Selecta star Avid Merrion for this year's Christmas No.1 spot.

Yes, Sir Cliff Richard who has notched up three previous festive chart-toppers is to take on the band that time forgot and Channel 4 comedian Avid with his track, Santa's List.

The song is taken from the veteran singer's festive album, Cliff At Christmas.

Sir Cliff says he has high hopes of hitting the top, but would make do with No.2.

He said: ``I found a song that's never been recorded before, so you won't have heard it until I release it as a single.

``Obviously I like my singles, and this one is no different, but only time will tell whether it'll be No.1 at Christmas.''

The Darkness recently announced their plan to compete for the coveted spot, hoping to relive the glory days when rock acts such as Slade and Queen were top of the tree at Christmas.

Currently in the Top 10 with I Believe In A Thing Called Love, they topped the album charts with Permission to Land. Now they are pinning their hopes on a track titled (Christmas Time) Don't Let The Bells End.

Without a hint of irony, flamboyant frontman and guitarist Dan Hawkins said: ``It's a masterpiece a true work of art that will be around for years to come.

``There was the option of releasing it slightly earlier and not going up against the big guns such as Cliff Richard and the Pop Idols for the Christmas No.1, but we think we'll give it a shot. It's about time there was a rocking Christmas.''

Sir Cliff topped the charts at Christmas in 1960, 1988 and 1990.

His last spell at the top over the festive period was with Saviour's Day, whose writer has co-penned the new song.

Sir Cliff had hoped for the Christmas No.1 in 1999 with The Millennium Prayer but lost out to Westlife, leaving his record company with piles of unsold CDs.

In an interview yesterday, he told GMTV presenter Ben Shephard: ``It's impossible to tell these days. And if someone's got a better record, I'll have to be No.2.''

GMTV took Sir Cliff to meet fans camping out at the Royal Albert Hall waiting to get tickets for his concerts next year. He will release his single on December 8.

The Darkness, who perform at Glasgow's Barrowland on October 17, have recorded a video featuring spear-wielding natives and predatory crocodiles for the single.

It is expected to create plenty of pre-Christmas publicity for the band.

Bo-Selecta's Avid Merrion has recorded Proper Crim Bo which William Hill are offering odds of 12-1 on being the festive No 1.

The Darkness are second favourites at 5-1, while the unnamed winner of Pop Idol is 3-1 and Cliff trails at 33-1.