The Christmas 2024 Number 1 single and album has been revealed, Wham! winning the battle and becoming the first song to grab the coveted top spot two festive seasons
The 2024 Christmas Number One has been revealed, with Last Christmas by Wham! reigning supreme once again and making chart history in the process.
Official Charts confirmed that Last Christmas is the first song to clinch two consecutive Christmas Number 1 victories, marking its 40th anniversary as the most-streamed and physically purchased song of the week. Originally penned by the late George Michael for 1984’s Official Christmas Number 1, Last Christmas was initially outshone by Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?
But the iconic festive hit finally claimed the festive chart crown in 2023, completing a record-breaking journey to Christmas Number 1 of 39 years. Now recognised as the UK’s favourite Christmas song, Last Christmas fended off stiff competition from Gracie Abrams and Mariah Carey, as well as a spirited attempt by Tom Grennan to disrupt the festive chart race.
Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley is delighted to be number one again
Last Christmas secured the Christmas Number 1 through both digital and physical domination, with 12.6 million streams, and being the best seller of the week physically too, thanks to a range of limited edition 40th anniversary collectibles, including zoetrope vinyl, picture disc and CD.
Earlier this week, bookmakers had Wham! and their festive classic Last Christmas as a sure bet to become to be the first song to claim back-to-back Christmas number ones, after topping the charts for six weeks in 2023. “It seems more and more unlikely that any other contenders will mount a serious challenge for number one, with Tom Grennan (8/1) and Mariah Carey (12/1) some way adrift in the betting,” Lee Phelps from William Hill said on Wednesday. “It looks like the UK is heading towards another year of Wham! dominating the radio waves this Christmas.”
Speaking exclusively to Official Charts, WHAM!’s Andrew Ridgeley says: “37 years to get to Number 1, 39 years to Christmas Number 1, and then like London buses they all come along at once! I’m especially pleased for George, he would have been utterly delighted, his fabulous Christmas composition has become such a classic, almost as much a part of Christmas as mince pies, turkey and pigs in blankets.”
“It’s testament to a really wonderful Christmas song that in a lot of people’s minds evokes and represents Christmas as we would all wish it to be. I’d like to thank everyone who has listened to, downloaded, bought, streamed Last Christmas and been a part of history. Thanks so much and Merry Christmas!”
Last Christmas is the nation’s favourite festive song (
Image:
PR)
WHAM! now enter a rare Official Charts club, as one of only a few acts to achieve the Official Christmas Number 1 multiple times. Their peers now include; Queen (2), Spice Girls (3), The Beatles (4) and the current record-holders, LadBaby (5). On WHAM! joining the likes of Queen and The Beatles with multiple festive chart-toppers to their name, Andrew observes: “Artists of that calibre and songwriters, of which George was one, transcend the ages and decades and endure because of their quality. I think that’s the reason why Last Christmas has endured.”
Fans have since taken to social media to share their excitement, with one writing: “The most deserving of winners and record breakers!” “Yippee! George would have been so happy,” exclaimed a second. Meanwhile, another went on to add: “Outstanding achievement!” “Woo hoo Last Christmas went is number one official for Christmas on its 40th Anniversary. Bitter sweet beating Band Aid. Congratulations @GeorgeMichael @ajridgeley @WhamOfficial_,” typed another.
Gracie Abrams’ former chart-topper ‘That’s So True’ has secured the number 2 spot this week, following a last-minute surge ahead of the Christmas competition. This confirms her status as one of this year’s biggest breakout acts. ‘That’s So True’ previously topped the Official Singles Chart for five consecutive weeks. Meanwhile, Mariah Carey, the Queen of Christmas, may be celebrating 30 years of ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ this year, but she has to settle for a finish at number 3, maintaining her position from last week.
Sabrina Carpenter has bagged the Christmas Number 1 Album with her sixth LP Short N Sweet, released in August this year. The album has already produced three UK Number 1 singles; Espresso, Please Please Please and Taste, and shows no signs of leaving the charts anytime soon. Thanks to her Netflix special, A Nonsense Christmas, Sabrina’s album was favourite to claim a second non-consecutive week at Number 1 and receive the prestigious Christmas honour.
Given that Jesus was a carpenter, it seems fitting that Ms Carpenter’s LP should reign supreme on his birthday. However, she faced stiff competition from a familiar festive favourite. Michael Buble, aka Mr Christmas, was hot on Sabrina’s heels in the midweek charts. His 2011 album, Christmas, is a Yuletide classic and was in second place on Monday – just 150 units behind Short ‘N’ Sweet.
