Historically, the Christmas number one is so tightly fought over and if you can outsell every other song at this time of year, you really are doing well because the volume of record sales in the UK peaks around the festive season.
The first Christmas number one came in December 1952, the first year of the Officials Single Chart and went to American singer and actor Al Martino, whose recording of ‘Here in My Heart’ remained at the top of the charts for nine weeks.
The Beatles, the Spice Girls and now LadBaby are the only acts to ever have had three Christmas number ones in consecutive years wit the Spice Girls holding the record for the most Christmas number ones with four.
Mariah Carey was pushing for her first Christmas number one this year with ‘All I want for Christmas is you’ however LadBaby knocked her off the top spot with just one week to go.
Here’s some history on the Christmas number one, and a full list of all the acts and artists who can proudly say they’ve held the top spot.
1952 HERE IN MY HEART – AL MARTINO
1953 ANSWER ME – FRANKIE LAINE
1954 LET’S HAVE ANOTHER PARTY – WINIFRED ATWELL
1955 CHRISTMAS ALPHABET – DICKIE VALENTINE
1956 JUST WALKIN’ IN THE RAIN – JOHNNIE RAY
1957 MARY’S BOY CHILD – HARRY BELAFONTE
1958 IT’S ONLY MAKE BELIEVE – CONWAY TWITTY
1959 WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR? – EMILE FORD & THE CHECKMATES
1960 I LOVE YOU – CLIFF RICHARD & THE SHADOWS
1961 MOON RIVER – DANNY WILLIAMS
1962 RETURN TO SENDER – ELVIS PRESLEY
1963 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND – THE BEATLES
1964 I FEEL FINE – THE BEATLES
1965 DAY TRIPPER/WE CAN WORK IT OUT – THE BEATLES
1966 GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME – TOM JONES
1967 HELLO, GOODBYE – THE BEATLES
1968 LILY THE PINK – THE SCAFFOLD
1969 TWO LITTLE BOYS – ROLF HARRIS
1970 I HEAR YOU KNOCKING – DAVE EDMUNDS
1971 ERNIE (THE FASTEST MILKMAN IN THE WEST) – BENNY HILL
1972 LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL – JIMMY OSMOND
1973 MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY – SLADE
1974 LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS – MUD
1975 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY – QUEEN
1976 WHEN A CHILD IS BORN (SOLEADO) – JOHNNY MATHIS
1977 MULL OF KINTYRE/GIRLS’ SCHOOL – WINGS
1978 MARY’S BOY CHILD – OH MY LORD – BONEY M
1979 ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART 2) – PINK FLOYD
1980 THERE’S NO ONE QUITE LIKE GRANDMA – ST WINIFRED’S SCHOOL CHOIR
1981 DON’T YOU WANT ME – THE HUMAN LEAGUE
1982 SAVE YOUR LOVE – RENÉE AND RENATO
1983 ONLY YOU – THE FLYING PICKETS
1984 DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS? – BAND AID
1985 MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE – SHAKIN’ STEVENS
1986 REET PETITE – JACKIE WILSON
1987 ALWAYS ON MY MIND – PET SHOP BOYS
1988 MISTLETOE AND WINE – CLIFF RICHARD
1989 DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS? – BAND AID II
1990 SAVIOUR’S DAY – CLIFF RICHARD
1991 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY/THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES – QUEEN
1992 I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU – WHITNEY HOUSTON
1993 MR BLOBBY – MR BLOBBY
1994 STAY ANOTHER DAY – EAST 17
1995 EARTH SONG – MICHAEL JACKSON
1996 2 BECOME 1 – SPICE GIRLS
1997 TOO MUCH – SPICE GIRLS
1998 GOODBYE – SPICE GIRLS
1999 I HAVE A DREAM/SEASONS IN THE SUN – WESTLIFE
2000 CAN WE FIX IT? – BOB THE BUILDER
2001 SOMETHIN’ STUPID – ROBBIE WILLIAMS & NICOLE KIDMAN
2002 SOUND OF THE UNDERGROUND – GIRLS ALOUD
2003 MAD WORLD – MICHAEL ANDREWS & GARY JULES
2004 DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS? – BAND AID 20
2005 THAT’S MY GOAL – SHAYNE WARD
2006 A MOMENT LIKE THIS – LEONA LEWIS
2007 WHEN YOU BELIEVE – LEON JACKSON
2008 HALLELUJAH – ALEXANDRA BURKE
2009 KILLING IN THE NAME – RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
2010 WHEN WE COLLIDE – MATT CARDLE
2011 WHEREVER YOU ARE – MILITARY WIVES WITH GARETH MALONE
2012 HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER – THE JUSTICE COLLECTIVE
2013 SKYSCRAPER – SAM BAILEY
2014 SOMETHING I NEED – BEN HAENOW
2015 A BRIDGE OVER YOU – THE LEWISHAM & GREENWICH NHS CHOIR
2016 ROCKABYE – CLEAN BANDIT
2017 PERFECT – ED SHEERAN
2018 WE BUILT THIS CITY – LADBABY
2019 I LOVE SAUSAGE ROLLS – LADBABY
2020 DON’T DTOP ME EATIN’ – LADBABY
