Christmas Number 1 2024: Wham! breaks record as iconic song reigns supreme once more

The 2024 Christmas Number One has been announced, with Wham!'s Last Christmas once again taking the top spot and making chart history. Official Charts confirmed that Last Christmas is the first song to secure two consecutive Christmas Number 1 victories, marking its 40th anniversary as the most-streamed and physically purchased song of the week.

Originally written by the late George Michael with the aim of being 1984's Official Christmas Number 1, Last Christmas was initially overshadowed by Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas?

However, 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 strong competition from Gracie Abrams and Mariah Carey, as well as a spirited attempt by Tom Grennan to disrupt the festive chart race.

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. , reports the Mirror.

Bookmakers had previously predicted that Wham!'s hit song Last Christmas would become the first song to achieve consecutive Christmas number one spots, having already topped the charts for six weeks in 2023. According to Lee Phelps from William Hill, speaking on Wednesday, it seemed unlikely that any other contenders would challenge for the top spot, with Tom Grennan and Mariah Carey lagging behind in the betting.

Phelps noted, "It looks like the UK is heading towards another year of Wham! dominating the radio waves this Christmas." In an exclusive interview with Official Charts, Wham!'s Andrew Ridgeley expressed his delight at the song's success, saying: "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! ".