Christmas Number 1 2024 confirmed as chart record broken

The 2024 Christmas Number One has been announced, with Wham!'s Last Christmas once again taking the top spot and making chart history in the process. 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 for 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 tough 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.

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Earlier this week, bookies were backing Wham! and their festive hit 'Last Christmas' to notch up consecutive Christmas number ones after a six-week reign at the top in 2023. William Hill's Lee Phelps commented on Wednesday: "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.

"It looks like the UK is heading towards another year of Wham! dominating the radio waves this Christmas." In an exclusive chat with Official Charts, WHAM!'s Andrew Ridgeley revealed: "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."

He added: "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!"