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List of UK singles chart Christmas number ones

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of UK singles chart Christmas number ones

In the United Kingdom, Christmas number ones are singles that top the UK singles chart in the week preceding or during Christmas Day. The singles have often been novelty songs, charity songs or songs with a Christmas theme. Historically, the volume of record sales in the UK has peaked at Christmas. Christmas number-one singles have often been the best-selling song of the year. During the 21st century many Christmas chart-toppers have been either by reality television contestants or charity singles. The Christmas number one is announced by BBC Radio 1 on the Friday before Christmas. The most recent Christmas number-one single is "XMAS" by Kylie Minogue.

Tables

· List
1952
1952
Year
1952
Artist
Al Martino
Song
"Here in My Heart"
Weeks
9
1953
1953
Year
1953
Artist
Frankie Laine
Song
"Answer Me"
Weeks
8
1954
1954
Year
1954
Artist
Winifred Atwell
Song
"Let's Have Another Party"
Weeks
5
1955
1955
Year
1955
Artist
Dickie Valentine
Song
"Christmas Alphabet"
Weeks
3
1956
1956
Year
1956
Artist
Johnnie Ray
Song
"Just Walkin' in the Rain"
Weeks
7
1957
1957
Year
1957
Artist
Harry Belafonte
Song
"Mary's Boy Child"
Weeks
7
1958
1958
Year
1958
Artist
Conway Twitty
Song
"It's Only Make Believe"
Weeks
5
1959
1959
Year
1959
Artist
Emile Ford and the Checkmates
Song
"What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?"
Weeks
6
1960
1960
Year
1960
Artist
Cliff Richard and the Shadows
Song
"I Love You"
Weeks
2
1961
1961
Year
1961
Artist
Danny Williams
Song
"Moon River"
Weeks
2
1962
1962
Year
1962
Artist
Elvis Presley
Song
"Return to Sender"
Weeks
3
1963
1963
Year
1963
Artist
The Beatles
Song
"I Want to Hold Your Hand"
Weeks
5
1964
1964
Year
1964
Artist
"I Feel Fine"
Song
5
1965
1965
Year
1965
Artist
"Day Tripper" / "We Can Work It Out"
Song
5
1966
1966
Year
1966
Artist
Tom Jones
Song
"Green, Green Grass of Home"
Weeks
7
1967
1967
Year
1967
Artist
The Beatles
Song
"Hello, Goodbye"
Weeks
7
1968
1968
Year
1968
Artist
The Scaffold
Song
"Lily the Pink"
Weeks
4
1969
1969
Year
1969
Artist
Rolf Harris
Song
"Two Little Boys"
Weeks
6
1970
1970
Year
1970
Artist
Dave Edmunds
Song
"I Hear You Knocking"
Weeks
6
1971
1971
Year
1971
Artist
Benny Hill
Song
"Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)"
Weeks
4
1972
1972
Year
1972
Artist
Jimmy Osmond
Song
"Long Haired Lover from Liverpool"
Weeks
5
1973
1973
Year
1973
Artist
Slade
Song
"Merry Xmas Everybody"
Weeks
5
1974
1974
Year
1974
Artist
Mud
Song
"Lonely This Christmas"
Weeks
4
1975
1975
Year
1975
Artist
Queen
Song
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
Weeks
14
1976
1976
Year
1976
Artist
Johnny Mathis
Song
"When a Child Is Born (Soleado)"
Weeks
3
1977
1977
Year
1977
Artist
Wings
Song
"Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School"
Weeks
9
1978
1978
Year
1978
Artist
Boney M.
Song
"Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord"
Weeks
4
1979
1979
Year
1979
Artist
Pink Floyd
Song
"Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)"
Weeks
5
1980
1980
Year
1980
Artist
St Winifred's School Choir
Song
"There's No One Quite Like Grandma"
Weeks
2
1981
1981
Year
1981
Artist
The Human League
Song
"Don't You Want Me"
Weeks
5
1982
1982
Year
1982
Artist
Renée and Renato
Song
"Save Your Love"
Weeks
4
1983
1983
Year
1983
Artist
The Flying Pickets
Song
"Only You"
Weeks
5
1984
1984
Year
1984
Artist
Band Aid
Song
"Do They Know It's Christmas?"
Weeks
5
1985
1985
Year
1985
Artist
Shakin' Stevens
Song
"Merry Christmas Everyone"
Weeks
2
1986
1986
Year
1986
Artist
Jackie Wilson
Song
"Reet Petite"
Weeks
4
1987
1987
Year
1987
Artist
Pet Shop Boys
Song
"Always on My Mind"
Weeks
4
1988
1988
Year
1988
Artist
Cliff Richard
Song
"Mistletoe and Wine"
Weeks
4
1989
1989
Year
1989
Artist
Band Aid II
Song
"Do They Know It's Christmas?"
Weeks
3
1990
1990
Year
1990
Artist
Cliff Richard
Song
"Saviour's Day"
Weeks
1
1991
1991
Year
1991
Artist
Queen
Song
"Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives"
Weeks
14 / 5
1992
1992
Year
1992
Artist
Whitney Houston
Song
"I Will Always Love You"
Weeks
10
1993
1993
Year
1993
Artist
Mr Blobby
Song
"Mr Blobby"
Weeks
3
1994
1994
Year
1994
Artist
East 17
Song
"Stay Another Day"
Weeks
5
1995
1995
Year
1995
Artist
Michael Jackson
Song
"Earth Song"
Weeks
6
1996
1996
Year
1996
Artist
Spice Girls
Song
"2 Become 1"
Weeks
3
1997
1997
Year
1997
Artist
"Too Much"
Song
2
1998
1998
Year
1998
Artist
"Goodbye"
Song
1
1999
1999
Year
1999
Artist
Westlife
Song
"I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun"
Weeks
4
2000
2000
Year
2000
Artist
Bob the Builder
Song
"Can We Fix It?"
Weeks
3
2001
2001
Year
2001
Artist
Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman
Song
"Somethin' Stupid"
Weeks
3
2002
2002
Year
2002
Artist
Girls Aloud
Song
"Sound of the Underground"
Weeks
4
2003
2003
Year
2003
Artist
Michael Andrews and Gary Jules
Song
"Mad World"
Weeks
3
2004
2004
Year
2004
Artist
Band Aid 20
Song
"Do They Know It's Christmas?"
Weeks
4
2005
2005
Year
2005
Artist
Shayne Ward
Song
"That's My Goal"
Weeks
4
2006
2006
Year
2006
Artist
Leona Lewis
Song
"A Moment Like This"
Weeks
4
2007
2007
Year
2007
Artist
Leon Jackson
Song
"When You Believe"
Weeks
3
2008
2008
Year
2008
Artist
Alexandra Burke
Song
"Hallelujah"
Weeks
3
2009
2009
Year
2009
Artist
Rage Against the Machine
Song
"Killing in the Name"
Weeks
1
2010
2010
Year
2010
Artist
Matt Cardle
Song
"When We Collide"
Weeks
3
2011
2011
Year
2011
Artist
Military Wives ft. Gareth Malone
Song
"Wherever You Are"
Weeks
1
2012
2012
Year
2012
Artist
The Justice Collective
Song
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
Weeks
1
2013
2013
Year
2013
Artist
Sam Bailey
Song
"Skyscraper"
Weeks
1
2014
2014
Year
2014
Artist
Ben Haenow
Song
"Something I Need"
Weeks
1
2015
2015
Year
2015
Artist
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir
Song
"A Bridge over You"
Weeks
1
2016
2016
Year
2016
Artist
Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul and Anne-Marie
Song
"Rockabye"
Weeks
9
2017
2017
Year
2017
Artist
Ed Sheeran
Song
"Perfect"
Weeks
6
2018
2018
Year
2018
Artist
LadBaby
Song
"We Built This City"
Weeks
1
2019
2019
Year
2019
Artist
"I Love Sausage Rolls"
Song
1
2020
2020
Year
2020
Artist
"Don't Stop Me Eatin'"
Song
1
2021
2021
Year
2021
Artist
LadBaby ft. Ed Sheeran and Elton John
Song
"Sausage Rolls for Everyone"
Weeks
1
2022
2022
Year
2022
Artist
LadBaby
Song
"Food Aid"
Weeks
1
2023
2023
Year
2023
Artist
Wham!
Song
"Last Christmas"
Weeks
11
2024
2024
Year
2024
2025
2025
Year
2025
Artist
Kylie Minogue
Song
"XMAS"
Weeks
1
Year
Artist
Song
Weeks
1952
Al Martino
"Here in My Heart"
9
1953
Frankie Laine
"Answer Me"
8
1954
Winifred Atwell
"Let's Have Another Party"
5
1955
Dickie Valentine
"Christmas Alphabet"
3
1956
Johnnie Ray
"Just Walkin' in the Rain"
7
1957
Harry Belafonte
"Mary's Boy Child"
7
1958
Conway Twitty
"It's Only Make Believe"
5
1959
Emile Ford and the Checkmates
"What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?"
6
1960
Cliff Richard and the Shadows
"I Love You"
2
1961
Danny Williams
"Moon River"
2
1962
Elvis Presley
"Return to Sender"
3
1963
The Beatles
"I Want to Hold Your Hand"
5
1964
"I Feel Fine"
5
1965
"Day Tripper" / "We Can Work It Out"
5
1966
Tom Jones
"Green, Green Grass of Home"
7
1967
The Beatles
"Hello, Goodbye"
7
1968
The Scaffold
"Lily the Pink"
4
1969
Rolf Harris
"Two Little Boys"
6
1970
Dave Edmunds
"I Hear You Knocking"
6
1971
Benny Hill
"Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)"
4
1972
Jimmy Osmond
"Long Haired Lover from Liverpool"
5
1973
Slade
"Merry Xmas Everybody"
5
1974
Mud
"Lonely This Christmas"
4
1975
Queen
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
14
1976
Johnny Mathis
"When a Child Is Born (Soleado)"
3
1977
Wings
"Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School"
9
1978
Boney M.
"Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord"
4
1979
Pink Floyd
"Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)"
5
1980
St Winifred's School Choir
"There's No One Quite Like Grandma"
2
1981
The Human League
"Don't You Want Me"
5
1982
Renée and Renato
"Save Your Love"
4
1983
The Flying Pickets
"Only You"
5
1984
Band Aid
"Do They Know It's Christmas?"
5
1985
Shakin' Stevens
"Merry Christmas Everyone"
2
1986
Jackie Wilson
"Reet Petite"
4
1987
Pet Shop Boys
"Always on My Mind"
4
1988
Cliff Richard
"Mistletoe and Wine"
4
1989
Band Aid II
"Do They Know It's Christmas?"
3
1990
Cliff Richard
"Saviour's Day"
1
1991
Queen
"Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives"
14 / 5
1992
Whitney Houston
"I Will Always Love You"
10
1993
Mr Blobby
"Mr Blobby"
3
1994
East 17
"Stay Another Day"
5
1995
Michael Jackson
"Earth Song"
6
1996
Spice Girls
"2 Become 1"
3
1997
"Too Much"
2
1998
"Goodbye"
1
1999
Westlife
"I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun"
4
2000
Bob the Builder
"Can We Fix It?"
3

References

  1. In addition to the two groups that were the focus of the show (Girls Aloud and One True Voice), who charted at No. 1 and
  2. Released as a double A-side
  3. "Mistletoe and Wine" by Cliff Richard was announced as the 1988 Christmas number one a day later than usual, on Monday 2
  4. That year's X Factor winner
  5. This song originally peaked at No. 25 on the chart in 1993; first download-only single to be a Christmas number one, whi
  6. A cover of a Biffy Clyro song, originally titled "Many of Horror"
  7. The Justice Collective was the name taken by a group of British musicians and football personalities who released the so
  8. A mashup cover of the Simon & Garfunkel song "Bridge over Troubled Water" and Coldplay's "Fix You"
  9. Versions of "Perfect" featuring Beyoncé ("Perfect Duet") and Andrea Bocelli ("Perfect Symphony") counted towards the pla
  10. A novelty version of the Ed Sheeran and Elton John song, "Merry Christmas"
  11. 4 weeks at Christmas 2023; 3 weeks at Christmas 2024; 4 weeks not part of a Christmas number one run
  12. BBC News
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1690079.stm
  13. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg6ejq7zpyo
  14. BBC News
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/entertainment/1234212.stm
  15. "FAQs"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20111008223942/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/faqs/
  16. "Who We Are - How the Official Charts are compiled"
    http://www.officialcharts.com/getting-into-the-charts/how-the-charts-are-compiled/
  17. Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums
  18. BBC
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z2hnsbk
  19. Liverpool Echo
    http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/in-the-mix/2011/12/13/will-christmas-number-one-hopes-the-w-factor-the-wombles-or-mw-factor-the-military-wives-beat-the-x-factor-100252-29942852/
  20. "Official UK Top 40 with Bruno Brookes"
    https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8705c51b1ad4497ea63781a15d45b7bb
  21. BBC News
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2599721.stm
  22. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/nov/16/1
  23. BBC News
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8423340.stm
  24. "X Factor's Matt Cardle beats Biffy Clyro, Surfin' Bird and John Cage to UK Christmas Number One"
    https://www.nme.com/news/nme/54322
  25. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16285101
  26. Billboard
    https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/464672/military-wives-italian-donkey-in-race-for-uks-no-1-christmas-single
  27. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20827695
  28. "The Official Chart on BBC Radio 1 to move to Fridays from July - Greg James to present the weekly show from 4-6pm"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/official-chart-show-greg-james
  29. BBC
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06s6l5d
  30. The Daily Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/12060744/NHS-Choir-in-the-lead-in-race-for-Christmas-number-one.html
  31. Newsbeat
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-35162983
  32. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/the-demise-of-the-x-factor-christmas-number-1-a6781661.html
  33. Official Charts Company
    https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/george-ezra-camila-cabello-and-alessia-cara-announced-for-amazon-exclusive-christmas-songs-line-up__34365/
  34. Official Charts Company
    https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/new-christmas-songs-by-jess-glynne-and-justin-bieber-are-set-to-enter-this-weeks-official-singles-chart-top-40__31679/
  35. Official Charts Company
    https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/jess-glynne-enters-the-race-for-the-uks-official-christmas-number-1-with-amazon-music-exclusive-single-this-christmas__31606/
  36. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50927575
  37. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64074797
  38. Newsround
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46546117
  39. Virgin Radio
    https://virginradio.co.uk/music/128100/christmas-number-one-charts-shane-macgowan
  40. Official Charts
    https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/christmas-number-1-2024-whams-last-christmas-makes-official-chart-history-again-andrew-ridgeley/
  41. British Broadcasting Corporation
    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9z7j57qnjo
  42. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64074797
  43. "All the Christmas number ones"
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_2580000/2580729.stm
  44. BBC Radio 2: Sold on Song
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/dotheyknowitsxmas.shtml
  45. NME
    https://www.nme.com/photos/the-uks-top-50-million-selling-singles/290240#/photo/49
  46. "Every Official Christmas Number 1 ever!"
    http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/every-official-christmas-number-1-ever-__3618/
  47. "Christmas Number Ones – Singles"
    http://www.everyhit.com/christmasnumber1.html
  48. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/arts/christmas2002/story/0,,864869,00.html
  49. Masterton, James
    https://web.archive.org/web/20041231013406/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/charts/comment.html
  50. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/nov/23/paul-mccartney-hillsborough-single-robbie-williams
  51. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35177842
  52. "Ed Sheeran claims Christmas Number 1: "It's an actual dream""
    http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ed-sheeran-s-perfect-claims-the-uk-s-official-christmas-number-1-2017-its-an-actual-dream__21338/
  53. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-42401275
  54. BBC News Online
    https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-59762286
  55. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/ed-sheeran-ladbaby-elton-john-song-b1973505.html
  56. "LadBaby announce bid for record-breaking fourth consecutive Christmas Number 1 with Ed Sheeran and Elton John"
    https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/ladbaby-announce-bid-for-record-breaking-fourth-consecutive-christmas-number-1-with-ed-sheeran-and-elton-john__34643/
  57. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/22/wham-last-christmas-finally-gets-no-1-39-years-after-release
  58. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cgj61zdy26gt
  59. Official Charts
    https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/christmas-number-1-2025-kylie-minogue-xmas/
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