Contenders For The UK Christmas Number 1 Record 2024

BY STUART GLOSSOP

The race for the UK Christmas Number 1 single is one of the music industry’s most exciting traditions, and 2024 promises a diverse lineup of contenders. From pop stars to charity efforts and reimagined classics, here are some of the key players in this year’s festive battle: Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have noticed that 2024’s been the year the pop girl’s dominated the Official Charts. From Charli XCX’s ‘BRAT summer’ to Sabrina Carpenter’s record-breaking run, 31 of 46 weeks so far this year have seen a woman occupying the Number 1 spot.

It’s been more than a decade since the last one, when The X Factor winner Sam Bailey bagged it with 2013’s Skyscraper, but could 2024 be the year we see a solo female artist bring home the Christmas Number 1? Let’s take a look at a few who could be in with a shot…

Claiming a record-breaking 21 weeks at Number 1 this year across three singles (Espresso, Please Please Please and Taste), Sabrina Carpenter has had a great year. With a Netflix special A Nonsense Christmas, 2023 festive EP Fruitcake receiving a multi-format reissue and melancholic tune Is It New Years Yet? getting the focus track treatment, could Sabrina end on top? 

Gracie Abrams – Holder of the current chart-topper That’s So True, and with a Number 1 album already under her belt this year, Gracie Abrams’ star is certainly on the ascent. 

■ Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan – Is pop’s newest queen HOT TO GO! all the way to Christmas Number 1? The song’s been on the climb for six months solid and now entered the Top 5. It’s sure to be a go-to dance floor filler at Christmas parties, can Chappell Roan round off an immaculate breakthrough year with a festive chart-topper?

■ Sam Fender

But there are some of pop powerhouse in contention. The UK’s own Sam Fender joins the race with “People Watching,” the title track of his upcoming album. Known for heartfelt lyrics and a strong following, his odds are promising. Canadian sensation Tate McRae enters with “2 Hands,” showcasing her continued momentum following last year’s Christmas chart appearance. There’s Richard Ashcroft featuring in the John Lewis Christmas advert, his rendition of “Sonnet” has captured hearts, and the commercial’s popularity could propel it up the charts. 

■ Perrie Edwards

After scoring her first-ever post-Little Mix solo Top 10 earlier this year, Perrie’s here to sprinkle some festive gorgeousness onto proceedings with Christmas Magic. If you haven’t seen the music video yet, get ready for some heart-melting moments with son Axel and fiancé Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

This year also sees some of the UK’s most prolific seasonal staples mark milestone anniversaries, and certain artists have scores to settle… 

East 17 vs. Mariah Carey rematch: 30 years on! In 1994, Walthamstow lads East 17 pipped the now-undisputed Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, to Christmas Number 1. Now, it’s time for a rematch. Ding ding! Marking its 30th anniversary, All I Want For Christmas is You has still never claimed the Christmas Number 1 spot; It did top the Official Singles Chart for the first time in 2020, so a 2024 push with brand-new physical formats might just seal the deal. East 17 are hoping lightning will strike twice, reissuing Stay Another Day’s 2024 on 7-inch ‘ice clear’ vinyl to raise funds for Nordoff and Robbins – the UK’s biggest music therapy charity. Only one other song in history has made it to Christmas Number 1 twice with the same artist – Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody – but with East 17’s vinyl dropping on 13 December (day 1 of the Christmas Number 1 race), the Walthamstow massive are fighting tough to become the second.

Legacy tracks also loom large. Wham!’s “Last Christmas”, last year’s victor, and could dominate once more. Additionally, Slade’s “Merry Xmas Everybody” celebrates its 50th anniversary with a Dolby Atmos release, offering a modern twist on a beloved classic

This year’s contenders reflect a wide array of genres, causes, and creative efforts, ensuring that the race for the Christmas Number 1 is as vibrant as ever. Whether driven by star power, nostalgia, or heartfelt charity efforts, fans will eagerly await the announcement of the festive chart-topper on December 22, 2024.

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