Christmas Number One race heats up as full list of contenders revealed

Historic musical feuds being reignited, with Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey and East 17 battling it out after 30 years to fight for an official festive number one

The British institution of the coveted Christmas number one is upon us once again, with bookies taking bets on who will bag the top spot.

With plenty of genre-spanning artists in the running for this year's festive hit, there are new contenders hoping to top the charts, as well as some historic rematches. From charity tunes to Christmas classics, this afternoon the wait will be over, with the countdown kicking off on BBC Radio 1's The Official Chart with Jack Saunders from 4pm.

East 17 v Queen of Christmas Mariah

Reigniting a 30-year old chart feud are East 17 and Mariah Carey, as they go to head-to-head with their festive staples Stay Another Day and All I Want for Christmas is You. Despite both being universally accepted as part of the soundtrack to Christmas, Mariah has never claimed the Number 1, although it did top the Official Singles Chart in 2020. For its 30th anniversary, she'll be hoping her new physical formats for the track might take it to the top.

East 17 did reach Number 1 in 1994 when it was released, but with it's re-release for music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins, the Walthmastow lads are hoping for lightning to strike twice. It would make it only the second track ever to get to Christmas Number 1 twice, with Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody snagging the title in 1975 and 1991.

East 17's Tony Mortimer told Official Charts: "All she wanted for Christmas she didn’t get, did she? No, it was funny! She’s an absolute legend, and we admire her so much. To be alongside such names, four little lads from Walthamstow, it’s surreal.

“She’s going to want to even it up this time – I think she’s going to pull out all the stops! We’ll see what happens, but as long as Nordoff and Robbins are riding on the back of it, I’d love another chart battle. This is to get people talking about music therapy.”

William Hill has Mariah at 12/1 to finally make it to Number 1.

Wham! take on Band Aid after 40 years

The 80s were arguably the Christmas song golden years, with 1984 seeing Band Aid and Wham! go against each other with Last Christmas and Do They Know It's Christmas?. After 40 years, the two tracks meet again.

Last Christmas has been re-released with vinyl and CD reissues, while Band Aid has a new rendition out, blending vocalists from the 1984, 2004 and 2014 versions of the track. Band Aid is at 20/1 with Bet365, while Wham! is at 1/6 with PaddyPower and Betfair.

Christmas streaming exclusives

Tom Grennan has joined forces with Amazon Music Original in the hope of securing a Christmas Number 1 with It Can't Be Christmas. The tune pulls on the heartstrings, telling a moving story of missing loved ones over Christmas. Grennan, who is trying his luck after Sam Ryder's success with You're Christmas to Me last year, says getting a Christmas Number 1 is his dream.

He told Official Charts: “I’ve always wanted to release a Christmas song - my dream is to have a Christmas Number 1! It’s going to be a challenge against WHAM!, Mariah and these dons of Christmas, but I’m ready to put my Christmas jacket on and say ‘right, I’m comin’ for ya!’”

Apple Music aren't missing out on the chance to steal a festive hit, with Rachel Chinouriri reimagining Coldplay's Christmas Lights. Spotify have brought out Dasha to give a country revamp to Chris Rea's Driving Home For Christmas.

New Christmas classics?

In the hope of making themselves part of the sound of Christmas for years to come, a slew of artists are releasing new music hoping to become treasured seasonal bangers. Among those are singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who has already got multiple Christmas chart-toppers under his belt. Going for the triple, having already released Christmas hit Perfect in 2017, and Elton John colab Merry Christmas, Ed is hoping for big things from his single Under The Tree.

K-pop idol V is has released an "era-bridging" take on Bing Crosby's White Christmas, while former Little Mixer Perrie Edwards is hoping Christmas Magic does the job for her. Kelly Clarkson, whose Underneath The Trea has become a modern Christmas favourite, has released You For Christmas, hoping to tap into her seasonal songwriting skills. Meanwhile, Jazz singer Michael Buble has retuned with a cover of Ron Sexsmith's Maybe This Christmas, while Jedward are vying for the top spot with the festively titled LOVEmas.

Charity tracks

In the name of fundraising, and not going down in history for getting on the Christmas Number 1 lists. A truly bizarre combination of familiar faces have Come Together for a re-release of All You Need Is Love. The Beatles classic is being reimagined by Frank Bruno, Love Island stars and The Chase's Anne Hegarty - believe it or not. Calling themselves The Celebs, the unlikely crew are hoping to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The power of social media is being put to the test once again, with social media campaigner Jon Mortor using ELO's Mr Blue Sky to promote new social media platform Bluesky, geddit? Electric Light Orchestra will be hoping they get a Christmas Number 1 thanks to Mortor's support, just in time for their farewell tour next year.

Others releasing tracks for a good cause are Reverend and The Makers, who have released Late Night Phonecall, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue with Fire Safety Dance to support Firefighters' mental health. Liverpool-based 18-artist music collective Primal Live are raising funds and awareness for the city's homeless charity Whitechapel Centre.

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