Christmas Number One 2023 — Wham! beat Sam Ryder in chart battle as Last Christmas finally hits the top spot
WHAM’S Last Christmas has finally reached the festive Number One position - nearly 40 years after it was first released.
The Christmas classic, which first stormed the charts in 1984, was the clear favourite to win the coveted Number One spot this year.
It beat Sam Ryder, who bagged the Number two spot after releasing You're Christmas To Me exclusively on Amazon Music.
The close-run race came after LadBaby - who has won for the past five years - decided not to release a Christmas single in 2023.
The Christmas Number One was revealed during BBC Radio 1's Official Chart Show with Jack Saunders on Friday afternoon.
Read our live blog below for the latest news and updates...
Every Christmas number one since 2000
- 2000: Bob The Builder – Can We Fix It?
- 2001: Robbie Williams And Nicole Kidman – Somethin’ Stupid
- 2002: Girls Aloud – Sound Of The Underground
- 2003: Michael Andrews and Gary Jules – Mad World
- 2004: Band Aid 20 – Do They Know It’s Christmas?
- 2005: Shayne Ward – That’s My Goal
- 2006: Leona Lewis – A Moment Like This
- 2007: Leon Jackson – When You Believe
- 2008: Alexandra Burke – Hallelujah
- 2009: Rage Against The Machine – Killing In The Name
- 2010: Matt Cardle – When We Collide
- 2011: Military Wives With Gareth Malone – Wherever You Are
- 2012: The Justice Collective – He’s Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
- 2013: Sam Bailey – Skyscraper
- 2014: Ben Haenow – Something I Need
- 2015: The Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Choir – A Bridge Over You
- 2016 Clean Bandit – Rockabye
- 2017: Ed Sheeran – Perfect
- 2018: Ladbaby – We Built This City
- 2019: Ladbaby – I Love Sausage Rolls
- 2020: Ladbaby – Don’t Stop Me Eatin’
- 2021: Ladbaby ft Ed Sheeran and Elton John – Sausage Rolls For Everyone
- 2022: Ladbaby – Food Aid
Rage Against the Machine ended X Factor’s dominance
In 2009, rebel rockers Rage Against the Machine won the UK’s Christmas Number One.
Fans launched the 1992 track Killing In The Name into the charts in a bid to end X Factor’s dominance.
Simon Cowell branded the campaign “stupid” and “cynical” but it only appeared to spur on fans.
Rage Against The Machine bandmember Tom Morello said winning the festive race would be “a wonderful dose of anarchy”.
George Michael tragically passed away on Christmas day
George Michael died on Christmas Day, 2016.
The singer was found dead in bed at his Oxfordshire home by his boyfriend Fadi Fawaz.
Speaking about the horrifying moment, celebrity hairstylist Fawaz said: “We were supposed to be going for Christmas lunch.
“I went round there to wake him up and he was just gone, lying peacefully in bed.”
Ten films to watch this Christmas
Here is a list of some great films to watch this festive season.
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Elf
- Home Alone
- A Christmas Carol
- Die Hard
- Batman Returns
- Love Actually
- Polar Express
- The Harry Potter franchise
- Santa Claus
Who is Sam Ryder?
Sam is a 34-year-old singer from Essex.
The star began working in the music industry as a singer and guitarist in 2009.
He worked as a session player for the groups The Morning After, Blessed By A Broken Heart and Close Your Eyes.
Sam rose to fame on TikTok and has since enjoyed an incredible career in music as well as huge success in Eurovision.
Past Christmas Number One winners
- 2023 - Wham! - LAST CHRISTMAS
- 2022 - Ladbaby - FOOD AID
- 2021 - Ladbaby - SAUSAGE ROLLS FOR EVERYONE
- 2020 - Ladbaby - DON'T STOP ME EATIN'
- 2019 - Ladbaby - I LOVE SAUSAGE ROLLS
- 2018 - Ladbaby - WE BUILT THIS CITY
- 2017 - Ed Sheeran - PERFECT
- 2016 - Clean Bandit - ROCKABYE
- 2015 - The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir - A BRIDGE OVER YOU
- 2014 - Ben Haenow - SOMETHING I NEED
- 2013 - Sam Bailey - SKYSCRAPER
When Bob the Builder earned Christmas number one
In the year 2000, the theme song to Bob Builder somehow found its way to the top of the charts.
Voiced by Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey, it sold 240,000 within its first week alone before becoming the UK’s biggest-selling single of the year – much to the annoyance of Westlife and Eminem.
Paul Joyce, who wrote the song, admitted the moment was “ridiculous, but incredible.”
He added: “I don’t think the band or their fans thought they could be challenged by a cartoon brickie.
“When we went to No1, Sky TV interrupted Christmas dinner for an interview, I thought ‘This will never happen again’.”
What was the 2022 Christmas number 1?
The single that claimed the winning spot was titled ”Food Aid” which reworked the classical festive hit ”Band Aid song Do They Know It’s Christmas? ”
In true LadBaby style, they created a Christmas hit with a twist – with the lyrics referring to the current cost of living crisis.
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis even made an appearance on the winning track.
Does Ladbaby have any children?
Mark and Roxanne share two sons.
Phoenix Forest, born in 2016, and Kobe Notts, born in 2018.
The family reportedly live in Hemel Hempstead.
Who won it last year?
Taking the top spot last year was none other than social media star Mark Hoyle and his wife Roxanne – also known as LadBaby and LadBaby Mum.
Not only did the couple land the Christmas number 1, they also made chart history by securing the top spot for a fifth consecutive year – surpassing a record set by The Beatles in the 1960s.
Have Wham! ever got the Christmas number one before 2023?
Last Christmas by Wham! is without a doubt one of the most iconic festive jingles of all time.
So you’ll be surprised to hear it had never been crowned Christmas number one until this year.
It had come close on several occasions but never secured the much-coveted crown until now.
How is the Christmas chart compiled?
The chart is compiled from streams and sales in the week leading up to midnight on Thursday night.
The Wham! and Pogues songs have been reissued on vinyl, while Ryder’s single is available on CD – with physical sales counting for more than streams in the chart formula.
Streams of newer songs also carry greater weight – meaning Ryder and Sheeran/Sir Elton have a better chance of competing with classic festive tunes.
Famous Christmas Number One battles
In 2016, a feud developed between fans of Little Mix and Rangers FC supporters over their Christmas No1 battles.
It followed football fans' social media campaign to get the 1960s hit Glad All Over to the top of the charts in tribute to their player Joe Garner.
Little Mix fans were not impressed as it "threatened" to derail the girl band’s chance of clinching a festive chart-topper.
On X, formerly Twitter, Rangers fans joked: “Any truth in the rumour that Rangers casuals and Little Mix casuals are organising a rumble??”
Another shared a photo of football supporters clashing with police and wrote: “Rangers at Little Mix away.”
One irate Little Mix fan tweeted: “I'm sorry but if that joke football song ruins Touch's chance of being #1, I am deleting my account.”
Neither of the songs won – instead the victor was bookies’ favourite Clean Bandit with Rockabye.
Rage Against the Machine ended X Factor’s dominance
In 2009, rebel rockers Rage Against the Machine won the UK’s Christmas Number One.
Fans launched the 1992 track Killing In The Name into the charts in a bid to end X Factor’s dominance.
Simon Cowell branded the campaign “stupid” and “cynical” but it only appeared to spur on fans.
Rage Against The Machine bandmember Tom Morello said winning the festive race would be “a wonderful dose of anarchy”.
Ten films to watch this Christmas
Here is a list of some great films to watch this festive season.
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Elf
- Home Alone
- A Christmas Carol
- Die Hard
- Batman Returns
- Love Actually
- Polar Express
- The Harry Potter franchise
- Santa Claus
George Michael tragically passed away on Christmas day
George Michael died on Christmas Day, 2016.
The singer was found dead in bed at his Oxfordshire home by his boyfriend Fadi Fawaz.
Speaking about the horrifying moment, celebrity hairstylist Fawaz said: “We were supposed to be going for Christmas lunch.
“I went round there to wake him up and he was just gone, lying peacefully in bed.”
Who is LadBaby?
Mark Hoyle, also known as LadBaby is a blogger, author, YouTuber and social media personality.
He was born on April 12, 1987, in Nottingham, England.
Before he became an internet sensation, he worked as a graphic designer in London.
He’s also an entrepreneur and the inventor of the toolbox lunchbox.
In 2018 he was crowned Celebrity Dad of the Year beating the likes of Prince William and Liam Payne.
LadBaby’s net worth was estimated at a whopping £1.2million in 2021.
Christmas Number One battles
Slade, T-Rex and Isaac Hayes were all favourites for Christmas No1 back in 1971.
But it was Benny Hill’s hit Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) that won over the public.
The comedic song told the story of a randy milkman who fell in love with a widow only to come under threat from a love rival who made pork pies.
Benny’s absurd hit – which won over songs like Slade’s Coz I Love You – was filled with innuendos and cheeky lines including “Ernie got his cocoa there three times a week”.
In 2006, ex-Prime Minister David Cameron featured the song on his Desert Island Discs tracks.
Britain’s top 15 favourite Christmas songs revealed
Nothing beats a good Christmas jingle and every year Brits have dozens of beloved tunes to choose from.
According to research by , here are the country’s top 15 festive songs:
- Last Christmas, Wham! and All I Want For Christmas Is You, Mariah Carey
- It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, Michael Buble
- Santa Tell Me, Ariana Grande
- Do They Know It’s Christmas, Band Aid and Mistletoe, Justin Bieber
- Merry Christmas Everyone, Shakin’ Stevens
- Fairytale Of New York, Pogues Ft Kirsty Maccoll
- Underneath The Tree, Kelly Clarkson
- Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, Brenda Lee
- Happy Xmas (War Is Over), John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band and Jingle Bell Rock, Bobby Helms
- Holly Jolly Christmas, Michael Buble
- One More Sleep, Leona Lewis and Wonderful Christmastime, Paul Mccartney
- It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, Andy Williams
- Lonely This Christmas, Mud
- I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, Wizzard
- Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow, Dean Martin and Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord, Boney M
Every Christmas number one since 2000
- 2000: Bob The Builder – Can We Fix It?
- 2001: Robbie Williams And Nicole Kidman – Somethin’ Stupid
- 2002: Girls Aloud – Sound Of The Underground
- 2003: Michael Andrews and Gary Jules – Mad World
- 2004: Band Aid 20 – Do They Know It’s Christmas?
- 2005: Shayne Ward – That’s My Goal
- 2006: Leona Lewis – A Moment Like This
- 2007: Leon Jackson – When You Believe
- 2008: Alexandra Burke – Hallelujah
- 2009: Rage Against The Machine – Killing In The Name
- 2010: Matt Cardle – When We Collide
- 2011: Military Wives With Gareth Malone – Wherever You Are
- 2012: The Justice Collective – He’s Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
- 2013: Sam Bailey – Skyscraper
- 2014: Ben Haenow – Something I Need
- 2015: The Lewisham And Greenwich NHS Choir – A Bridge Over You
- 2016 Clean Bandit – Rockabye
- 2017: Ed Sheeran – Perfect
- 2018: Ladbaby – We Built This City
- 2019: Ladbaby – I Love Sausage Rolls
- 2020: Ladbaby – Don’t Stop Me Eatin’
- 2021: Ladbaby ft Ed Sheeran and Elton John – Sausage Rolls For Everyone
- 2022: Ladbaby – Food Aid
Who is Sam Ryder?
Sam is a 34-year-old singer from Essex.
The star began working in the music industry as a singer and guitarist in 2009.
He worked as a session player for the groups The Morning After, Blessed By A Broken Heart and Close Your Eyes.
Sam rose to fame on TikTok and has since enjoyed an incredible career in music as well as huge success in Eurovision.
When Bob the Builder earned Christmas number one
In the year 2000, the theme song to Bob Builder somehow found its way to the top of the charts.
Voiced by Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey, it sold 240,000 within its first week alone before becoming the UK’s biggest-selling single of the year – much to the annoyance of Westlife and Eminem.
Paul Joyce, who wrote the song, admitted the moment was “ridiculous, but incredible.”
He added: “I don’t think the band or their fans thought they could be challenged by a cartoon brickie.
“When we went to No1, Sky TV interrupted Christmas dinner for an interview, I thought ‘This will never happen again’.”
The Christmas number one clash of 1973
Two of the most iconic Christmas songs of all time were released in 1973.
The year saw Wizzard’s I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday and Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody battle for chart glory.
And it was Noddy Holder and the gang who would be the winners that year but Wizzard, who came fourth in the charts, got sweet revenge shortly after news of their loss was announced.
Slade’s Dave Hill would later tell The Guardian: “The friendly rivalry erupted in a custard pie fight on Top Of The Pops.
“We pied Roy [Wood] on camera – he carried on singing with custard in his beard. Then, when we were on, one of the Wizzard guys put one right in Noddy’s face.”
Rage Against the Machine ended X Factor’s dominance
In 2009, rebel rockers Rage Against the Machine won the UK’s Christmas Number One.
Fans launched the 1992 track Killing In The Name into the charts in a bid to end X Factor’s dominance.
Simon Cowell branded the campaign “stupid” and “cynical” but it only appeared to spur on fans.
Rage Against The Machine bandmember Tom Morello said winning the festive race would be “a wonderful dose of anarchy”.
Ten films to watch this Christmas
Here is a list of some great films to watch this festive season.
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- Elf
- Home Alone
- A Christmas Carol
- Die Hard
- Batman Returns
- Love Actually
- Polar Express
- The Harry Potter franchise
- Santa Claus