New Christmas song threatens to knock classic off number 1 spot on 40th anniversary-Danni Scott-Entertainment – Metro

Wham! could break records if they get the Christmas number one again (Picture: Wham!/YouTube)

The battle for Christmas number one is on and a festive classic is in the running to secure the top spot in celebration of its 40th anniversary.

Wham! are bookies favourites to claim the coveted chart position with their iconic Last Christmas, which turned 40 this year.

The official Christmas number one is a British institution and has previously been secured by musical talent that includes The Beatles, Spice Girls, Boney M and Slade.

Thankfully, internet personality LadBaby – made up of couple Mark and Roxanne Hoyle – stepped down last year following their record-breaking streak of five chart-topping singles.

This left the charts wide open for Wham to finally get the number one last year after being beaten by Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? in 1984.

So who could take the prestigious Christmas number one in 2024?

Tom Grennan is vying for the top spot too (Picture: Matt Crossick/Global/Shutterstock)

Last Christmas is once again in the running to take the top spot, which could be a record-breaking win as a song has never won twice — let alone twice in a row.

‘No song has ever been Christmas number one in back-to-back years, but we now make Wham’s Last Christmas odds-on to take the top spot for the second consecutive year,’ said Coral’s John Hill.

‘Last Christmas has already hit the top spot in the latest singles charts, and we expect the streaming number to keep rising ahead of the Christmas countdown.’

However, a new original song is vying for the top spot according to Official Charts, Tom Grennan’s It Can’t Be Christmas is in hot pursuit with Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas in third.

If Tom, 29, claims the top spot on December 25, it would be the first time an original new song took the crown since Ed Sheeran’s Perfect in 2017.

It’s been far longer since a new festive tune with Christmas in the title took the slot — Shakin’ Stevens’ 1985 classic Merry Christmas Everyone was the last time that happened.

Tom even got a tattoo in celebration of the pending Christmas number one with a blank space ready for the winner’s name to be added after the announcement.

Speaking about the race for number one, the Little Bit of Love singer said: ‘Today I’m at the tattoo shop and I thought I’m gonna make it interesting. I’m gonna get “ChristmasNo.1 2024 is…” and I’m gonna let you lot decide what goes on my leg.

Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You is currently in third (Picture: Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty Images)

Band Aid beat Last Christmas in the 1984 chart battle (Picture: Brian Aris/Band Aid/PA Wire)

‘It’s up to you. Stream it, buy the vinyl, we’ll see what happens. Do not let this flop.’

Despite his determination, Coral has Tom at 10-1 odds behind Wham at 1-3as the favourite.

Band Aid’s 40 Remix is 6-1, even after Fuse ODG criticised it for perpetuating stereotypes about Africa and making him want to ‘disassociate’ from his roots.

This received wider attention when Ed shared the clip on his social media along with his statement that he had not been contacted about the 40 Remix.

Sir Bob Geldof then defended the track and even called up Ed but the Band Aid song has taken a hit in the charts.

Newcomer Laufey is in the running with Christmas Magic (Picture: Anna Webber/Getty Images for Teen Vogue)

The Pogues are – as always – in with a chance of winning (Picture: Tim Roney/Getty Images)

Liam Payne and One Direction round out the bookies picks at 25-1 and 40-1 respectively.

Christmas Magic by Laufey, another Amazon Original along with Tom’s track, is also in the running, currently at seven behind Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.

Some non-festive tracks in the running include Gracie Abrams’ That’s So True and APT by Bruno Mars and Rose at number four and five, respectively.

The rest of the current top 10 feature Christmas hits Jingle Bell Rock, Fairytale of New York, and Lola Young’s new entry Messy.

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