Wicked, Band Aid, and Sabrina Carpenter lead the race for 2024's Christmas number one

The competition for 2024's coveted Christmas number one spot is heating up, with hopefuls including songs from the musical film 'Wicked: Part One', Band Aid, and Sabrina Carpenter. Last year, Wham! finally achieved the festive top spot with 'Last Christmas', 39 years after its release.

The iconic song, originally dropped in December 1984 by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, was edged out at the time by Band Aid’s 'Do They Know It’s Christmas?'

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, a special version of the Band Aid track has been reissued, combining elements from the original 1984 version, the 2004 Band Aid 20, and the 2014 Band Aid 30 releases. Coinciding with this, the BBC is set to air 'Wham! Last Christmas Unwrapped', a documentary delving into the history of the song.

Also observing significant anniversaries are Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas is You' and East 17's 'Stay Another Day', which originally outperformed Carey's hit in 1994. East 17 is looking to support Nordoff Robbins, a music therapy charity, by re-releasing their song 30 years later.

Tony Mortimer of East 17 commented to 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."

Amid speculations of this year's Christmas chart-toppers, a music industry insider mused, "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."

Official Charts chimed in with prospects too, hinting at another potential hit with the release of 'Defying Gravity' from the Wicked musical – voiced by Cynthia Erivo and featuring Ariana Grande – along with YouTuber KSI's collaboration with Trippie Redd on the track 'Thick Of It', both possessing the magic to top the charts during the festive season.

Martin Talbot, Chief Executive Officer of Official Charts, added: "Last year we saw an all-time Christmas favourite finally reach the festive summit, in the form of Wham! ’s Last Christmas, and this year we have a range of old and new favourites preparing to enter the race."

"With just four weeks to go until the big reveal, the field looks as wide open as ever."

Talbot illuminated the stakes for female artists this holiday, stating, "It has been more than a decade since a woman earned a Christmas number one," and with US sensations Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Gracie Abrams predicted as strong contenders, the anticipation intensifies.

2013's X Factor victor, Sam Bailey, was the last woman to clinch the coveted spot with 'Skyscraper,' but tracks like Roan's 'Hot To Go!', hits from Carpenter including 'Espresso', Please Please Please' and 'Taste', or Abrams' echoing 'That’s So True', might be set to follow her lead, ushering in a winning streak for women this Christmas.

Ed Sheeran, who previously topped the Christmas charts with 2017's 'Perfect' and 2021's collaboration with LadBaby and Sir Elton John on 'Sausage Rolls For Everyone', is back in the running with his new release 'Under The Tree'. This track, set to be released next month, features on the soundtrack for Richard Curtis's 2024 Netflix animated film 'That Christmas'.

Other contenders for this year's festive chart-toppers include Kelly Clarkson's 'You For Christmas', Michael Buble and Carly Pearce's 'Maybe This Christmas', and Jedward's 'Lovemas'. The winner of the coveted Christmas number one title will be revealed on Friday, December 20.

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