WHAM!’s Last Christmas has been crowned UK Christmas Number for a second year running, making Offical Chart History.
The iconic festive hit, which was first released in 1984 and celebrates it’s 40th anniversary this year, has now become the first song ever to cling the clinch two consecutive Christmas Number 1 victories.
Now enshrined as the UK’s favourite Christmas song, Last Christmas held off fierce competition from Gracie Abrams and Mariah Carey, as well as a wacky attempt by Tom Grennan.
Originally conceived by the late, great George Michael as a contender for 1984’s Official Christmas Number 1, Last Christmas was originally blocked from the festive top spot by Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? but finally claimed the coveted chart crown in 2023, completing the longest ever journey to Number 1 of 39 years.
Tom who admitted he got ‘carried away’ with his hopes of landing the festive top stop, and even had a tattoo in is commitment to the cause, reached number four with his release It Can’t Be Christmas.
Following the announcement WHAM!’s Andrew Ridgeley told the Offical Charts Company: ’37 years to get to Number 1, 39 years to Christmas Number 1, and then like London buses they all come along at once!’
‘I’m especially pleased for George, he would have been utterly delighted, his fabulous Christmas composition has become such a classic, almost as much a part of Christmas as mince pies, turkey and pigs in blankets.’
‘It’s testament to a really wonderful Christmas song that in a lot of people’s minds evokes and represents Christmas as we would all wish it to be. I’d like to thank everyone who has listened to, downloaded, bought, streamed Last Christmas and been a part of history. Thanks so much and Merry Christmas!’.
Last Christmas secured Christmas Number 1 with 12.6 million streams and the best seller of the week physically too, thanks to a suite of limited edition 40th anniversary collectibles, including zoetrope vinyl, picture disc and CD.
WHAM! now enter a rare Official Charts club, as one of only a few acts to achieve the Official Christmas Number 1 multiple times alongside the likes of Queen, Spice Girls , The Beatles and Lad𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦.
Hearing the news Andrew gushed: ‘Artists of that calibre and songwriters, of which George was one, transcend the ages and decades and endure because of their quality. I think that’s the reason why Last Christmas has endured’.
Gracie Abrams’ former chart-topper That’s So True finishes the week at Number 2, following a last-minute surge ahead of the Christmas competition, after previously topping the Official Singles Chart for five consecutive weeks.
While Mariah Carey may be celebrating 30 years of All I Want For Christmas Is You this year, but she has to settle for a finish of Number 3.
Meanwhile Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet was announced as the Official Christmas Number 1 album 2024
Tom permanently marked his bid with ‘Christmas no. 1 2024 is…’ on his right leg, with a a blank space that he left to hopefully, his name.
The song first entered the Top 40 two weeks ago reaching Number 25, before climbing to Number 6 on last Friday’s chart.
1. WHAM! – Last Christmas
2. Gracie Adams – That’s So True
3. Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You
4. Tom Grennan – It Can’t Be Christmas
5. ROSÉ and Bruno Mars – APT
Despite missing out on number one, behind second spot, fourth position marked Tom’s highest-ever charting solo single in the UK.
Following the news he said: ‘To everybody that has supported me, wherever you are, thank you for supporting me,’
‘You are always gonna be part of my family and a part of my Christmas dream. so thank you from the bottom of my heart, it’s been amazing, and I love you all.’
While WHAM’s Andrew added: ‘I wish Tom every success in the future, the business relies on up-and-coming talent. He’s gonna have his work cut out writing something like Last Christmas, everyone will, but at some point someone will, I’m sure of it.’
Tom previously told The Mirror: ‘The reaction has been brilliant – I can’t help getting excited now to be honest.’
He added: ‘It’s something you grow up hearing about isn’t it, the Christmas number one, it would be an amazing Christmas present to land one – I can only cross my fingers now really and hope people keep playing and downloading it, but I’ve got a bit carried away already and got myself a new tattoo on my leg just in the hope we get there.’
The musician has teamed up with Amazon and written a special festive song for their advert.
Tom showcased his crazy ‘Christmas number 1’ tattoo earlier this week as he begged his fans to let his move ‘flop’ and get listening to his latest release.
Sharing a reel to his Instagram, Tom said: ‘I thought I’d make it interesting. I’m going to get ‘Christmas no.1 2024 is…’ and I’m gonna let you lot decide what goes on my leg.
‘It’s up to you. Stream it, buy the vinyl. We’ll see what happens. You lot, do not let this flop.’
The footage of Tom getting the tattoo done was sound tracked by It Can’t Be Christmas’ lyrics ‘Have I gone stupid? Maybe. Have I gone mad? Someone save me.’ The Christmas Number 1 reveal on Friday will be the judge!’
Martin Talbot, Chief Executive, Official Charts said: ‘Many, many congratulations to Andrew Ridgeley and Team WHAM! on achieving an incredible piece of Official Chart history this week’.
‘It is incredible to think that four years ago Last Christmas was the biggest-selling single never to hit Number 1 – then it finally hit the top in January 2021, finally became a Christmas Number 1 in December 2023 and is now the first consecutive Christmas Number 1 in history, with nine weeks at the summit (in five separate runs) to its name’.
It is surely, undeniably, established now as the British Nation’s all-time favourite Christmas song. Also, of course, we should all take our caps off to Sabrina Carpenter too, whose Short N’ Sweet album tops off what has been an incredible year for her to become the Official Christmas Number 1 album.’