Wham! Lands Atop U.K. Singles Chart Ahead of Christmas No. 1 Battle

Wham!’s classic “Last Christmas” is back at No. 1 on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart Dec. 12-dated tally as the festive party season gets fully underway.

The duo — made up of Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael — dethrones Taylor Swift and her single “The Fate of Ophelia” to take the top spot ahead of the Dec. 19 chart battle, when the U.K.’s Official Christmas No. 1 Single will be crowned.

First issued in 1984 and written by Michael, “Last Christmas” was beaten to the Christmas No. 1 spot at the time of release by Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” It eventually took the coveted slot 39 years later in 2023, and repeated the victory in 2024.

With a number of physical releases for festive classics dropping, the race for the Christmas No. 1 spot next week looks to be competitive.

RAYE’s “Where Is My Husband!” closes at No. 2 for the third consecutive week and has yet to hit the top spot. Another contender could be Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which ends this week at No. 3; since its release in 1995, the song has spent three weeks at No. 1.

Brenda Lee’s classic “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” closes the week at No. 4, while Kelly Clarkson’s 2013 song “Underneath the Tree” leaps four places to No. 5.

Olivia Dean boasts three songs inside the top 10 with “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” at No. 6, “Man I Need” at No. 7 and her Sam Fender collaboration “Rein Me In” at No. 9.

A number of festive hits are making moves throughout the top 40, with The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” (No. 8), Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock” (No. 10) and Shakin’ Stevens “Merry Christmas Everyone” (No. 12) seeing the biggest momentum heading into next week. 

The team behind the Together for Palestine benefit concert held in London in September have released charity single “Lullaby” with the aim of hitting the top spot and raising funds for humanitarian aid in Gaza. The campaign has been led by Brian Eno, with contributions from a number of U.K. and Palestinian musicians.