WHAM! (aka Andrew Ridgeley and the late, great George Michael) clashed with the UK's 2022 Eurovision entrant Sam Ryder in the latest official Christmas Number 1 First Look, where just 42 chart units lay between Last Christmas at Number . 1 and Sam's Amazon Music Original You're Christmas to Me at Number 2.
But as the race has developed since then, Official Charts can confirm that WHAM! have successfully widened the gap against their nearest competition.
Today, The Pogues are releasing a very special, limited edition physical edition of their single Fairytale of New York featuring Kirsty MacColl, in memory of their late singer, Shane MacGowan.
With all proceeds going to Irish charity Dublin Simon Community, the release comes alongside some passionate fans campaigning to bring Fairytale of New York to the Christmas Number 1 for the first time which has been endorsed by Shane MacGowan's widow , Victoria Mary Clarke.
Expect to see the impact of this special physical release tomorrow when The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl will definitely step up. Fairytale of New York is currently at number 5.
Enjoying the Christmas promotion trail this week, Sam Ryder is definitely still in the running to hit the WHAM! off Number 1. His Amazon Music Original, You're Christmas To Me, remains at Number 2 in today's update.
Having already hit the Amazon Music Originals 'Sam-ta Grotto' bus campaign trail this week, Sam will headline a special, exclusive concert for fans tonight in London's Shoreditch. using refreshing marketing tactics to raise awareness of its Christmas Number 1 offering, a reflection of the kind of offering that helped the Sidemen to a top 3 surprise last year with Christmas Drills.
And of course we have to mention Mariah Carey, the self-proclaimed Queen of Christmas is still very much on the mark, holding steady at No.3 with All I Want for Christmas is You, while Ed Sheeran & Elton John could to enter the conversation as the week rolls on. Merry Christmas is expected to peak twice at number 4, but given both artists' streaming popularity, it could go even higher.
The Official Number 1 Match of Christmas 2023 started on Friday 15th December, with the final tally of sales and streams being midnight (11.59pm) on Thursday 21st December.
