The race for Christmas Number 1 2023 is on. The contenders have their feet firmly on the gas, and now every UK music sale and stream counts.
Whoever you're backing for the title, you have between now and 11.59pm on Thursday 21 December to back them – with the winner revealed exclusively on BBC Radio 1's The Official Chart on Friday 22 December from 4pm.
Since five-time winners LadBaby announced last month that they are calling it quits, the 2023 race has been wide open – with a host of bands, celebrities, influencers and even a cat trying their luck at this year's crown.
claimants
As always, we've got an eclectic mix of acts with their sights set on Christmas chart glory.
Current Number 1 and Number 2 singles Wham!'s Last Christmas and Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You were Christmas Number 2s twice each (although both have reached Number 1 at different times in recent years) – could 2023 finally be the year one of them takes the coveted crown?
Tactics are certainly being sharpened across the industry, with brand new physical releases planned for the Pogues' Last Christmas and Fairytale Of New York, a battle of the festive classics could easily be on the cards.
Last Christmas brings to the table this week a limited-edition green 7-inch vinyl edition, as well as being available on CD for the first time. Fairytale Of New York is being issued as a charity 7in vinyl release in aid of the Dublin Simon Community – a charity supported by the late Shane MacGowan and his widow Victoria Mary Clarke.
Elsewhere among perennial favourites, Slade's 1973 Christmas chart-topper Merry Xmas Everybody celebrates its 50th anniversary. No stranger to the year's biggest chart run either, securing the 1973 Christmas Number 1.
As ever, a wide selection of charity records have come forward to try their luck in this year's race too – The Goblin's Song from the upcoming Christmas episode of Doctor Who, in aid of BBC Children In Need, is already making an impact and publishing – Punk duo Sleaford Mods have released a cover of Pet Shop Boys' West End Girls, with proceeds going to Shelter.
Creator Universe – a collection of 30 of the UK's biggest TikTok stars – covered Wizzard's I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, recorded at Abbey Road Studios, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the food bank charity, Trussell Trust.
The world's largest contemporary choir with over 33,000 members, Rock Choir, also released their take on the same track, in aid of Cash For Kids.
Stevenage Station cat Nala could be in the running for Christ-meows Number 1 with trance banger Check Meowt, in aid of the RSPCA and local homeless charity Feed Up Warm Up.
Mysterious puppet group The Krackpots (definitely no swear group The K**ts who have made the Christmas Top 5 for the last few years) also do it with their single Proper Christmas.
It would be foolish to rule out the non-celebratory Top 10 tunes as well. Noah Kahan's Stick Season is showing its staying power as it looks to climb even higher into the Official Singles Chart Top 5 this week.
How is the winner of Christmas Number 1 decided?
The only chart that counts, The Official Chart is compiled by the Official Charts Company on behalf of the UK music industry. First established in 1952, the official chart now surveys around 9,000 retailers and digital services daily to measure UK physical sales, digital downloads, audio streams and video streams. The most comprehensive research panel of its kind, it covers 99.9% of the total UK singles market.
The Top 40 countdown every Friday evening on BBC Radio 1 and the Official Singles Chart Top 100 published in full on OfficialCharts.com.
The Official Christmas Number 1 Race 2023 starts today, Friday 15th December, with sales and streams running until midnight (23:59) on Thursday 21st December.
Tune in to The Official Chart on BBC Radio 1 on Friday 22 December from 4pm.
