The Christmas number one race has been running since 1952, when the UK Singles chart was first compiled.
It looks like Ariana Grande is going to make her debut on the festive UK charts with her single Thank U, Next, but the race isnt over until the end of the week.
Once upon a time the Christmas chart was reserved for the likes of East 17, Shakin Stevens, Slade and Cliff Richard, but nowadays musicians dont tend to go for the tracks brimming with festive cheer, bells and a jingle about Santa. Ed Sheeran won the top spot last year with Perfect, which wasnt a festive track..
Here, we take a look back at all of the previous Christmas number ones since 1952. And yes, thats ALL 65 of them…
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1952 Al Martino – Here in My Heart
Spent nine weeks at the top.
1953 Frankie Laine – Answer Me
Spent eight weeks at the top.
1954 Winifred Atwell – Lets Have Another Party
Spent five weeks at the top.
1955 Dickie Valentine – Christmas Alphabet
Spent three weeks at the top.
1956 Johnnie Ray – Just Walkin in the Rain
Spent seven weeks at the top.
1957 Harry Belafonte – Marys Boy Child
Spent seven weeks at the top.
1958 Conway Twitty – Its Only Make Believe
Spent five weeks at the top.
1959 Emile Ford and the Checkmates – What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?
Spent six weeks at the top.
1960 Cliff Richard and The Shadows – I Love You
Spent two weeks at the top.
1961 Danny Williams – Moon River
Spent two weeks at the top.
1962 Elvis Presley – Return to Sender
Spent three weeks at the top.
1963 The Beatles – I Want to Hold Your Hand
Spent five weeks at the top.
1964 The Beatles – I Feel Fine
Spent five weeks at the top.
1965 The Beatles Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out
Spent five weeks at the top.
1966 Tom Jones – Green, Green Grass of Home
Spent seven weeks at the top.
1967 The Beatles – Hello, Goodbye
Spent seven weeks at the top.
1968 The Scaffold – Lily the Pink
Spent three weeks at the top.
1969 Rolf Harris – Two Little Boys
Spent six weeks at the top.
1970 Dave Edmunds – I Hear You Knocking
Spent six weeks at the top.
1971 Benny Hill – Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)
Spent four weeks at the top.
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1972 Jimmy Osmond – Long Haired Lover from Liverpool
Spent five weeks at the top.
1973 Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody
Spent five weeks at the top.
1974 Mud – Lonely This Christmas
Spent four weeks at the top.
1975 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Spent nine weeks at the top.
1976 Johnny Mathis – When a Child Is Born (Soleado)
Spent three weeks at the top.
1977 Wings – Mull of Kintyre / Girls School
Spent nine weeks at the top.
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1978 Boney M.- Marys Boy Child – Oh My Lord
Spent four weeks at the top.
1979 Pink Floyd – Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)
Spent five weeks at the top.
1980 St Winifreds School Choir – Theres No One Quite Like Grandma
Spent two weeks at the top.
1981 The Human League – Dont You Want Me
Spent five weeks at the top.
1982 Renée and Renato – Save Your Love
Spent four weeks at the top.
1983 The Flying Pickets – Only You
Spent five weeks at the top.
1984 Band Aid – Do They Know Its Christmas?
Spent five weeks at the top.
1985 Shakin Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone
Spent two weeks at the top.
1986 Jackie Wilson – Reet Petite
Spent four weeks at the top.
1987 Pet Shop Boys – Always on My Mind
Spent four weeks at the top.
1988 Cliff Richard – Mistletoe and Wine
Spent four weeks at the top.
1989 Band Aid II – Do They Know Its Christmas?
Spent three weeks at the top.
1990 Cliff Richard – Saviours Day
Spent one week at the top.
1991 Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are the Days of Our Lives
Spent five weeks at the top.
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1992 Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You
Spent 10 weeks at the top.
Fun fact: The most successful Christmas number one, in terms of how long the song spent at the number one spot overall, is I Will Always Love You.
1993 Mr Blobby – Mr Blobby
Spent two weeks at the top.
1994 East 17 – Stay Another Day
Spent five weeks at the top.
1995 Michael Jackson – Earth Song
Spent six weeks at the top.
1996 Spice Girls – 2 Become 1
Spent three weeks at the top.
1997 Spice Girls – Too Much
Spent two weeks at the top.
1998 Spice Girls – Goodbye
Spent one week at the top.
1999 Westlife – I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun
Spent four weeks at the top.
2000 Bob the Builder – Can We Fix It?
Spent three weeks at the top.
2001 Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman – Somethin Stupid
Spent three weeks at the top.
2002 Girls Aloud – Sound of the Underground
Spent four weeks at the top.
2003 Michael Andrews and Gary Jules – Mad World
Spent three weeks at the top.
2004 Band Aid 20 – Do They Know Its Christmas?
Spent four weeks at the top.
2005 Shayne Ward – Thats My Goal
Spent four weeks at the top.
2006 Leona Lewis – A Moment Like This
Spent four weeks at the top.
2007 Leon Jackson – When You Believe
Spent three weeks at the top.
2008 Alexandra Burke – Hallelujah
Spent three weeks at the top.
2009 Rage Against the Machine – Killing in the Name
Spent one week at the top.
2010 Matt Cardle – When We Collide
Spent three weeks at the top.
2011 Military Wives with Gareth Malone – Wherever You Are
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Spent one week at the top.
2012 The Justice Collective – He Aint Heavy, Hes My Brother
Spent one week at the top.
2013 Sam Bailey – Skyscraper
Spent one week at the top.
2014 Ben Haenow – Something I Need
Spent one week at the top.
2015 Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir – A Bridge over You
Spent one week at the top.
2016 Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie – Rockabye
Spent nine weeks at the top.
2017 – Ed Sheeran – Perfect
Spent six weeks in the top spot.
MORE: Im A Celebritys Holly and Dec in hysterics as Sair Khan eats a cows teat in Bushtucker trial
MORE: Christmas number one odds put Ariana Grande in the top spot with Thank U, Next
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