Every single Christmas number one since 1952 – from Mr Blobby to Ed Sheeran and Rage Against The Machine

Music

author image

Ed Sheeran, Mr Blobby, East 17 and the Spice Girls have all had Christmas number one hits (Picture: Destiny Music, London Records, Virgin Records, Asylum, Atlantic)

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…

Advertisement Advertisement

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.

Advertisement Advertisement

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.

1 1 1 1 1 1 1

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.

Advertisement

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

Advertisement

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

Advertisement Advertisement

Original Article

[contf] [contfnew]

METRO

[contfnewc] [contfnewc]