The British institution of the coveted Christmas number one is upon us once again, with bookies taking bets on who will bag the top spot. With plenty of genre-spanning artists in the running for this year's festive hit, there are new contenders hoping to top the charts, as well as some historic rematches. From charity tunes to Christmas classics, this afternoon the wait will be over, with the countdown kicking off on BBC Radio 1's The Official Chart with Jack Saunders from 4pm.
Reigniting a 30-year old chart feud are East 17 and Mariah Carey, as they go to head-to-head with their festive staples Stay Another Day and All I Want for Christmas is You. Despite both being universally accepted as part of the soundtrack to Christmas, Mariah has never claimed the Number 1, although it did top the Official Singles Chart in 2020. For its 30th anniversary, she'll be hoping her new physical formats for the track might take it to the top.
East 17 did reach Number 1 in 1994 when it was released, but with it's re-release for music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins, the Walthmastow lads are hoping for lightning to strike twice. It would make it only the second track ever to get to Christmas Number 1 twice, with Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody snagging the title in 1975 and 1991.
East 17's Tony Mortimer told Official Charts: "All she wanted for Christmas she didn’t get, did she? No, it was funny! She’s an absolute legend, and we admire her so much. To be alongside such names, four little lads from Walthamstow, it’s surreal.
