On November 14, 1952, the New Musical Express (NME) published the first UK singles chart, and 'Here in My Heart', by Al Martino, was announced as the first-ever UK Number One single. Written by Pat Genaro, Lou Levinson, and Bill Borrelli, it stayed at the top of the UK chart for nine weeks, making it the first UK Christmas Number One.
It also reached Number One in America earlier that year (June 1952). The single made him a major star in both America and the United Kingdom.
2. 'I Want to Hold Your Hand'
Answer: The Beatles
'I Want to Hold Your Hand' by The Beatles was the UK Christmas Number One in 1963. It stayed at the top of the chart for five weeks and was their first Christmas chart-topper. It was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
The single was released in the U.S. on December 26, 1963 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 1, 1964. It was The Beatles' first U.S. number one single, and it sparked the wave of Beatlemania and the British Invasion.
3. 'Lonely This Christmas'
Answer: Mud
Written and produced by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, 'Lonely This Christmas' by Mud was the UK Christmas Number One in 1974. It stayed at the top of the chart for four weeks and sold over 750,000 copies.
I remember singer Les Gray's Elvis Presley-style vocal delivery of this song and him using a ventriloquist's dummy when singing it. The single also topped charts in Ireland, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
4. 'There's No One Quite Like Grandma'
Answer: St Winifred's School Choir
'There's No One Quite Like Grandma' by St Winifred's School Choir was written by Gordon Lorenz. It was the UK Christmas Number One in 1980 and held the top spot from December 21, 1980, to January 3, 1981. It also reached number one in Ireland.
The single was recorded at 10cc's Strawberry Studios in Stockport and even featured Rick Wakeman on keyboards. It knocked John Lennon's 'Just Like Starting Over' down to number two. However, Lennon's 'Imagine' replaced it at number one two weeks later.
5. 'Merry Christmas Everyone'
Answer: Shakin' Stevens
Written by Bob Heatlie and released on 25 November 1985, 'Merry Christmas Everyone' by Shakin' Stevens was the UK Christmas Number One in 1985. It became Shaky's fourth and final UK number one.
The song was originally recorded in 1984, but its release was delayed by a year to avoid clashing with Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'.
6. 'Saviour's Day'
Answer: Cliff Richard
Released on 26 November 1990, 'Saviour's Day' by Cliff Richard was the UK Christmas Number One in 1990. It became Cliff's second Christmas number one after 'Mistletoe and Wine' (1988). The song was written by Chris Eaton.
It beat 'Ice Ice Baby' by Vanilla Ice and 'Unchained Melody' by The Righteous Brothers in the festive chart race.
7. 'Somethin' Stupid'
Answer: Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman
Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman's version of 'Somethin' Stupid' was released on 14 December 2001 as a single from Robbie's swing album 'Swing When You're Winning'. It became the UK Christmas Number One in 2001 and equalled the success of Frank and Nancy Sinatra's 1967 original.
It also hit number one in several European countries and was Robbie's fifth solo chart-topper.
8. 'Hallelujah'
Answer: Alexandra Burke
Written by Leonard Cohen, Alexandra Burke's version of 'Hallelujah' was the UK Christmas Number One in 2008. It sold over 576,000 copies in its first week and became the fastest-selling single ever by a female solo artist in Britain, and it was the best-selling single of 2008 in the UK.
It beat Jeff Buckley's 1994 version of 'Hallelujah' into second place, creating a rare double 'Hallelujah' Christmas chart moment.
9. 'I Love Sausage Rolls'
Answer: LadBaby
The novelty single, 'I Love Sausage Rolls' by LadBaby (Mark Hoyle and Roxanne Hoyle) was the UK Christmas Number One in 2019. It's a parody of Joan Jett's 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll', and its lyrics were rewritten to celebrate sausage rolls.
It became LadBaby's second consecutive Christmas Number One, following 'We Built This City (On Sausage Rolls)' in 2018. All proceeds from it went to The Trussell Trust, supporting UK food banks.
10. 'Last Christmas'
Answer: Wham!
Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' finally became the UK Christmas Number One in 2023, 39 years after its original release, and then repeated the feat in 2024, making it the first time a song has ever topped the UK Christmas chart in consecutive years.
When it was originally released in 1984, it was kept off the top spot by Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'. The win coincided with the song's 40th anniversary.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
