The official charts began in 1952, but the contest for having the Christmas number one began in 1973 when Slade and Wizzard both released festive songs, which Slade won with Merry Xmas Everybody and Wizzard’s, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday reaching number four in the charts.

Between 2002 and 2014, the top spot at Christmas was dominated by reality singing competitions: Popstars: The Rivals and The X Factor. This trend was interrupted in 2009 by a Facebook campaign to prevent Joe McElderry, X Factor winner, from reaching number one, where people were urged to download Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine.

The Beatles are the only group to have had four number ones, Paul McCartney has been at the top of the charts eight times with various acts. Cliff Richard has spent four Christmases at number one; two as a solo act, one with The Shadows and one as part of Band Aid II. The Spice Girls have had three consecutive number one, with Melanie C having a fourth with The Justice Collective. YouTubers Ladbaby have had three consecutive number ones.

Bohemium Rhapsody has reached the top twice at Christmas and Mary’s Boy Child the only song to have reached number one by two different artists. Do They Know It’s Christmas has been Christmas number one for three generations of Band Aid.

1952	Al Martino	Here In My Heart
1953	Frankie Laine	Answer Me
1954	Winifred Atwell	Let’s Have Another Party
1955	Dickie Valentine	Christmas Alphabet
1956	Johnnie Ray	Just Walkin’ In The Rain
1957	Harry Belafonte	Mary’s Boy Child
1958	Conway Twitty	It’s Only Make Believe
1959	Emile Ford & The Checkmates	What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For
1960	Cliff Richard & The Shadows	I Love You
1961	Danny Williams	Moon River
1962	Elvis Presley	Return To Sender
1963	The Beatles	I Want To Hold Your Hand
1964	The Beatles	I Feel Fine
1965	The Beatles	Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out
1966	Tom Jones	The Green Grass Of Home
1967	The Beatles	Hello Goodbye
1968	Scaffold	Lily The Pink
1969	Rolf Harris	Two Little Boys
1970	Dave Edmunds	I Hear You Knockin’
1971	Benny Hill	Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)
1972	Little Jimmy Osmond	Long Haired Lover From Liverpool
1973	Slade	Merry Xmas Everybody
1974	Mud	Lonely This Christmas
1975	Queen	Bohemian Rhapsody
1976	Johnny Mathis	When A Child Is Born
1977	Wings	Mull Of Kintyre / Girls’ School
1978	Boney M	Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord
1979	Pink Floyd	Another Brick In The Wall
1980	St Winifred’s School Choir	There’s No One Quite Like Grandma
1981	The Human League	Don’t You Want Me
1982	Renee & Renato	Save Your Love
1983	The Flying Pickets	Only You
1984	Band Aid	Do They Know It’s Christmas?
1985	Shakin’ Stevens	Merry Christmas Everyone
1986	Jackie Wilson	Reet Petite
1987	The Pet Shop Boys	Always On My Mind
1988	Cliff Richard	Mistletoe & Wine
1989	Band Aid II	Do They Know It’s Christmas?
1990	Cliff Richard	Saviours’ Day
1991	Queen	Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives
1992	Whitney Houston	I Will Always Love You
1993	Mr Blobby	Mr Blobby
1994	East 17	Stay Another Day
1995	Michael Jackson	Earth Song
1996	Spice Girls	2 Become 1
1997	Spice Girls	Too Much
1998	Spice Girls	Goodbye
1999	Westlife	I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun
2000	Bob The Builder	Can We Fix It?
2001	Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman	Somethin’ Stupid
2002	Girls Aloud	Sound Of The Underground
2003	Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules	Mad World
2004	Band Aid 20	Do They Know It’s Christmas?
2005	Shayne Ward	That’s My Goal
2006	Leona Lewis	A Moment Like This
2007	Leon Jackson	When You Believe
2008	Alexandra Burke	Hallelujah
2009	Rage Against The Machine	Killing In The Name
2010	Matt Cardle	When We Collide
2011	Military Wives with Gareth Malone	Wherever You Are
2012	The Justice Collective	He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
2013	Sam Bailey	Skyscraper
2014	Ben Haenow	Something I Need
2015	The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir	A Bridge Over You
2016	Clean Bandit	Rockabye
2017	Ed Sheeran	Perfect
2018	Ladbaby	We Built This City
2019	Ladbaby	I Love Sausage Rolls
2020	Ladbaby	Don’t Stop Me Eatin’