EsDeeKid, Kylie, Denise Welch And Paddington In The Race For This Year’s Christmas Number One

From EsDeeKid to Denise Welch with stops at Kylie, Sienna Spiro, Together For Palestine and Paddington Bear, the 2025 Christmas Number 1 competition is shaping up to be absolutely wild.

The most talked about Official Chart showdown of the year is nearly here, and after WHAM! reclaimed the crown last year with Last Christmas for the second time, it takes a truly fearless soul to go up against such long standing festive favourites.

Even so, a lively group of ambitious pop challengers is ready to take that risk.

A rapper from Liverpool. A beloved daytime television personality. A rising London songwriter on the brink of mainstream recognition. Add in Australian pop royalty, a viral animated K pop act, an array of charity releases, holiday classics and one marmalade loving bear from Peru.

It could only be the United Kingdom’s Official Christmas Number 1 season.

Beginning on Friday 12 December 2025, the winning single will be revealed on Friday 19 December during BBC Radio 1’s The Official Chart.

Reflecting on this year’s lineup, Martin Talbot, Chief Executive Officer of the Official Charts, said: “It is that time of year again. Christmas is coming and the release calendar is filling up more each day. So now we watch the hopefuls gather at the starting line for one of the year’s biggest chart battles. This time around, the field includes favourites for children, charity releases, daytime television icons and Australian pop legends among many others.

“We will have the answer in three weeks. Until then, on your marks, get set, go.”

So who might be leading the pack for this year’s competition?

New Releases and Possible Climbers

EsDeeKid – Century or Phantom or 4 Raws (out now)

One of the most unexpected names in the running could be a masked rapper from Liverpool. (Unless the online rumours are true, in which case people believe it is actually Timothée Chalamet.)

Mysterious EsDeeKid is picking up major chart power at the moment, with his debut album Rebel moving higher on the Official Albums Chart for ten consecutive weeks. He also has three high performing singles on the Official Singles Chart including Phantom featuring Rico Ace, 4 Raws and Century, which is projected to break into the Top 10 for the first time this week.

This is one contender who might shake things up this Christmas.

RAYE – WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! (out now)

She might dream of a glittering diamond ring, although RAYE would probably settle for a novelty ring from a cracker if it guaranteed her the 2025 Christmas Number 1. WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! has been holding steady in the Top 5, and the Christmas party rush could finally give it the boost it needs.

Sienna Spiro – Die On This Hill (out now)

One of the brightest breakout acts of late 2025, twenty year old London singer songwriter Sienna enters the holiday season in an impressive position. Her stirring ballad Die On This Hill recently reached the Top 10 for the first time after a six week rise. A serious name to watch both in the Christmas race and throughout 2026.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande – For Good (out now)

Let us be honest. After a mulled wine or two at the office Christmas party, many people will be convinced they can match Elphaba’s high harmony. This highlight from Wicked: For Good is likely to hold its place through the holidays.

Labrinth – Where Love Lives (out now)

This year’s John Lewis Christmas campaign is backed by Labrinth, who delivers a new version of Alison Limerick’s early nineties club anthem Where Love Lives.

Olivia Dean – The Christmas Song (out now)

It has truly been Olivia Dean’s moment in 2025. After earning the Official Chart Double and a GRAMMY nomination, could she cap it off with a Christmas Number 1? The Christmas Song reached Number 19 in 2021 and may see a gradual seasonal rise this time.

Taylor Swift – The Fate Of Ophelia or Opalite or Elizabeth Taylor (out now)

You would be mistaken to exclude Taylor Swift from the conversation given her historic year. With three major tracks from The Life Of A Showgirl climbing high on the Official Singles Chart, Swifties will be eager to see her win one of the few titles she has never claimed: the United Kingdom Christmas Number 1.

Dave featuring Tems – Raindance (out now)

Still holding firm after four weeks inside the Top 10, Dave and Tems could continue their momentum against the holiday releases.

New Christmas Songs

Kylie Minogue – XMAS (out now)

Everybody join in. “X M A S. X M A S.” Kylie Minogue pairs with Amazon Music UK for what feels like a contemporary twist on YMCA. With its camp Christmas energy and TikTok friendly choreography, Kylie’s Amazon exclusive follows other festive streaming successes such as Tom Grennan’s 2024 Top 5 track It Cannot Be Christmas and Sam Ryder’s Number 2 hit You Are Christmas To Me.

Featured on a newly expanded Fully Wrapped edition of her 2015 release Kylie Christmas, XMAS could bring Kylie her eighth UK chart topper and her first Christmas Number 1. Unless a certain Loose Woman gets in the way.

Denise Welch – Slayyy Bells (out now)

Gather round, huns. Facing off with Kylie is Loose Women’s own Denise Welch, stepping into the ring with her hyperpop holiday anthem Slayyy Bells. With unforgettable lines like “we are serving looks, not turkey,” this is exactly the kind of chaos that makes the Christmas Number 1 race so fun. It is pure BRAT winter energy.

Chart Fact: this is not Denise’s first meeting with the Official Charts. Back in 1995, she reached Number 23 with her take on Dusty Springfield’s You Do Not Have To Say You Love Me.

Tom Fletcher – One Of Us from Paddington The Musical (out today)

A Christmas Number 1 race would not be complete without something cuddly. Paddington The Musical premieres at London’s Savoy Theatre, and Paddington Bear trades marmalade for microphones with One Of Us.

The touching ballad, originally sung by Mrs Brown in the show, has been recorded by the musical’s composer and lyricist, McFly’s Tom Fletcher. The video, filmed at an empty Paddington station, features Tom and the much loved bear from Darkest Peru.

Sophie Ellis Bextor – (Christmas) Time (out now)

Sophie revisits Time from her recent Top 5 album Perimenopop and gives it a seasonal makeover.

Pixie Lott – First Christmas

What better way to celebrate your first child than with a heartfelt holiday song written just for them.

Picture This – It’s Christmas Time (out now)

The Irish group unveils its first original Christmas track called It’s Christmas Time, filled with emotion.

The Divine Comedy – All The Pretty Lights (out now)

Drawn from their recent Top 5 album Rainy Sunday Afternoon, The Divine Comedy throws their name into the contest with All The Pretty Lights, paired with a sweet animated video. This one has warm, nostalgic charm.

A K pop Christmas

HUNTR or X – Golden or How It’s Done or What It Sounds Like (out now)

In a year when K pop soared through the Official Charts, could the first K pop Christmas Number 1 be the next major win? Netflix favourite Kpop Demon Hunters has taken the country by storm, and animated group HUNTR or X spent ten non consecutive weeks at Number 1 with Golden along with landing a place among the biggest songs of 2025.

Armed with Golden, How It’s Done and What It Sounds Like, HUNTR or X enters the Christmas fight with three tracks in play. Even more, What It Sounds Like arrives on vinyl on December 12, which could make a significant impact.

Charity Singles and Social Media Campaigns

Together For Palestine – Lullaby (out December 12)

The team responsible for Together For Palestine, the sold out September 2025 Wembley event that raised more than two million pounds for Gaza, will release the charity single Lullaby on December 12, the exact day the Christmas Number 1 race begins.

Featuring a collection of UK and Palestinian artists including Amena, Yasmeen Ayyashi, Dan Smith of Bastille, Leigh Anne, Neneh Cherry, Mabel and many others, this moving interpretation of the Palestinian folk song Yamma Mweel El Hawa will direct all profits to Choose Love’s Together For Palestine Fund, supporting Taawon, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and Palestine Medical Relief Service.

Home Care’s Got Talent Choir – Angels (out now)

Led by Dan Archer, UK CEO of Visiting Angels, the Home Care’s Got Talent Choir presents their version of Robbie Williams’ Angels. Recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios with vocals from The Voice contestant Kuill and Bucks Fizz member Jay Aston, the release aims to highlight the essential work of care professionals. All proceeds will go to The Care Workers Charity.

Ian Gillan and UROCK – IN LINE (out December 12)

Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan joins forces with UROCK, the self produced group led by American Italian singer Umberto Urock, for a track focused on personal independence and rejecting what they describe as “mass mediocrity.” The release is supported by social media strategist Jon Morter, known for steering Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In The Name to victory over Joe McElderry’s The Climb in 2009.

Kate Winslet – What If (out now)

Originally reaching Number 6 in 2001, Kate Winslet’s only chart entry, recorded for Christmas Carol: The Movie, is capturing a new wave of listeners through TikTok. Fans are eager to see this “underrated banger” finally take the top position.

Festive Faves

Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone (out now)

This year marks four decades since Shakin’ Stevens claimed the 1985 Christmas Number 1. What better anniversary gift than returning to the top.

The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl – Fairytale of New York (out now)

This seasonal staple has re entered the Top 40 each year since 2005 and peaked at Number 2. With a zoetrope vinyl arriving on December 12 and an unreleased 1987 live performance of Kirsty MacColl’s first appearance with the band, it might finally reach the summit.

Chris Rea – Driving Home For Christmas (out now)

With a limited white vinyl arriving on December 5, Chris Rea’s melancholic holiday favourite is aiming to surpass its Number 10 peak from 2021.

Kelly Clarkson – Underneath The Tree (out now)

This modern day Christmas classic first released in 2013 entered the Top 10 for the first time last year. Could its upward climb continue all the way.

Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody (out now)

“It is Christmassss.” Working under the name Dave Hill’s Slade, the glam rock band begins its final tour this December, performing across the United Kingdom during the week of the Christmas Number 1 race. Can that really be a coincidence.

WHAM! – Last Christmas (out now)

WHAM! made Official Chart history in 2024 when Last Christmas became the first song to take the Christmas Number 1 title two years in a row. Can Andrew Ridgeley achieve a three year run in 2025.

Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You (out now)

Surprisingly, even the Queen of Christmas herself has never secured the Christmas Number 1 with All I Want For Christmas Is You. Surely its time will come eventually.

Girls Aloud – Not Tonight Santa (out now)

Featured on the group’s new Christmas Round At Ours release, and accompanied by a festive video with archival footage, Not Tonight Santa is receiving a major push for 2025.

Christmas Covers

Anne-Marie – Merry Xmas Everybody (out now)

Anne Marie delivers an acoustic style version of the Slade classic this year.

Laufey – Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (out now)

With three holiday Top 40 covers already to her name, Icelandic musician Laufey is hoping to make it four with her interpretation of Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town.

ALYA featuring Eric Clapton – Silent Night (out now)

Slovenian singer songwriter ALYA partners with Eric Clapton for a dreamy rendition of the traditional carol Silent Night.