The UK’s favourite Christmas number one has been revealed – but do YOU agree?

Christmas, headphones

by Emma Dodds |
Updated on

The UK's favourite Christmas number one single has been revealed by music industry experts - but which is YOUR favourite?

Christmas is pretty much the biggest time of the year for the music industry.

The battle to be at the top spot on Christmas Day is fought out by many musicians - but the Christmas number one tradition goes back to 1952, as 2017 marks the 65th anniversary of the very first one, won by Al Martino's Here In My Heart.

Despite hearing the typical Christmas songs every single Christmas throughout your life, they generally never get old or boring. Some of them never even got close to being number 1 but are still played on repeat year after year...

Mariah Carey all I want for Christmas is you
©Shutterstock

However, according to Spin To Sing, Brits reckon that anytime from 1 December is an acceptable time to get the tunes on the go - apart from the 4% of Scrooges who hate ALL Christmas songs and would like it if they were NEVER played.

Spoil sports.

But let's ignore those Grinches, instead we've compiled a definitive ranking of all the Christmas number ones - and here are the top 20. Which is your favourite festive tune?

The UK's favourite top 20 Christmas number ones

Gallery

The UK's favourite top 20 Christmas number ones

Beatles1 of 20
CREDIT: Capitol Records

20) The Beatles – Day Tripper/ We Can Work It Out

The final song on the list is none other than - you guessed it - The Beatles! Their 1965 hit won 8% of votes.

Beatles2 of 20
CREDIT: Getty Images

19) The Beatles – I Feel Fine

The second of The Beatles' hits to appear on this list was I Feel Fine, released in 1964 and was voted best Christmas song by 8%.

Pet Shop Boys3 of 20
CREDIT: Getty Images

18) Pet Shop Boys – Always on My Mind

Pet Shop Boys' 1988 hit Always On My Mind won 9% of the votes.

Boney M4 of 20
CREDIT: Getty Images

17) Boney M – Mary’s Boy Child

Boney M's version of Mary's Boy Child also appears in the list - their 1981 version won 10% of the votes.

Spice Girls5 of 20
CREDIT: Virgin

16) Spice Girls – 2 Become 1

This 1996 banger is the soundtrack to all 90s kids' childhoods - so it's no surprise that 2 Become 1 made the list with 10%.

The Human League6 of 20
CREDIT: Virgin

15) The Human League – Don’t You Want Me

People love this song no matter what time of year it is, but it won the Christmas number one spot in 1981 - and 10% of the votes.

Michael Jackson7 of 20
CREDIT: Epic

14) Michael Jackson – Earth Song

The late Michael Jackson's Earth Song won the top spot in 1995, and was popular with 11% of votes.

Johnny Mathis8 of 20
CREDIT: Getty Images

13) Johnny Mathis – When a Child is Born

Another Christmas cracker, Johnny Mathis' cover of When A Child Is Born was released in 1976 and won 11% of votes.

Elvis Presley9 of 20
CREDIT: Paramount Picutres

12) Elvis Presley – Return to Sender

Elvis Presley's Return To Sender was produced for the 1962 film Girls! Girls! Girls! and received 11% of votes.

Beatles10 of 20
CREDIT: EMI

11) The Beatles – I Want to Hold Your Hand

The Beatles' I Wanna Hold Your Hand is the first of three Beatles tracks on the list - this came out in 1964 and garnered 12% of the votes on this poll.

Alexandra Burke11 of 20
CREDIT: Syco

10) Alexandra Burke – Hallelujah

The X Factor winner Alexandra Burke's cover of Hallelujah in 2008 is the most recent release in the list, also winning 13% of votes.

Mud12 of 20
CREDIT: RAK

9) Mud – Lonely This Christmas

Also winning 13% of the votes is Mud with 1974's Lonely This Christmas, for which they took inspiration from the late Elvis Presley.

Band Aid II13 of 20
CREDIT: Stock Aitken Waterman

8) Band Aid II – Do They Know It’s Christmas?

The second version of Do They Know It's Christmas? was released five years later in 1989, and is popular with 13% of voters.

East 1714 of 20
CREDIT: London

7) East 17 - Stay Another Day

East 17's 1994 ballad is synonymous with Christmas, winning 13% of the votes.

Harry Belafonte15 of 20
CREDIT: RCA Victor

6) Harry Belafonte – Mary’s Boy Child

This 1956 track received 15% of the votes.

Shakin Stevens16 of 20
CREDIT: Epic

5) Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone

This has been one of the stalwart songs of the festive period since its release in 1985, winning 16% of the votes.

Whitney Houston17 of 20
CREDIT: Warner Bros.

4) Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You

Whitney recorded Dolly Parton's hit for the film The Bodyguard which she starred in with Kevin Costner in 1992 which got 17% of the votes.

Band Aid18 of 20
CREDIT: Getty Images

3) Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?

24% of voters chose Bob Geldof's 1984 anthem which highlighted the issues that were ongoing in other countries.

Slade19 of 20
CREDIT: TMF

2) Slade - Merry Christmas Everybody

Noddy Holder's famous screech of "IT'S CHRISTMAS!" will go down in history from this song released in 1973, chosen by 25% of voters.

Queen20 of 20
CREDIT: EMI

1) Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody was released in 1975, but has stood the test of time and is still wildly popular to this day as proven by 35% of the voters.

So there you have it!

Do you agree with this list? Let us know over on Facebook and Twitter.

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