Fans delighted as Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' reaches number one | indy100

Moment Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' beats Sam Ryder for 2023 Christmas Number One

BBC Radio 1

Fans are ecstatic to learn that Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' has been crowned the UK's official Christmas number one – 39 years after its initial release.

'Last Christmas' was first released in December 1984 by pop duo George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, but was famously beaten to the top spot by Band Aid’s charity single 'Do They Know It’s Christmas?'

The festive track has now made history as the longest-ever journey to make it to the top spot in time for Christmas Day, according to the Official Charts Company.

Ridgeley said: “'Last Christmas' has finally ascended to the much-cherished and sought-after Official Christmas number one, which was always the main goal.

“George would be beside himself (that) after all of these years, (we’ve) finally obtained Christmas number one. Yog (Michael) said that he wrote Last Christmas with the intention of writing a Christmas number one.

“It’s mission accomplished.”

Wham! - Last Christmas (Official Video)www.youtube.com

Ridgeley said it was a “huge disappointment” for the pair not to reach the top spot in 1984 as they believed it was “nailed on”.

“Had it not been for Band Aid’s 'Do They Know It’s Christmas?', it probably would’ve been number one,” the 60-year-old said.

“Thwarted for many years subsequent to that – the perennial bridesmaid – over recent years it seems it’s become part of the fabric of Christmas for a lot of people.

“Christmas number one has been a long-held ambition for Yog (Michael) and I, and for the fans, too. It’ll mean a lot to Wham!’s legacy – it’s the crowning glory.”

Ridgeley said the song was “conceived as a Christmas number one” as Michael had “lofty ambitions for himself as a songwriter”, before the band split in 1986.

Michael, who had an extensive solo career with singles including 'Careless Whisper', died on Christmas Day in 2016 aged 53.

“Our fans will have a real sense of achievement and pride in the fact it’s become Christmas number one,” Ridgeley added.

At long last\xe2\x80\xa6 We have claimed the Official UK Christmas Number 1 with \xe2\x80\x98Last Christmas\xe2\x80\x99 for the very first time in its near 40-year history! \xf0\x9f\x8e\x84\xf0\x9f\x8f\x86
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I\xe2\x80\x99m so pleased that Last Christmas has finally got the Christmas Number 1 it always deserved. Here\xe2\x80\x99s to George! #Wham \xe2\x9d\xa4\xef\xb8\x8f
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About time Last Christmas is at number 1
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I am not a fan of Christmas songs, but I am happy that Wham! finally got their UK Christmas number 1 song 39 years after it's original release \xf0\x9f\x98\x8a
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i can now nap happy in the knowledge george finally got his christmas number 1 \xf0\x9f\xa4\x8d
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LAST CHRISTMAS IS FINALLY A UK CHRISTMAS NUMBER #1!!!!! I am SO proud \xe2\x9d\xa4\xef\xb8\x8f such an incredible year for Wham! and I think George would be so proud, what an incredible way to honour his & their legacy \xe2\xad\x90\xef\xb8\x8f\xf0\x9f\xab\xb6\xf0\x9f\x8f\xbb
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George Michael and Andrew Ridley finally get the Christmas number 1 for 'Last Christmas' after 39 years! Excellent.
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Absolutely delighted Last Christmas is finally number 1 at Xmas Fabulous song written by my fav singer / songwriter of all time George Michael
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'Last Christmas' is now the UK’s third biggest song of all time with a combined lifetime total of 5.34 million chart units, the Official Charts Company said.

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