THEY finally got their Christmas #1 last year – and now WHAM! did it again.
Last Christmas, it was the most listened to and most physically purchased song of the week, and now it is the only song in history to top the festive charts twice in a row.
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Andrew Ridgeley celebrates after the Wham!’ secured his second Christmas number one with Last ChristmasCredit: Supplied
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George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley originally recorded and released the song in 1984. Credit: Rex Features
And it’s perfect timing, because the song is celebrating its 40th birthday.
They finished 10,000 ahead of Gracie Abrams’ That’s So True, which came in second place, and saw off competition from Mariah Carey and Tom Grennan, who also put in valiant seasonal efforts to claim the coveted top spot at the Christmas festival.
Last Christmas came to number 1 for the first time a week after Christmas 2021.
Andrew Ridgeley, who was one half of the legendary pop duo with George Michael, told the Official Charts: “Thirty-seven years to get to No. 1, 39 years to Christmas to No. 1 and then like London buses they all come at once!
“I’m especially happy for George, he would be absolutely delighted, his fairytale Christmas composition has become such a classic, almost as much a part of Christmas as mince pies, turkeys and piggies in blankets.
“It’s a testament to a really wonderful Christmas song that, in many people’s minds, evokes and represents Christmas as we all want it to be.”
But there is no reason to celebrate when it comes to the album chart.
It was a time of staggering sales figures as people rushed to get the latest releases on CD as gifts for their loved ones.
But this week saw the lowest album sales ever in the week leading up to Christmas.
A first look at the BBC documentary Wham! Last Christmas Unwrapped
Sea change
SABRINA CARPENTER returned to the top spot for the first time since September with her album Short n’ Sweet, but only sold 15,220 copies to reach the top spot.
Part of this is down to the fact that almost no major groups have released new albums in the last few months.
This is a big change from a few years ago when major acts such as Adele, Harry Styles and Coldplay targeted this time of year to boost sales.
Let’s just hope there are some big sellers in 2025.
Top tat Tom
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Tom Grennan failed in his bid to win the Christmas No.1 – and held on to hope until the endCredit: Getty
TOM GRENNAN hasn’t achieved his ceremonial No. 1 goal, but he’s not giving up just yet.
He hopes he can climb to number one by next Friday, despite trailing WHAM by 20,000 copies! with his song It Can’t Be Christmas.
Tom has a tattoo that says “Christmas #1 2024 is . . .” but he’ll wait a week before getting it done because he reckons he’ll have another chance next week.
In an exclusive catch-up chat on Thursday night, before the result was announced, he said: “We’ve got a week to go, so it turns out there are two chances for the title.
“I’m leaving this blank for tomorrow and then I’ll fill it in next week.
“But if it’s, like, Wham!, then I’ll keep my word and get George Michael on my thigh.
“But if it’s me, I’ll just catch myself. Not your picture, just the word ‘I’.
“I really believe that the British public want a new Christmas song and I think this is that song.
“I think he deserves the top spot at some point. But it took Wham! 39 years old. So if it’s on my debut, I’ll be running around town like a madman.”
If that happens, it will be well deserved.
Zoe Balls out via the exit
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Zoe Ball was left in tears as she filmed her final Radio 2 breakfast show Credit: PA
THINGS got emotional for Zoe Ball as she said goodbye to the Radio 2 breakfast show after six years yesterday.
She cried after playing a recap of her best bits, but vowed to return to air for projects in the spring.
Zoe said: “It’s been such a gift to do this show. . . cool to be the first girl to host, remember girls, you can do anything.
To the biggest stars of our breakfast show, to the listeners, young and old and those in between, thank you.
“We’ve been through life’s ups and downs and I really hope we were able to bring a little light when you needed it, to take your mind off the heavier stuff.”
Scott Mills takes over in the new year and on Monday the cast of Gavin & Stacey will host the show ahead of the BBC One Christmas special.
Lilly’s commercial, enough of the movie
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The ex-wife of co-star Adriana Grande’s lover says she’s finding it hard to move onCredit: Getty
SEEING an ex-lover move on is tough, so spare a thought for Ethan Slater’s ex-wife, who can’t escape the actor’s new relationship with Wicked co-star Ariana Grande.
Dr. Lilly Jay splits from Ethan after giving birth to their first child and moves to England so he can make a movie.
He later merged with Ariana, inset. Writing for The Cut in the US, Lilly said: “I never thought I would get a divorce.
“Especially not just after I gave birth to my first child and in the shadow of my husband’s new relationship with a celebrity.”
But the hype surrounding Wicked was especially hard for Lilly to bear.
She said: “Days with my son are sunny. Darker days are when I can’t escape the promotion of a film that is associated with the saddest days of my life.” ouch
Danny boxes smart
It’s not just brides who want to look their best on their wedding day – just ask Danny O’Donoughu.
The Script frontman took up boxing to get in shape and trained at a gym in Sheffield founded by the late Irish boxing legend Brendan Ingle.
Friends told me that Danny had one-on-one sessions with Brendan’s son Dominic, who took over after his father’s death.
“Danny wants to be ready to fight for his big day and he absolutely loves boxing,” a friend told me.
“He looks ripped and is a popular guy at the gym.”
We found out that Danny popped the question to his girlfriend Anais Niang back in August.
Now all she has to do is avoid getting glossed over before she gets married.
Ash looks peachy
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Ashley Roberts wore a mini dress while attending the Katy Perry concert in WestminsterCredit: instagram/iamashleyroberts
ASHLEY ROBERTS ruffled some feathers in this tiny dress as she partied at Katy Perry’s Night Of A Lifetime concert.
Stars including Jess Glynne, Alex Scott and Olivia Attwood were also at Central Hall Westminster for the performance, which is being shown on ITV1 tonight.
Later, the celebs were invited backstage for an after party as Katy went to dinner with fiance Orlando Bloom.
Bizarre’s Howell and Jack were in the audience and said it was an amazing show.
If you’re a fan, tune in at 6:30 p.m.
SHAKIRA says Coldplay’s Chris Martin supported her during her split from footballer Gerard Pique.
The couple broke up in 2022, due to allegations that he was cheating on them.
She said: “Chris was there for me when I broke up and when I was heartbroken.
“Every day he checked on me, sent me words of strength and wisdom.”
Cynth is totally into it
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Wicked star Cynthia Erivo says she’s now confident enough to be who you are Credit: Courtesy of ELLE UK/Fabien Montique
AFTER finally washing the green paint off her face after playing Elphaba Wicked, Cynthia Erivo is back in front of the camera.
She modeled two designer dressers for Elle magazine along with some feathered shoes that look like they could double as washcloths.
Londoner Cynthia stars in Wicked alongside Ariana Grande and has just finished a brutal promotional schedule that includes Blockbuster.
Opening up to the magazine, Cynthia said she has finally come into her own in her thirties, adding: “When I walk into a room, I don’t pretend.
“I’ll come with my nose ring, I’ll come with my earrings and my many piercings and my nails, and I made that decision a long time ago to just be.”
Lizzo so hurt by the claims
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Lizzo says she is hurt by the allegations against her and says she has done nothing wrongCredit: AFP
SEXUAL harassment has cast a huge shadow over one of my favorite pop stars.
But Lizzo disputed the backup dancers’ allegations, 16 months after the lawsuit was filed against her.
The Truth Hurts singer broke down in tears as she revealed she was “completely blindsided” by the claims.
Lizzo said: “I was literally living my dream and then the tour ended and three ex-dancers blindsided me with a lawsuit.
“I was deeply hurt because they weren’t on tour. They didn’t finish the tour with us.
“Regardless, these were people I gave a chance to. I loved and appreciated them as dancers. So I thought, what?
“But then I heard all the other things like sexual harassment, and I thought, I don’t know what they’re trying to do, but these are the kinds of things that the media can turn into something that they’re not.”
On the Baby, This Is podcast, Keke Palmer dismissed many of the claims as “stupid” and added: “Let’s be clear, I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Some elements of the case were thrown out earlier this year, but the case is due to start in January, so it is far from over.
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