“You wait 36 years for the number one and then they come like buses!” Phew! Star Andrew Ridgeley expresses his delight as Last Christmas 2022 ends at the top of the charts for the second time
- phew! have secured another number one single with Last Christmas
- The band played the late George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley
- Andrew said he was “delighted” that the song topped the charts twice this year
- It was originally released in 1984 but was not kept at the top by Band Aid
phew! have secured another number one single for Last Christmas as they return to the top of the charts for the final week of 2022.
The Official Charts Company said the celebratory hit track, performed by duo George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, took first place for the second time this year.
Some 38 years after it was first released, the track has sold more than 79,000 copies and was the most streamed track of the week in the UK, with Andrew saying on Twitter on Friday he was “delighted” with the news.
Success Story: Wham! have secured another number one single for Last Christmas as they return to the top of the charts for the final week of 2022
Referring to Wham!’s final non-Christmas number one with The Edge of Heaven in 1986, Andrew wrote, “Crikey, twice in the same month! You wait 36 years for a number one and then they come like buses!
“I’m delighted that Last Christmas from WHAM! 2022 has reached #1 in the UK @officialcharts for the second time!
‘Thank you everyone, what a wonderful way to end the year.’
Celebratory: The celebratory hit track, performed by duo George Michael (right) and Andrew Ridgeley (left), took first place for the second time this year, with Andrew saying he was ‘delighted’ (pictured in 1984)
Originally released in 1984, the track once held the record for best-selling single never to reach number one in the UK and was published by Band Aids Do They Know It’s Christmas?
It peaked at the top spot for the first time on New Year’s Day 2021, breaking a chart record at the time for the longest time it has taken a track to top the singles chart now held by Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill.
Frontman-turned-solo-singer-turned-solo-singer died on Christmas Day 2016 at the age of 53
Speaking of numbers, some 38 years after it was first released, the track sold more than 79,000 copies and was the most streamed track of the week in the UK (George in the “Last Christmas” video)
Slow seller: Released in 1984, the track held the record for best-selling single never to reach number one in the UK, held at number two by Band Aids Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Andrew pictured in the Last Christmas video)
Last week, social media star LadBaby, real name Mark Hoyle, and his wife Roxanne – known as LadBaby Mum – made chart history by securing the Christmas number one for the fifth straight year.
They took first place with their single Food Aid, which featured the Band Aid song Do They Know It’s Christmas? with lyrics about the cost of living crisis and vocals by MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis.
All I Want For Christmas Is You by US singer Mariah Carey climbed back to number two on the charts this week and Merry Christmas by Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John climbed to number three.
Champs: Last week, social media star LadBaby and his wife, LadBaby Mum, made chart history by clinching Christmas number one for the fifth straight year
Another Christmas hit, Brenda Lee’s Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, peaked at number four, while Stormzy’s Firebabe is the highest-charting non-Christmas song at number five.
Keeping with the festive theme, the album charts see Canadian singer Michael Buble’s Christmas return to number one this week.
While US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift’s 10th studio album Midnights moves up to number two after returning to the top of the charts with a Christmas number one last week.
American singer SZA’s second studio album SOS peaked at number three, while singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s Equals peaked at number five.
Superstar Sir Elton John’s greatest hits album Diamonds returns to the top five, charting at number five.
Christmas hit: All I Want For Christmas Is You by US singer Mariah Carey climbed back to number two in the charts this week