Christmas No. 1's

Since the UK started tracking single sales in 1952, it's always been a bit of a novelty to have the top seller come Christmas Day. Somewhere in the 70's, the novelty evolved into a cultural juggernaut.

Queen have the honor of being the only band with the same recording hitting the jackpot twice. The three different incarnations of Band Aid (forgot about 1989, didn't you?) have all hit the top of the pops, while The Beatles and the Spice Girls are the only groups to pull off the Christmas No. 1 three years in a row.

The all-time champ?

4 times with the Beatles
Once with Wings
Twice with Band Aid

1952: Al Martino, Here In My Heart
1953: Frankie Laine, Answer Me
1954: Winifred Atwell, Let's Have Another Party
1955: Dickie Valentine, Christmas Alphabet
1956: Johnnie Ray, Just Walkin' In The Rain
1957: Harry Belafonte, Mary's Boy Child
1958: Conway Twitty, It's Only Make Believe
1959: Emile Ford & The Checkmates, What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For
1960: Cliff Richard & The Shadows, I Love You
1961: Danny Williams, Moon River
1962: Elvis Presley, Return To Sender
1963: The Beatles, I Want To Hold Your Hand
1964: The Beatles, I Feel Fine
1965: The Beatles, Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out
1966: Tom Jones, The Green Grass Of Home
1967: The Beatles, Hello Goodbye
1968: Scaffold, Lily The Pink
1969: Rolf Harris, Two Little Boys
1970: Dave Edmunds, I Hear You Knockin'
1971: Benny Hill, Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)
1972: Little Jimmy Osmond, Long Haired Lover From Liverpool
1973: Slade, Merry Xmas Everybody
1974: Mud, Lonely This Christmas
1975: Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody
1976: Johnny Mathis, When A Child Is Born
1977: Wings, Mull Of Kintyre / Girls' School
1978: Boney M, Mary's Boy Child-Oh My Lord
1979: Pink Floyd, Another Brick In The Wall
1980: St Winifred's School Choir, There's No One Quite Like Grandma
1981: The Human League, Don't You Want Me
1982: Renee & Renato, Save Your Love
1983: The Flying Pickets, Only You
1984: Band Aid, Do They Know It's Christmas?
1985: Shakin' Stevens, Merry Christmas Everyone
1986: Jackie Wilson, Reet Petite
1987: The Pet Shop Boys, Always On My Mind
1988: Cliff Richard, Mistletoe & Wine
1989: Band Aid II, Do They Know It's Christmas?
1990: Cliff Richard, Saviours' Day
1991: Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives
1992: Whitney Houston, I Will Always Love You
1993: Mr Blobby, Mr Blobby
1994: East 17, Stay Another Day
1995: Michael Jackson, Earth Song
1996: Spice Girls, 2 Become 1
1997: Spice Girls, Too Much
1998: Spice Girls, Goodbye
1999: Westlife, I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun
2000: Bob The Builder, Can We Fix It?
2001: Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman, Somethin' Stupid
2002: Girls Aloud, Sound Of The Underground
2003: Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules, Mad World
2004: Band Aid 20, Do They Know It's Christmas?
2005: Shayne Ward, That's My Goal

Headed For History?

Who's going to get the coveted Christmas #1? Odds are that it won't be anyone but Leona Lewis with a new version of the X Factor's execrable trophy song "A Moment Like This".

Yep, so sure is Simon Cowell of the absolute bankability of his pop factories that he regifts the prizes. These other chumps don't stand a chance:

Take That, "Patience" (This song's been #1 for the past month, despite the lyric "my heart is numb, has no feelin'/so while i'm still healin'/...")

Cliff Richard, "21st Century Christmas" (Yes, that Cliff Richard. The same one who's about to have the copyright on his first hit run out.)

Matt Willis, "Don't Let It Go To Waste"

El Chombo, "Chacarron" (This gets our vote every time!)

Girls Aloud, "I Think We're Alone Now" (Alone with Cliff as the only former #1's on this list)

McFly, "Sorry's Not Good Enough" (Although, we prefer the single's B-Side, "Friday Night")

Katie Price & Peter Andre, "A Whole New World" (Don't ask!)