LadBaby Clear Favorites to Claim Fifth Christmas Number One
The race for the Christmas number one song is underway. 2022 marks the 70th anniversary of the Official Singles Chart. And the festive period is the one week of the year when most artists would love to be responsible for the UK’s most popular song.
The fight for the top spot during the festive period is always a hotly contested battle. Previous winners include novelty acts such as cartoon characters Mr. Blobby and Bob The Builder; The Beatles; a surplus of X Factor winners; Spice Girls and Elvis Presley.
David Baddiel and Frank Skinner are big favorites with football fans thanks to their 1996 hit ‘Three Lions’. The song has been rehashed to coincide with this year’s World Cup. ©GettyImages
In recent years charity songs from non-conventional groups and bands have prospered. Military Wives with Gareth Malone was number one in 2011. The Justice Collective took the top spot a year later, and the Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir topped the charts during Christmas 2015.
For the past four years, the social media sensation, LadBaby, claimed Christmas the number one spot. Proceeds from the songs ‘We Built This City’, ‘I Love Sausage Rolls’, ‘Don’t Stop Me Eatin’, and ‘Sausage Rolls for Everyone’ have all gone to the Trussell Trust.
A Fifth Christmas Chart Topper for LadBaby?
YouTuber LadBaby – real name Mark Hoyle – and his wife Roxanne, known as LadBaby Mum, created history 12 months ago. No act had ever claimed four consecutive Christmas number ones. But they did have some help from Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John.
‘Sausage Rolls for Everyone’ was a remix and comedy version of that duo’s 2021 Christmas song, ‘Merry Christmas’. It had been released two weeks earlier, but Sheeran and John still provided vocals on the new edition of the song.
Can LadBaby top the charts for a fifth consecutive Christmas? Will they once again have help from celebrity friends and performers? So far, there has been no announcement on the husband-and-wife team’s plans to release another festive song.
However, they are traditionally latecomers to the race that will kick off on December 16th this year. The results will be made official on December 23rd during The Official Chart On Radio 1 show hosted by Jack Saunders.
Christmas Number One – What Are the Odds?
The leading novelty betting sites believe LadBaby will be back for more this December. The act is 10/11 to top the charts during the Christmas period. But a raft of global superstars and old classics that have never been to number one on the Christmas chart but make the top 10 every year – Wham’s Last Christmas, The Pogues’ Fairytale Of New York et al – threaten to spoil the party.
The first Christmas number one that was written specifically for the festive period was Dickie Valentine’s Christmas Alphabet. It claimed the top spot in 1955. Below, using the latest odds provided by William Hill online sportsbook, are some of the contenders for the coveted prize in 2022.
10/11. LadBaby
No confirmation of an entry has not deterred bookmakers and punters from latching on to LadBaby. The amusing couple could surpass The Beatles’ record of topping the Christmas charts five times this year.
With proceeds likely to go to the Trussell Trust’s foodbanks once again, the UK’s cash-strapped population will surely show its usual endearment towards LadBaby’s song. But is the joke of singing about sausage rolls now wearing thin?
4/1. David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and Lightning Seeds
An imaginative rehash of the Three Lions hit – which has earned four non-festive number ones since its 1996 release – the latest version references the Lioness’s win at the Women’s Euro 2022 this summer and the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.
If England can reach the World Cup semi-finals – scheduled for December 13th and 14th – this song could be a penalty-kick for Christmas number one.
6/1. Lewis Capaldi
Due to be released relatively early in the race – on December 2nd – Capaldi’s new single, Pointless, has been co-written with Ed Sheeran. That is a huge bonus. But, as a love song and not a Christmas-themed track, will it have enough momentum and popularity to hit the top of the charts three weeks after being dropped on the public?
7/1. Sam Smith
Sam Smith recently topped the UK charts for four weeks with Unholy. His new Christmas track, Night Before Christmas, might see him return to the top spot before the end of the year. A soppy festive love song with a soft guitar melody and gentle piano notes, Smith’s new tune may have to rely on his huge fan base to download the song in bulk …as it could be described as droll and depressive in parts.
8/1. Jason Manford
“When I first started talking about Assembly Bangers on stage I never once thought we’d get to this point of releasing an actual record, It’s nuts,” declares comedian Jason Manford on YouTube below his video for the song he hopes will go to number one this Christmas.
“I am delighted to be releasing this single, but all profits will be going to The Trussell Trust. I’m a big supporter of the work they do. The track is a bit of nostalgic fun from our school days, and if we can raise money for the charity whilst having a laugh with the single, that would be fantastic!”
The song – which features snippets from classic school assembly songs such as ‘This Light Little of Mine’, ‘He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands’, and ‘Lord Of The Dance’ – is in no way Christmassy. However, Manford’s recent tour was a sellout, and this catchy dance track has already reached the top of the UK’s iTunes chart.
10/1. Tyson Fury
Boxer Tyson Fury has famously snubbed the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year more than once. But he would surely love to hear his name read out as the number one seller at Christmas on the broadcaster’s Radio 1. The two-times world heavyweight champion has covered Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline for his bid at the Christmas number one.
Proceeds from his song are going to the men’s mental health charity Talk Club. A fan favorite at sporting events, Sweet Carloine has become an anthem for England fans in recent years. Therein, like Skinner and Baddiel’s chances, much may depend on England’s World Cup progress.
Big Names Available at Big Prices
William Hill currently offers a minimum of 16/1 or greater about any other artist claiming the Christmas number one song. That price blankets Elton John, Michael Buble, and Ed Sheeran. At 25/1 is Sam Ryder, Taylor Swift, The Evanmore Project, Meghan Trainor, JVKA, Kate Bush, The Pogues, Stormzy and Neil Diamond.
If you are looking for a live bet at big odds, maybe consider The Half Timers’ track, Coming Home For Christmas. This 50/1 shot is another England World Cup-themed Christmas song, and its profits will also go to a food charity – FareShareUK.
A decent and entertaining skit – performed by estate agent Marco Helliwell – it has the potential to become an anthem. Much depends on England’s progress in the World Cup. But, if the team could reach the final, this tune is likely to sell extremely well, and it is already building up some traction with news outlets.
