Pop icon Kylie Minogue has secured a monumental place in British music history by clinching the coveted 2025 Christmas Number One spot with her festive single 'XMAS'. The achievement sees her become the first female artist ever to score UK Number 1 singles across four different decades.
A Festive First and a Historic Record
In a tight race, Minogue's catchy, YMCA-inspired holiday track narrowly edged out the perennial favourite, Wham!'s 'Last Christmas', which settled for the runner-up position. Remarkably, this marks the Australian superstar's first-ever solo UK Christmas Number One, despite her 2021 rendition of 'Santa Baby' only reaching number 31.
The victory arrives a full 37 years after her Official Chart debut with 1987's 'I Should Be So Lucky'. By topping the chart this festive season, Minogue now boasts chart-topping singles in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and now the 2020s—a unique and unmatched feat for any female artist in the UK.
The Festive Chart Landscape and Notable Runners-Up
The 2025 Christmas chart saw fierce competition from timeless classics. Following its own two-year reign at the top in 2023 and 2024, Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' was finally dethroned, landing at number two. Meanwhile, Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' put in another strong showing but remained at Number 3 for the second consecutive year, extending its wait for a UK Christmas crown.
Martin Talbot, Chief Executive of the Official Charts Company, emphasised the enduring significance of the Christmas chart. "It is the chart all artists want to top," he stated, noting its history from acts like Slade and Wizzard to modern stars. He added that today, a new generation, including Ed Sheeran, Sam Ryder, and Kylie Minogue, are all vying for the festive honour.
Christmas Number One 'Hit Wonders': A Curious Legacy
The pursuit of the Yuletide top spot has also created a curious phenomenon: the 'Christmas Number One hit wonder'. These are acts or collaborations that soared to festive glory but never again charted as the same line-up. A look back reveals some surprising entries:
- 1980 – St Winifred’s School Choir: Their heartwarming 'There’s No One Quite Like Grandma' beat John Lennon to become the Christmas Number One.
- 1993 – Mr Blobby: The pink TV personality's novelty song infamously beat Take That to the top spot, despite critical panning.
- 2003 – Michael Andrews & Gary Jules: Their haunting cover of 'Mad World' for the film *Donnie Darko* triumphed over The Darkness's festive effort.
- 2015 – Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir: They beat Justin Bieber with 'A Bridge Over You', raising funds for NHS charities.
- 2021 – LadBaby ft. Ed Sheeran & Elton John: This one-off collaboration about sausage rolls secured a record-breaking fourth consecutive Christmas Number One for the YouTuber, raising money for food banks.
Other notable one-time festive chart-toppers include the 1989 Band Aid II recording, the 2012 Justice Collective charity single for Hillsborough families, and the 2001 duet 'Somethin' Stupid' by Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman.
Kylie Minogue's 2025 victory, therefore, is not just a personal milestone but a new chapter in the rich and often unpredictable story of the UK's Christmas Number One—a tradition as deeply ingrained in the holiday season as turkey and trimmings.
