Every December, the nation eagerly anticipates which song will clinch the coveted Christmas number one spot, securing a permanent place in British pop culture. While these festive anthems bring joy to millions, the stories behind many of the artists who created them are often marked by profound personal tragedy, addiction, and untimely death.
Legends Lost: The High Price of Fame
The quest for the festive top spot began in earnest, and one of its early kings was Elvis Presley. His track 'Return to Sender', featured in the 1962 film 'Girls! Girls! Girls!', reached number one. Yet, the icon's life was cut short in 1977 at just 42. His death at Graceland was attributed to cardiac arrhythmia, with toxicology reports later revealing a cocktail of prescription opioids in his system, highlighting a long and devastating decline in health.
In 1971, comedian Benny Hill surprised everyone by topping the charts with his novelty song 'Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)'. Despite the global success of 'The Benny Hill Show', his brand of humour eventually fell out of favour. Friends revealed a deeply lonely man who felt unloved, contrasting sharply with his on-screen persona. He died in London in 1992 from coronary thrombosis.
Queen's epic 'Bohemian Rhapsody' achieved the Christmas number one twice—in 1975 and again in 1991, following the tragic death of frontman Freddie Mercury. Freddie's death from AIDS-related pneumonia in 1991 sent shockwaves around the world, coming just a day after he publicly disclosed his diagnosis in a moving statement.
Charity, Heartbreak, and Reality TV Curse
The 1984 charity supergroup Band Aid, masterminded by Bob Geldof, changed the landscape with 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'. However, Geldof's personal life has been marred by immense loss. His first wife, TV presenter Paula Yates, left him for INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, who died in 1997. Paula herself died from an accidental heroin overdose in 2000. Tragically, Geldof's daughter Peaches also died from a drug overdose in 2014.
The 1990s saw iconic voices dominate the festive period. Whitney Houston's powerhouse ballad 'I Will Always Love You' was the 1992 Christmas number one. Whitney's well-documented battles with addiction culminated in her accidental drowning in a Beverly Hilton bathtub in 2012. Her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, later died in eerily similar circumstances in 2015.
Boy band East 17's 1994 hit 'Stay Another Day' is a festive staple, but songwriter Tony Mortimer revealed it was inspired by his brother's suicide. The band was beset by issues, most notably the sacking of lead singer Brian Harvey in 1997 after he publicly discussed his drug use.
Michael Jackson secured his sole UK Christmas number one in 1995 with 'Earth Song'. His later life was engulfed in controversy and legal battles, and he died in 2009 from acute propofol intoxication administered by his personal doctor.
The X Factor Winners: Fleeting Fame and Fallout
For years, The X Factor produced a string of Christmas chart-toppers, but lasting success proved elusive for many winners. Shayne Ward (2005) was dropped by his label after his third album and later found acting success on Coronation Street. Leon Jackson (2007) and Matt Cardle (2010) also saw their chart careers fade, with Cardle later seeking treatment for addiction to prescription drugs and alcohol.
Ben Haenow, the last X Factor winner to achieve the Christmas number one in 2014, has since criticised the show, claiming contestants are at the 'mercy' of producers and their manipulative editing techniques.
Finally, in 2023, Wham! finally reached the summit with 'Last Christmas', 38 years after its release. Frontman George Michael enjoyed a stellar career but faced numerous personal struggles, including the loss of his partner to AIDS, battles with depression, and several drug-related incidents with the law. He died of natural causes on Christmas Day in 2016.
These stories reveal a poignant truth: behind the glittering facade of the Christmas number one spot often lies a much more complex and sombre human reality, where festive cheer masks personal battles fought in the harsh glare of the spotlight.
