LadBaby are out of the Christmas number one race – this is who is in the running

LadBaby are out of the running for the 2023 Christmas number one – so who could sit at the top spot? (Picture: Natasha Pszenicki)

There will be no sausage rolls at the dining table this Christmas as LadBaby won’t be releasing a single for the first time in five years – so who could be in the running to nab the coveted number one spot?

Internet personality LadBaby – made up of couple Mark and Roxanne Hoyle – have officially stood down, following their record-breaking streak of five chart-topping festive singles.

The official Christmas number one is a British institution and has previously been secured by musical talent that includes The Beatles, Spice Girls, Boney M and Ed Sheeran.

So, who could take the prestigious top spot for 2023?

Cher, Jorja Smith and Sooty are among those in the race to secure this year’s Christmas number one single as well as a host of our long-standing festive favourites.

Every year a host of classic Christmas songs re-enter the charts, meaning festive tracks such as Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody or Last Christmas from Wham! could make it to number one.

Music icon Cher could be in the running for Christmas number one (Picture: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Jorja Smith’s latest single is also a strong contender (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Puppet Sooty is an unlikely entry in the mix (Picture: S Meddle/ITV/Shutterstock)

Other festive tracks known to climb the singles chart in December include Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl, Sir Elton John’s Step Into Christmas and Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You.

A number of new Christmas-themed releases could outshine the classics, however.

English singer Mimi Webb recently released Back Home For Christmas, while American pop band One Republic has come out with a single called Dear Santa.

There is also Cher’s DJ Play A Christmas Song in the mix and Andrea Bocelli’s Festa, which features in the 2023 John Lewis Christmas advert.

Currently, Lovin On Me by American rapper and singer Jack Harlow is dominating the charts, so if the song maintains its success the track could develop into a Christmas number one.

Another popular and recent release is The Beatles ‘last song’ Now And Then, which made history by topping the UK singles chart a record-breaking 54 years since their previous number one.

The Beatles could enter the charts for a second time this year (Picture: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Andrea Bocelli’s single which features in this year’s John Lewis Christmas Advert could be number one (Picture: Noam Galai/WireImage)

Jack Harlow currently sites at the top of the charts (Picture: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for REFORM Alliance)

There are also some retailer exclusives that have a shot at securing the number one title.

R&B singer Smith, 26, who recently released her album Falling Or Flying, has come out with a cover of East 17’s Stay Another Day.

Elsewhere, Eurovision star Sam Ryder has released a festive original called You’re Christmas To Me.

Meanwhile, charity singles in the running include a cover of The Nolans titled I’m In The Mood For Christmas from Sooty the glove puppet, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday from Rock Choir, and Nala the Station Cat with Check Meowt.

Chief executive of the Official Charts Company, Martin Talbot, said: ‘With LadBaby stepping back after five years as winners, this year’s race looks as open as ever.

‘Aside from the Sleaford Mods’ cover of West End Girls for Shelter, Sooty is batting on behalf of Great Ormond Street Hospital, a Rock Choir is raising money for Cash for Kids, and we even have a trance pussycat called Nala supporting the homeless and the RSPCA.

Eurovision star Sam Ryder could walk away with the title (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock for NTA)

Could Wham’s Last Christmas re-enter the charts? (Picture: Wham)

Mariah Carey’s iconic Christmas hit could also take the title (Picture: Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty Images)

‘Plus, of course, there will be a range of classics, arguably led this year by Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody, celebrating its 50th anniversary. What a Christmas chart race it is going to be.’

The run-up will start on December 15 through to 11.59pm on December 21 – and the winner of 2023’s official Christmas number one will be announced on December 22 live on BBC Radio 1’s The Official Chart.

LadBaby spoke with Metro.co.uk exclusively about their decision to scrap releasing a Christmas single amid a ‘whirlwind’ five years.

‘After five amazing years we’ve decided to pass the baton over to the Great British public and we’re not going for Christmas number one this year,’ Mark told us.

He continued: ‘We never expected it to be five, I’ll be totally honest. It’s one of those things that just happened over the years and we thought it was amazing that the public got behind us in the way that they did. Five years ago when we started this, we knew the importance of food banks in this country and we wanted to raise funds and awareness for that so we did that one [song], that was lovely.’

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