Christmas number one 2025: Taylor Swift, Denise Welch, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande and Tom Fletcher all in the running

It’s one of the most hotly anticipated announcements over the festive season - who will achieve Christmas number one status? And vying for the top spot in 2025 are some of music’s biggest hitters.

To start with, they don’t get any bigger than US pop superstar, Taylor Swift. The 35-year-old released her 12th studio album, The Life Of A Showgirl, in October, and could yet secure Christmas number one with her chart-topping hit The Fate Of Ophelia.

The Official Charts Company said her songs Opalite and Elizabeth Taylor, which have yet to reach the summit, could also be contenders in the chart race. However, she could see competition coming from Loose Women panellist Denise Welch, 67, who is the mother of her rumoured former flame, The 1975 frontman Matty Healy.

Healy and Swift never confirmed a romantic relationship, but it is speculated that some of Swift’s songs on her 2024 album The Tortured Poets Department were written about the indie singer.

Welch’s new Christmas single, Slayyy Bells, described as “the hyperpop Christmas banger of 2025”, includes lyrics such as “we’re serving looks, not turkey” and “it’s time to put the slay in sleighbells”.

Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo, 38, and Ariana Grande, 32, are also among those battling it out for this year’s top spot. The song For Good from their latest film, Wicked: For Good, could go all the way this Christmas time, following the release of the movie’s soundtrack.

But the ladies may have to step aside for the bookies’ favourite - McFly singer Tom Fletcher - with his song written for Paddington The Musical. The single, a new version of One Of Us which was released as a single on Friday, is accompanied by a music video featuring Michael Bond’s well-known bear in Paddington Station with the singer.

Of course, it could be an outsider taking the crown though, with a selection of new releases in with a chance of climbing the charts this December. Where Is My Husband! by Raye, has yet to break the top two, and Where Love Lives, by Labrinth, which is this year’s soundtrack to the John Lewis Christmas advert, may just give the others a run for their money.

Other favourites for the Christmas number one title include Kylie Minogue’s new pop single Xmas, which she has released in partnership with Amazon Music; (Christmas) Time by Sophie Ellis-Bextor; First Christmas by Pixie Lott; The Christmas Song by Olivia Dean; All The Pretty Lights by The Divine Comedy; and It’s Christmas Time by Picture This.

Martin Talbot, chief executive at Official Charts Company, said: “It’s that time of year again – Christmas is coming and the release schedules are fattening up with every day. So it’s time to watch the contenders gather on the starting line for one of the year’s biggest chart races.

“This year, there is a wide variety of contenders – including children’s favourites, charity fundraisers, daytime TV icons and Aussie pop queens, among many more. Within three weeks, we’ll know the winner. Until then… On your marks, get set, go!”

The official Christmas number one race 2025 kicks off on Friday December 12 with sales and streams counting up until midnight 11.59pm on Thursday December 18. The 2025 Christmas number one single will be announced on Friday December 19 live on BBC Radio 1’s The Official Chart at 4pm.