What Was Christmas Number 1 the Year You Were Born?

Published on: 23rd December 2025

Christmas has its own soundtrack, and at the top is a classic British tradition: the Christmas Number 1.

Maybe it was a novelty song you pretend to dislike, or a pop anthem that never gets old. The Christmas Number 1 from your birth year is like a small time capsule—a musical snow globe from the past.

So grab a warm drink, get into the festive spirit, and scroll down to see which song was Christmas Number 1 the year you were born.

Christmas number 1s of the 1950s

Big voices, bigger feelings, and a lot of misty-eyed romance. This was the era of polished smiles, swooning fans, and songs that took their time getting to the chorus.

• 1952: Al Martino – Here in My Heart

• 1953: Frankie Laine – Answer Me

• 1954: Winifred Atwell – Let's Have Another Party

• 1955: Dickie Valentine – Christmas Alphabet

• 1956: Johnnie Ray – Just Walkin' in The Rain

• 1957: Harry Belafonte – Mary's Boy Child

• 1958: Conway Twitty – It’s Only Make Believe

• 1959:Emile Ford & The Checkmates – What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?

Christmas number 1s of the 1960s

The 1960s marked the beginning of The Beatles’ era and the rise of pop music’s wild side.

• 1960: Cliff Richard and The Shadows – I Love You

• 1961: Danny Williams – Moon River

• 1962: Elvis Presley – Return to Sender

• 1963: The Beatles – I Want to Hold Your Hand

• 1964: The Beatles – I Feel Fine

• 1965: The Beatles – Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out

• 1966: Tom Jones – Green, Green Grass of Home

• 1967: The Beatles – Hello, Goodbye

• 1968: The Scaffold – Lily the Pink

• 1969: Rolf Harris – Two Little Boys

Christmas number 1s of the 1970s

The 1970s brought glam rock, novelty songs, and unforgettable anthems.

• 1970: Dave Edmunds – I Hear You Knocking

• 1971: Benny Hill – Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)

• 1972: Little Jimmy Osmond – Long Haired Lover from Liverpool

• 1973: Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody

• 1974: Mud – Lonely This Christmas

• 1975: Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

• 1976: Johnny Mathis – When a Child Is Born

• 1977: Wings – Mull of Kintyre

• 1978: Boney M – Mary’s Boy Child / Oh My Lord

• 1979: Pink Floyd – Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)

Christmas number 1s of the 1980s

In the 1980s, Christmas was all about charity singles, power ballads, and plenty of festive drama.

• 1980: St Winifred’s School Choir – There’s No One Quite Like Grandma

• 1981: The Human League – Don’t You Want Me

• 1982: Renée and Renato – Save Your Love

• 1983: Flying Pickets – Only You

• 1984: Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas?

• 1985: Shakin’ Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone

• 1986: Jackie Wilson – Reet Petite

• 1987: Pet Shop Boys – Always on My Mind

• 1988: Cliff Richard – Mistletoe and Wine

• 1989: Band Aid II – Do They Know It’s Christmas?

Christmas number 1s of the 1990s

The decade of three peaks: peak pop, peak emotion, and peak oddity.

• 1990: Cliff Richard – Saviour’s Day

• 1991: Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are the Days of Our Lives

• 1992: Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You

• 1993: Mr Blobby – Mr Blobby

• 1994: East 17 – Stay Another Day

• 1995: Michael Jackson – Earth Song

• 1996: Spice Girls – 2 Become 1

• 1997: Spice Girls – Too Much

• 1998: Spice Girls – Goodbye

• 1999: Westlife – I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun

Christmas number 1s of the 2000s

The new millennium saw reality TV stars take over the charts.

• 2000: Bob the Builder – Can We Fix It?

• 2001: Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman – Somethin’ Stupid

• 2002: Girls Aloud – Sound of the Underground

• 2003: Michael Andrews ft. Gary Jules – Mad World

• 2004: Band Aid 20 – Do They Know It’s Christmas?

• 2005: Shayne Ward – That’s My Goal

• 2006: Leona Lewis – A Moment Like This

• 2007: Leon Jackson – When You Believe

• 2008: Alexandra Burke – Hallelujah

• 2009: Rage Against the Machine – Killing in the Name

Christmas number 1s of the 2010s

The 2010s brought streaming, nostalgic hits, and even songs about sausage rolls.

• 2010: Matt Cardle – When We Collide

• 2011: Military Wives – Wherever You Are

• 2012: The Justice Collective – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

• 2013: Sam Bailey – Skyscraper

• 2014: Ben Haenow – Something I Need

• 2015: The Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir – Bridge over Troubled Water

• 2016: Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie – Rockabye

• 2017: Ed Sheeran – Perfect

• 2018: LadBaby – We Built This City… on Sausage Rolls

• 2019: LadBaby – I Love Sausage Rolls

Christmas number 1s of the 2020s

We’re only halfway through the 2020s, but so far there’s been more charity singles, more sausage rolls, and even more nostalgia.

• 2020: LadBaby – Don’t Stop Me Eatin’

• 2021: LadBaby ft. Ed Sheeran & Elton John – Sausage Rolls for Everyone

• 2022: LadBaby – Food Aid

• 2023: Wham! – Last Christmas

• 2024: Wham! – Last Christmas

• 2025: Kylie Minogue – XMAS

And there you have it...

Your UK Christmas Number 1 is more than just a song. It marks the year you were born and brings back the sounds of that time. Whether it makes you laugh, cringe, sing along, or wonder about the nation’s taste, it’s yours.

So next time you hear it on the radio in December, give it a nod. It’s not just any Christmas song—it’s your Christmas song.

From all of us at Holborn Assets, we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. See you in 2026!