With the celebration of the 60th anniversary since the Official Charts Company started, there were a few other documentaries and countdown programmes focusing on songs that went to number one, and I was looking forward to a show focusing on the songs that did so at Christmas. This show was basically a flow through the years, from the beginning of the charts in 1952 to the present day, and talking about what songs went to number one by Christmas Day, whether they are traditional Christmas themed songs (pop or rock), songs by popular singers and bands, charity singles, ballads, popularised novelty songs, talent show singles and much more. The songs mentioned and talked about in the show are: "Here in My Heart" – Al Martino (1952), "Christmas Alphabet" – Dickie Valentine (1955), "Mary's Boy Child" – Harry Belafonte (1957), "I Want to Hold Your Hand" – The Beatles (1963), "Lily the Pink" – The Scaffold (1968), "Two Little Boys" – Rolf Harris (1969), "Merry Xmas Everybody" – Slade (1973), "Lonely This Christmas" – Mud (1974), "When a Child Is Born" – Johnny Mathis (1976), "Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord" – Boney M. (1978), "Don't You Want Me" – The Human League (1981), "Save Your Love" – Renée and Renato (1982), "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – Band Aid (1984), "Merry Christmas Everyone" – Shaking' Stevens (1985), "Mistletoe and Wine" – Cliff Richard (1988), "Saviour's Day" – Cliff Richard (1990), "I Will Always Love You" – Whitney Houston (1992), "Mr Blobby" – Mr Blobby (1993), "Stay Another Day" – East 17 (1994), "2 Become 1" – Spice Girls (1996), "Too Much" – Spice Girls (1997), "Goodbye" – Spice Girls (1998), "Can We Fix It" – Bob the Builder (2000), "Sound of the Underground" – Girls Aloud (2002), "That's My Goal" – Shayne Ward (2005), "A Moment Like This" – Leona Lewis (2006), "When You Believe" – Leon Jackson (2007), "Hallelujah" – Alexandra Burke (2008), "Killing in the Name" – Rage Against the Machine (2009) and "Wherever You Are" – Military Wives Choir (2011), Gareth Malone & The London Metropolitan Orchestra. Other Christmas songs, all beaten to number one, mentioned were "White Christmas" – Bing Christmas (1941), "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" – Wizzard (1973), "Last Christmas" – Wham! (1984), "Especially for You" – Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan and "The Millennium Prayer" – Cliff Richard (1999). Songs not mentioned that I think should have been, that went to number one and were beaten, include "Return to Sender" – Elvis Presley (1962), "Green, Green Grass of Home" – Tom Jones (1966), "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)" – Benny Hill (1971), "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool"" – Jimmy Osmond, "Bohemian Rhapsody" – Queen (1975, 1991), "There's No One Quite Like Grandma) – St Winifred's School Choir (1980), "Fairytale of New York" – The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl (1987), "Always on My Mind" – Pet Shop Boys (1987), "Earth Song" – Michael Jackson (1995), "Teletubbies Say "Eh-oh!"" – Teletubbies (1997), "I Have a Dream" – Westlife (1999), "Somethin' Stupid" – Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman (2001) and "Do They Know It's Christmas?" – Band Aid 20 (2004). Narrated by Tamsin Greig, with contributions from Tony Blackburn, Edith Bowman, Alexandra Burke, East 17's Terry Coldwell, Jason Donovan, Neil Fox, Rolf Harris, Noddy Holder, Renée and Renato's Hilary Lester, Joe McElderry, Johnny Mathis, Jon and Tracy Morter (Rage Against the Machine campaigners), Kate Mossman, Alexis Pertridis, Sir Cliff Richard, Shaking' Stevens, Military Wives Choir's Samantha Stevenson, Mud's Ray Stiles, Midge Ure, Pete Waterman, Boney M.'s Maizie Williams and Wizzard's Roy Wood. Very good!
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