Ed Sheeran's Under The Tree: Christmas Number 1 contender from Richard Curtis's Netflix film That Christmas

Ed Sheeran will be hoping to claim a third Official Christmas Number 1 single in the UK later this year.

Just as we've finally stopped moaning how 'we like it hot, but not this hot,' news of a brand-new Ed track, titled Under The Tree, has been announced.

Lifted from Richard Curtis's upcoming animated festive Netflix film That Christmas, Under The Tree is likely to be Ed's first new material since 2023 album Autumn Variations, which topped the Official Albums Chart last October. 

MORE: See where every Ed Sheeran song and album has charted in the UK

Having previously scored two Official Christmas Number 1 singles in the UK, with 2017's Perfect and 2021 LadBaby and Elton John team-up Sausage Rolls For Everyone, he'll be hoping to bag a third with the track from Curtis's soon-to-be 'holiday staple.'

On the song's creation, Ed explained: "I’ve been mates with Richard Curtis for years, and we’ve done a load of fun work for charity, and then both were heavily involved in the movie Yesterday.

"He came to me two years ago to play me the rough of That Christmas. It was just sketches and voices, but it blew me away. So emotional, yet so heartwarmingly funny, like all Richard Curtis movies.

"The scene that we wrote this song for is so heartbreaking, but so real for many people at Christmas spending it without the ones they love, for so many reasons."

"I got to work with my older brother on this which is such a rarity and a gift to work so closely with my only sibling, it felt so good to create something my children would watch, with their uncle, based in the country they live in.

"I find it mad that there isn’t more animated Christmas films for kids, but this is going to become a holiday staple, at least in our household. Hope everyone loves it, and enjoys the song, we had such a great time creating it."

That Christmas will star Brian Cox as Santa, Fiona Shaw as Ms. Trapper, Jodie Whittaker as Mrs Williams and Bill Nighy as Bill; all residents of a quaint British seaside town who see their lives turned upside down one Christmastime.

MORE: Relive every Official Christmas Number 1 ever

When is Ed Sheeran's Under The Tree released?

We don't yet have a confirmed date for Under The Tree but, if we were betting people, we'd put money on a December release.

When is Richard Curtis's That Christmas released?

This Christmas will land in the UK on December 6 2024.

How to watch That Christmas:

This Christmas will be available exclusively on Netflix in the UK.

How many Official Christmas Number 1 singles does Ed Sheeran have?

So far, Ed's claimed the oh-so-coveted Christmas Number 1 spot twice, with 2017's Perfect and 2021 LadBaby and Elton John collaboration Sausage Rolls For Everyone.

Article images: Warner Records/Netflix.