Gary Barlow and Sheridan Smith to enter Official Christmas Number 1 race with new song

Gary Barlow and Sheridan Smith have confirmed that they're throwing their collective hat into the race for this year's Official Christmas Number 1 single. 

The duo will be teaming up for a track from Gary's incoming Christmas album, titled The Dream Of Christmas, which is released on November 26. Lead singles The Dream Of Christmas and Sleigh Ride are out now.

Gary and Sheridan's song, How Christmas Is Supposed To Be, is being tipped for festive chart supremacy, while the record also features collaborations with Aled Jones, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, and The Puppini Sisters for a rendition of Winter Wonderland.

"We were all trying to make Christmas feel good last year," said Gary. "It was a really hard Christmas for so many because of the scenario we all found ourselves in. So to try and make things a bit special, I started writing these songs.

"I had never listened to those classic Christmas songs with the idea of singing them myself, but as this record evolved, so did my appreciation for these wonderful songs. It all started off as a bit of a dalliance in the studio and before I knew it, I had a whole album!”

The Dream Of Christmas tracklisting:

1. The Dream of Christmas
2. Sleigh Ride
3. Wonderful Christmastime
4. How Christmas Is Supposed To Be (feat Sheridan Smith)
5. This Christmas
6. Come On Christmas
7. My Dear Acquaintance
8. Winter Wonderland (feat. Puppini Sisters)
9. The Colder It Feels (feat Sheku Kanneh-Mason)
10. Merry Christmas Everyone
11. A Child’s Christmas in Wales (feat. Aled Jones)

Deluxe

   12. I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
   13. I Believe in Father Christmas
   14. In The Bleak Midwinter
   15. The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Interestingly enough, this year would mark 28 years since Take That's Babe was knocked off Number 1 by Mr Blobby's...uh...Mr Blobby.

MORE: Gary Barlow's biggest solo hits on the Official Charts

This year also marks the 70th annual Christmas Number 1 on the Official Charts, and it appears Gary and Sheridan already have plenty of competition for the festive crown.

Ed Sheeran has already (accidentally) let slip that he and Elton John have recorded a Christmas song this year, with the intention of battling for Christmas Number 1. Ed recently scored consecutive Number 1s with Bad Habits and Shivers, while Elton actually knocked him off the top-spot with his Cold Heart (PNAU remix) with Dua Lipa. 

ABBA is another act in contention for the festive top-spot too, considering that a song on their new album Voyage seems Christmas-themed. And of course, there's always the possibility that Adele's chart supremacy could see her top of the charts in time for Christmas too - but could it be with Easy On Me or another track yet to be unveiled from 30?

And they may have not announced anything just yet, but last year's Christmas Number 1 act LadBaby could make history this year. If they topped the festive chart once more for the fourth consecutive time, they would break an Official Chart record as the first and only act with four consecutive Christmas Number 1s. They currently tie with the Spice Girls and the Beatles as acts with three. 

This year's Official Christmas Number 1 will be revealed on Christmas Eve (December 24) here on OfficialCharts.com and on BBC Radio 1.