Official Christmas Number 1 Contenders 2024: The pop girls

As the UK's biggest chart race – the Official Christmas Number 1 – inches ever closer, Official Charts is shining a big string of festive fairy lights on this year's key players.

With the all-important race kicking off tomorrow (!!) it's not time to highlight some of this year's biggest Official Chart success stories, who could still be in with a chance of victory...

2024 has truly been the year of the Big Pop Girl on the Official Chart; several artists have jumped up into the superstar bracket within the last 12 months, and we're highlighting those who are still hanging around even in Christmas time, ready to get stuck into the action.

Of course, leading the charge stats-wise is the breakout singer-songwriter of the moment, Gracie Abrams, who has managed to not only secure her first UK Number 1 single with spiky break-up track That's So True, but has dominated the Official Singles Chart for five consecutive weeks.

Although Gracie is expected to lose her Number 1 crown this week, That's So True is still a viable (and clearly very popular track with the British public) contender for the festive top spot, especially given the fact she has managed to hold off both WHAM! and Mariah returning to Number 1 over the last few weeks. 

Chappell Roan has become one of the most recognisebale pop stars in the world this year, earning an 'overnight success' that has taken 10 years of long, hard graft. She may have reached Number 2 with her sublime sapphic lament Good Luck, Babe! earlier this year, but one track from her accomplished debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess that's still hanging around the Official Singles Chart is the kitschy camp of the deliriously silly HOT TO GO! Who doesn't want to do a silly dance over the festive period, may we ask?

Another headline-grabbing pop star of the moment, Sabrina Carpenter, has pulled off her ascent to the A-List with ease in 2024. She's capped off a truly extraordinary year with a recent Netflix special, A Nonsense Christmas, and one of the focus tracks from her 2023 festive EP fruitcake - the sensual and dare we say it sexy retro throwback Buy Me Presents - could still seduce the British public in these last crucial few days. 

A festive dark horse to also keep an eye will be Gigi Perez, her first-ever UK Number 1 single Sailor Song is still holding strong within the UK Top 10. Yes, a sapphic folk song is not the most traditional Christmas fare but then again, the British public has sent Bob The Builder to Christmas Number 1 in the past, so....

When will the 2024 Christmas Number 1 be revealed?

This year's Official Christmas Number 1 race 2024 kicks off Friday December 13 with sales and streams counting up until midnight (11.59pm) on Thursday, December 19.   

Tune in to The Official Chart on BBC Radio 1 on Friday December 20 from 4pm to hear the Christmas Top 40 countdown and the exclusive reveal of the Official Christmas Number 1 2024. 

The full Top 100 Official Christmas Singles Chart and Albums Chart will be published on OfficialCharts.com from 5.45pm. 

Join the conversation now using the hashtag #XmasNo1. Follow @OfficialCharts on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. For all the latest race updates join the Official Charts mailing list for Breaking News on this year’s race and beyond.