WHAM!'s Andrew Ridgeley on making UK chart history with Official Christmas Number 1 Last Christmas

After 39 years, WHAM! have made Official Chart history today, with Last Christmas (finally) being named the UK's Official Christmas Number 1. 

After famously being denied Christmas Number 1 in the year of its release, 1984, by Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? in what became one of the most famous chart battles of all time, WHAM! have finally done it and claimed the most important Christmas Number 1 of the year. 

To celebrate, we sat down with Andrew Ridgeley himself to discuss Last Christmas's legacy, what Christmas Number 1 will mean to fans of the band and, most importantly, what it would have meant to the much-missed mastermind behind the track, George Michael. 

WATCH Andrew Ridgeley accept WHAM!'s recording-breaking Official Christmas Number 1 Award for Last Christmas

Andrew - congratulations! WHAM! have finally done it! After 39 years, Last Christmas is Number 1!

Yes, nigh on 39 years, Last Christmas has finally ascended to the much-cherished and sought-after Official Christmas Number 1 spot, which was always the main goal.

George would be beside himself, after all of these years, finally obtain Christmas Number 1. It’s mission accomplished!

Yog [George] said that he wrote Last Christmas with the intention of writing a Christmas Number 1. That was the challenge; the goal that he set for himself.

It was very clear from your Netflix documentary that Christmas Number 1 - and chart success in general - meant to lot to you and George, he spoke specifically about what Last Christmas being Christmas Number 1 would mean to him

Yog and I perceived music largely in the sense of the Official Charts. We always contextualised our success by our chart success.

It was a huge disappointment to us both when it didn’t reach Number 1 because, in our opinion, it was nailed-on. Had it not been for Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?, it probably would’ve been Number 1.

Thwarted for many years subsequent to that – the perennial bridesmaid – over recent years it seems it’s become part of the fabric of Christmas for a lot of people. Christmas might not be the same for a lot of people if that hadn’t started hearing Last Christmas from September 13, or whenever it starts getting played!

WHAM! have always held a very special place in the heart of the British public - but Christmas Number 1 really does feel like an important addition to your legacy, would you agree?

Christmas Number 1 has been a long-held ambition for Yog and I; and for the fans, too. It’ll mean a lot to WHAM!’s legacy – it’s the crowning glory.

Last Christmas was conceived as a Christmas Number 1. Lofty ambitions, but Yog set lofty ambitions for himself as a songwriter. Our fans will have a real sense of achievement and pride in the fact it’s become a Christmas Number 1!

When George first played you the demo of Last Christmas, you knew it was special - but would it be fair to say not even you could have predicted it's extraordinary staying power? 

It’s a transcendental song, because of its nature and subject matter it has the advantage of being ever-present at this time of year. Did we ever think it’d have such longevity? Probably not! At the time, I don’t think we necessarily foresaw its endurance or thought it’d become a staple of Christmas.

Had we been asked, that would’ve been the intention, but I don’t think it was necessarily planned that it’d be a piece of work lasting a lifetime and beyond.

Your big competition for Christmas Number 1 this week was Sam Ryder - he put up an amazing fight, what did you think of his campaign?

It must be thrilling for Sam to have released a new work and have it go straight in at Number 2; it’s a catchy record with great energy. He’s a fantastic character – I don’t think there’s anyone who has quite as much energy as Sam Ryder!

I wish him well and, who knows, his track might become a Christmas classic as well!

And finally, do you have a message for all the WHAM! fans who have taken Last Christmas to Official Christmas Number 1?

It’s wonderful to have had the support of our fans worldwide in the bid for this Christmas Number 1, especially as it’s been an enduring, decades-long effort for everyone involved. I’m deeply grateful for the support that’s shown for the song year after year. We’ve done it!