WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped film announced by BBC Two and BBC Music

A film marking 40 years of WHAM!'s iconic festive staple Last Christmas will air on BBC Two later this year.

Hour-long special WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped will be broadcast in December, bringing together artists (including Mary J. Blige, Bob Geldof, Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant and Sam Smith), producers and music industry experts to story the song's creation and enduring appeal.

WHAM!'s Andrew Ridgeley will return to Saas-Fee in Switzerland, where the song's iconic music video was shot, with backing singers Pepsi DeMacque-Crockett and Shirlie Kemp also among the interviewees chronicling the track's impact.

MORE: Where every WHAM! song and album has charted in the UK

Andrew Ridgeley says: "It’s a privilege, 40 years on, to be able to have this opportunity to celebrate WHAM!’s wonderful and enduring musical homage to Christmas and I’m absolutely thrilled that WHAM! in partnership with The BBC will present this joyful and touching tribute to the nation this Christmas.

"Christmas was a special time of year for George and Christmas songs were a special type of song for him too and that was why he considered writing a Christmas classic one of the great achievements of his career. Only he will ever know quite what inspired him to such dizzying heights, but his songwriting genius led him to distil the quintessential essence of Christmas into a song whose breadth of appeal spans the generations.

"Revisiting Saas Fee, four decades on, with some of the closest friends of my youth was a very special experience and one which I know Yog would have loved to have shared in."
 
George Michael Entertainment says: "Last Christmas remains as iconic today as it was 40 years ago, continuing to capture the essence of Christmas with the same magic and emotion. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the song, a true testament to George Michael’s songwriting brilliance.

"A timeless holiday classic, it holds a place among the greatest Christmas songs ever written, resonating with listeners of all ages and inspiring new generations today as it did 40 years ago. As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we are proud to be involved in this heartfelt tribute to the song, the video, and those involved. It offers fans the chance to relive the magic and gain fresh insight into the making of this beloved masterpiece, allowing us to share its enduring legacy with the public and fans around the world."
 
Jonathan Rothery, Head of Commissioning, BBC Pop Music TV says: "Last Christmas is a flawless festive song that has stood the test of time.

"I’m delighted that the BBC is celebrating its 40th anniversary, who doesn’t want to spend an hour in the winter wonderland of WHAM! with George, Andrew, Pepsi and Shirlie?"

MORE: When will the Official Christmas Number 1 song 2024 be announced?

Last year, Last Christmas made UK Official Chart history as it finally clinched the coveted Christmas Number 1 title; a record-breaking 39 years after first being denied it.

At the time, Andrew Ridgeley told Official Charts:

"Last Christmas has finally ascended to the much-cherished and sought-after Official Christmas Number 1, which was always the main goal. 

"George would be beside himself [that] after all of these years, [we’ve] finally obtained Christmas Number 1. Yog [George] said that he wrote Last Christmas with the intention of writing a Christmas Number 1. It’s mission accomplished!"

When will WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped be on TV?

WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped will air on BBC Two this December, though an exact broadcast date is yet to be confirmed.

When will the 2024 Official Christmas Number 1 single be announced?

The 2024 Official Christmas Number 1 will be announced on Friday, December 20. The full Christmas Top 40 will be counted down on BBC Radio 1's The Official Chart with Jack Saunders from 4pm GMT.

The full Top 100 Official Christmas Singles Chart and Official Christmas Albums Chart will be published on OfficialCharts.com from 5.45pm GMT on Friday, December 20.

You can stay up to date with all the latest Christmas Number 1 news here on Official Charts.

Article image: Getty.