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WHEREVER YOU ARE
by MILITARY WIVES/GARETH MALONE

The 2011 Official Christmas Number 1, and the UK's 60th Christmas Number 1, Wherever You Are by The Military Wives with Gareth Malone and Paul Mealor, saw a return to a choir-based festive chart-topper. Military Wives comprised the wives and girlfriends of serving personnel from two British Army bases in Devon, who had been coached by English choirmaster Gareth Malone during the fourth series of his BBC TV show The Choir.

Wherever You Are was written using extracts from the wives’ letters by Welsh composer Paul Mealor, and the song was produced by Jon Cohen. Released December 15, 2011, Wherever You Are had first week sales of 556,000 copies, with a phenomenal 400,000 of those on physical copies bucking the digital trend, outselling the rest of the top ten combined.

Proceeds from the song were donated to the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association. Wherever You Are entered at Number 1, knocking 2011’s X Factor winners Little Mix, and their debut song Cannonball, off the top. Not only did they land the coveted Christmas Number 1 2011, but The Military Wives took the honour of being the first ever recipients of the now-iconic Official Chart Number 1 Award, no less. They were presented with the trophy by then Radio 1 Official Chart host Reggie Yates on behalf of the Official Charts Company.

Wherever You Are - Military Wives, Gareth Malone and Paul Mealor

Official Charts logo Official Singles Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position1
  • LabelDECCA
  • Catalogue numberGBUM71110865
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 1No1
  2. 2Top 10
  3. 3Top 20
  4. 5Top 40
  5. 7Top 75
  6. 8Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

8 weeks - 31/12/2011 to 18/02/2012

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Official Charts logo Official Singles Downloads Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position1
  • LabelDECCA
  • Catalogue numberGBUM71110865
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 1No1
  2. 1Top 10
  3. 2Top 20
  4. 2Top 40
  5. 3Top 75
  6. 3Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

3 weeks - 31/12/2011 to 14/01/2012

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Official Charts logo Official Physical Singles Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position1
  • LabelDECCA
  • Catalogue numberGBUM71110865
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 12No1
  2. 33Top 10
  3. 52Top 20
  4. 70Top 40
  5. 99Top 75
  6. 124Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

70 weeks - 24/12/2011 to 20/04/2013

1 week - 18/05/2013

1 week - 01/06/2013

4 weeks - 15/06/2013 to 06/07/2013

1 week - 10/08/2013

3 weeks - 24/08/2013 to 07/09/2013

3 weeks - 28/09/2013 to 12/10/2013

9 weeks - 02/11/2013 to 28/12/2013

4 weeks - 11/01/2014 to 01/02/2014

1 week - 15/02/2014

1 week - 29/03/2014

2 weeks - 17/05/2014 to 24/05/2014

1 week - 07/06/2014

2 weeks - 27/09/2014 to 04/10/2014

1 week - 18/10/2014

4 weeks - 15/11/2014 to 06/12/2014

3 weeks - 20/12/2014 to 03/01/2015

1 week - 17/01/2015

1 week - 31/01/2015

1 week - 01/10/2015

1 week - 12/11/2015

1 week - 14/01/2016

1 week - 02/06/2016

1 week - 23/06/2016

1 week - 17/11/2016

3 weeks - 01/12/2016 to 15/12/2016

1 week - 25/10/2018

1 week - 04/06/2020

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End of Year Singles Chart

Chart facts

  • Peak position13
  • LabelDECCA
  • Catalogue numberGBUM71110865
  • First Chart Date

Weeks on chart

  1. 0No1
  2. 0Top 10
  3. 1Top 20
  4. 1Top 40
  5. 1Top 75
  6. 1Top 100

Chart run

= Peak position = This week

1 week - 07/01/2012

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More about WHEREVER YOU ARE

military_wives_wherever_you_are_christmas_number_1_2011.jpg
Christmas Number 1
Military Wives claim Official Christmas Number 1 2011

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