Question 1 of 20Charity singlesEasy
Christmas songs and No. 1s quiz
From crooners and glam rockers to charity supergroups and sausage rolls, the festive pop song has a colourful history. Test what you know about the stars, the songwriters and the annual race for the UK Christmas No. 1. Grab a mince pie and see how many you can get right.
A free quiz from Megan Moran, author of The Ultimate Christmas Quiz Book.
Question 2 of 20Chart historyMedium
Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' was released in 1984, but in which year did it first reach No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart?
Question 3 of 20Christmas No. 1 raceEasy
Which novelty act claimed the 1993 UK Christmas No. 1, holding off Take That's 'Babe'?
Question 4 of 20Christmas No. 1 raceHard
Which song was the UK's first Christmas No. 1, in 1952, the year the UK Singles Chart began?
Question 5 of 20Chart historyMedium
Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' came out in 1994. In which year did it first top the Billboard Hot 100?
Question 6 of 20Christmas No. 1 raceEasy
In 2009, a Facebook campaign sent which band's 'Killing in the Name' to the UK Christmas No. 1 spot?
Question 7 of 20Record breakersMedium
Which Queen single was the UK Christmas No. 1 in both 1975 and 1991?
Question 8 of 20Near missesHard
Which single kept The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's 'Fairytale of New York' at No. 2 at Christmas 1987?
Question 9 of 20Record breakersMedium
Which act set a record with five consecutive UK Christmas No. 1s, from 2018 to 2022?
Question 10 of 20Classic croonersEasy
Whose recording of Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas' is recognised by Guinness World Records as the best-selling physical single of all time?
Question 11 of 20Christmas No. 1 raceMedium
Which band took 'Mull of Kintyre' to the UK Christmas No. 1 spot in 1977?
Question 12 of 20Christmas No. 1 raceHard
Which glam-rock band had the 1974 UK Christmas No. 1 with 'Lonely This Christmas'?
Question 13 of 20SongwritersMedium
Who co-wrote 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'
Question 14 of 20Christmas No. 1 raceMedium
Which boy band's 'Stay Another Day' was the UK Christmas No. 1 in 1994?
Question 15 of 20Chart historyHard
How old was Brenda Lee when she recorded 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' in 1958?
Question 16 of 20Christmas No. 1 raceEasy
Which band had the 1973 UK Christmas No. 1 with 'Merry Xmas Everybody'?
Question 17 of 20Charity singlesMedium
Working with choirmaster Gareth Malone, which choir took 'Wherever You Are' to the 2011 UK Christmas No. 1?
Question 18 of 20SongwritersHard
Which singer co-wrote 'The Christmas Song' with Bob Wells in 1945?
Question 19 of 20Record breakersEasy
Which group had three UK Christmas No. 1s in a row, from 1996 to 1998?
Question 20 of 20SongwritersMedium
Alexandra Burke's 2008 UK Christmas No. 1 'Hallelujah' was a cover of a song written by whom?
Answer all 20 to see your score.
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- Which charity supergroup took 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' to the UK Christmas No. 1 spot in 1984? Band Aid
- Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' was released in 1984, but in which year did it first reach No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart? 2021
- Which novelty act claimed the 1993 UK Christmas No. 1, holding off Take That's 'Babe'? Mr Blobby
- Which song was the UK's first Christmas No. 1, in 1952, the year the UK Singles Chart began? Here in My Heart
- Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' came out in 1994. In which year did it first top the Billboard Hot 100? 2019
- In 2009, a Facebook campaign sent which band's 'Killing in the Name' to the UK Christmas No. 1 spot? Rage Against the Machine
- Which Queen single was the UK Christmas No. 1 in both 1975 and 1991? Bohemian Rhapsody
- Which single kept The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's 'Fairytale of New York' at No. 2 at Christmas 1987? Always on My Mind
- Which act set a record with five consecutive UK Christmas No. 1s, from 2018 to 2022? LadBaby
- Whose recording of Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas' is recognised by Guinness World Records as the best-selling physical single of all time? Bing Crosby
- Which band took 'Mull of Kintyre' to the UK Christmas No. 1 spot in 1977? Wings
- Which glam-rock band had the 1974 UK Christmas No. 1 with 'Lonely This Christmas'? Mud
- Who co-wrote 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' Bob Geldof and Midge Ure
- Which boy band's 'Stay Another Day' was the UK Christmas No. 1 in 1994? East 17
- How old was Brenda Lee when she recorded 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' in 1958? 13
- Which band had the 1973 UK Christmas No. 1 with 'Merry Xmas Everybody'? Slade
- Working with choirmaster Gareth Malone, which choir took 'Wherever You Are' to the 2011 UK Christmas No. 1? Military Wives
- Which singer co-wrote 'The Christmas Song' with Bob Wells in 1945? Mel Tormé
- Which group had three UK Christmas No. 1s in a row, from 1996 to 1998? Spice Girls
- Alexandra Burke's 2008 UK Christmas No. 1 'Hallelujah' was a cover of a song written by whom? Leonard Cohen
