This is thestory of a national obsession: the annual race for the festive chart crown, andwhat it reveals about British culture, identity, and the ever-changing musicindustry. From TheBeatles to glam rock, from Do They Know It's Christmas? to reality-TV winners,novelty records, charity campaigns and viral streaming sensations, Marc Burrowsuncovers the fascinating, funny and occasionally absurd stories behind thesongs we love—and love to argue about. New for the 2026 edition: the full story of KylieMinogue's triumphant Christmas Number 1! Released through Amazon, Kylie'sgloriously camp XMAS ended the recent dominance of charitysingles and perennial festive classics to secure her first-ever Christmaschart-topper, becoming the first female artist to score UK Number Onesingles across four different decades. But what does it tell us about hitsin the streaming age, and the deals with the devil you need to do to securethem?Packedwith chart battles, cultural curiosities, festive controversies andenough music trivia to fill Santa's sack, this updated edition bringsthe story of Britain's most peculiar annual sporting event bang up-to-date. "An essential guide for those of us who hate orindeed love this annual struggle for artistic commercial dominance. It willanswer some questions, settle some arguments, but I sense, will start many more."  From the Foreword by Phill Jupitus"A hugely entertaining romp through six decades ofmusic trivia ????"   Classic Pop Magazine"The biographer of hip unwraps his pen to sprinkleglitter upon the fading tradition of the festive chart-topper and crafts theultimate gift for everyone, aged 8 to 80. This sleighs."  Billy Reeves, BBC Radio LondonThis edition now includes the remarkable storyof how XMAS became the Christmas No. 1 of 2025!