Top of the Pops, 16th December 2021

One may have doubted whether it was possible, but the charts are even more Christmassy this week than they were last week. Elton and Ed are of course number 1, and the parade of festive faves has a pretty long tail: even though a lot of them are by oldies who aren't necessarily available to come on the show, we can delve down and find Leona Lewis and Camila Cabello to bring the Christmas cheer.

And fair play to D-Block Europe, SZA and ABBA for having hits with songs that aren't so Christmas-adjacent. D-Block do have their Santa hats on.

Debuts: None

D-Block Europe ft Central Cee and AJ Tracey - Overseas / Make You Smile

Up 1 to number 11 / In at number 42

ABBA - Little Things

In at number 61

SZA - I Hate U

Highest New Entry - In at number 38

Camila Cabello - I'll Be Home For Christmas

Up 11 to number 48

Leona Lewis - One More Sleep

Up 16 to number 31

From The Vault: Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Up 18 to number 20

Elton John - Step Into Christmas

Up 14 to number 16

Ed Sheeran and Elton John - Merry Christmas

Straight in at number 1

PRESENTER: Jools Holland

Top of the Pops, 9th December 2021

This is the point where the charts really go Christmas crazy, so well done to GAYLE for almost making the very top with her decidedly un-Christmassy debut single. What a chart story that would have been, but number 2 is still a big deal and very well deserved. Congratulations also to Imagine Dragons and indeed Ed Sheeran for managing small chart climbs against the rising tide of sherry and trifle.

In festive news, we welcome new-for-this-year tracks from George Ezra and Olivia Dean, and invite self-appointed Mr Christmas Michael Buble to delight us with a medley of three of his American-style faves. It's Brenda Lee's turn in the From The Vault slot, and Adele hangs on to the top spot for now at least.

Debuts: Olivia Dean

Imagine Dragons ft JID - Enemy

Up 6 to number 34

GAYLE - ABCDEFU

Up 12 to number 2

Ed Sheeran - Overpass Graffiti

Up 1 to number 9

Olivia Dean - The Christmas Song

In at number 46

George Ezra - Come On Home For Christmas

In at number 36

From The Vault: Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

Up 36 to number 22

Michael Buble - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas / Holly Jolly Christmas / The Christmas Sweater

Up 29 to number 20 / Back in at number 52 / In at number 74

Adele - Easy On Me

Seventh week at number 1

PRESENTER: Brian Harvey in the outfit from the Stay Another Day video

Top of the Pops, 2nd December 2021

The Adele album is out, and she is good enough to give us a bit of the top three tracks from it to close the show this week. Between that and the sudden onset of Christmas music, current chart climbers are few and far between, which gives Lost Frequencies a chance to get on the show after seven weeks in the lower reaches. 

Friend of the show Anne-Marie and Niall Horan have a nice new entry with the Children In Need song, and D-Block Europe hit their highest chart placing to date. Justin Bieber and especially Imagine Dragons are featured for the first time in a while. And we have a very special in-person Mariah Carey performance with a couple of guest stars.

Debuts: JID, James Corden

Lost Frequencies ft Calum Scott - Where Are You Now

Up 11 to number 39

Anne-Marie and Niall Horan - Everywhere

In at number 23

Dermot Kennedy - Better Days

Up 2 to number 21

D-Block Europe ft Central Cee - Overseas

In at number 8

Justin Bieber - Ghost

Up 3 to number 29

Imagine Dragons ft JID - Enemy

Up 26 to number 40

Mariah Carey with James Corden and Paul McCartney - All I Want For Christmas Is You

High Climber - Up 20 to number 24

Adele - Easy On Me / Oh My God / I Drink Wine

Sixth week at number 1 / Highest New Entry - In at number 2 / In at number 4

PRESENTERS: Greg James dressed as Father Christmas and Jordan North and Vick Hope dressed as elves