Top of the Pops, 14th December 2023

We're almost full Christmas this week, so the last Top of the Pops before Christmas looks more like TOTP2, with archive performances from the likes of Brenda Lee and Bobby Helms making up the bulk of the show. King Ed Sheeran, Queen Mariah Carey and (with a non-festive hit!) Taylor Swift do come into the studio, though - three pretty big names I think you'll agree.

Debuts: None

Ed Sheeran - Merry Christmas

Up 10 to number 7

Taylor Swift - You're Losing Me

Highest New Entry - In at number 20

Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock

Up 11 to number 9

The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York

Up 14 to number 4

Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

Up 8 to number 6

Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone

Up 15 to number 10

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

Up 4 to number 2

Wham! - Last Christmas

Up 4 to number 1

PRESENTERS: Olly Murs dressed as Father Christmas and Greg James dressed as an elf

Top of the Pops, 19th December 2019

With one week to go, the contenders for Christmas number 1 are manoeuvring into position, spearheaded by the mighty Stormzy and then Dua Lipa. Although it all presupposes that it's even possible to dislodge Tones & I, who is inching up the all-time list of long-running number 1s.

Also in the festive spirit (ie wearing Santa hats) are Leona Lewis, Lewis Capaldi and the highest new entrant Harry Styles. And britrap, the genre of 2019, is not forgotten thanks to Young T and Bugsey (as well as Stormzy of course).

Debuts: None

Leona Lewis - One More Sleep

High Climber - Up 14 to number 29

Harry Styles - Adore You

Highest New Entry - In at number 11

Lewis Capaldi - Someone You Loved

Up 7 to number 27

Stormzy ft. Burna Boy - Own It

Up 1 to number 2

Young T and Bugsey ft. Headie One - Don't Rush

Up 7 to number 30

From The Vault: Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York

Up 8 to number 14

Dua Lipa - Don't Start Now

Up 1 to number 3

Tones & I - Dance Monkey

Eleventh week at number 1

PRESENTERS: Mollie King dressed as Mary, Rylan dressed as Joseph and Matt Edmondson dressed as Baby Jesus

Top of the Pops, 20th December 2018

There are presents, snow and mince pies everywhere in the just-before-Christmas chart. Leona Lewis kicks us off with One More Sleep, and then there are wintery versions of the hits from Freya Ridings, George Ezra and Ellie Goulding.

Goulding also participates in this week's exclusive, joining Post Malone for a one-off duet on Sunflower. The Pogues get the From The Vault slot but no one can shift Ariana Grande from number 1 - can she cling on for another week?

Debuts: None

Leona Lewis - One More Sleep

High Climber - Up 14 to number 28

Freya Ridings - Lost Without You

Up 1 to number 12

George Ezra - Hold My Girl

Up 8 to number 25

Kodak Black ft. Travis Scott - Zeze

Up 2 to number 13

Ellie Goulding - Close To Me

Up 4 to number 17

From The Vault: The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York

Up 8 to number 10

Post Malone ft. Ellie Goulding - Sunflower

Up 7 to number 9

Ariana Grande - Thank U, Next

Sixth week at number 1

PRESENTERS: Mollie King dressed as Father Christmas and Matt Edmondson dressed as an elf

Top of the Pops, 14th December 2017

Christmas is getting close now. Not only is the chart gummed up with a slew of festive hits (we show the Pogues and Kirsty this week in all their glory), but the incorrigible Ed Sheeran has nipped into the number 1 spot with firm plans to stay there like he's snowed in. No Beyonce this week, but Ed is here to spread the cheer.

In between the mistletoe and wine, though, there is room for several new non-Christmas hits from RAYE, G-Eazy and even Ramz. Pink comes back with another double-header from her album, and of course we have the unstoppable energy of the X-Factor winners Rak-Su, complete with ebullient Wyclef cameo.

Debuts: Mr Eazi, Ramz, Rak-Su.

RAYE ft. Mr Eazi - Decline

Up 6 to number 28

Rak-Su ft. Naughty Boy and Wyclef Jean - Dimelo

Highest New Entry - In at number 2

Louis Tomlinson - Miss You

In at number 39

G-Eazy and Halsey - Him & I

In at number 49

From The Vault: The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York

High Climber - Up 45 to number 10

Ramz - Barking

In at number 41

Pink - Beautiful Trauma / What About Us

Up 25 to number 29 / Up 5 to number 31

Ed Sheeran - Perfect

Up 2 to number 1

PRESENTERS: Abs Breen and Richie Neville

Top of the Pops, 15th December 2016

The Christmas invasion has set in, so there is hot (or cold) competition for the From The Vault slot this week. Main billing is given to the Pogues but there's also room for clips of Wham!, Shakin' Stevens, Wizzard and others. A secondary effect of all these older songs climbing the chart is that we have to look a little lower down for current acts to invite, meaning that Charli XCX, John Legend and (wow!) Adele return to the show with tracks that have been in the lower part of the chart for a few weeks or longer.

Sean Paul is back with a rare lead artist credit, bringing Brits Critics' Choice nominee and burgeoning friend of the show Dua Lipa along with him. And then - why not? - the two of them stay on for another exclusive interpretation of Clean Bandit's now five-week number 1.

Debuts: Lil Yachty, Starley.

Zara Larsson - I Would Like

Up 33 to number 21

Charli XCX ft. Lil Yachty - After The Afterparty

Up 7 to number 34

John Legend - Love Me Now

Up 3 to number 30

Starley - Call On Me

Up 13 to number 45

Adele - Water Under The Bridge

Up 12 to number 49

From The Vault: Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl - Fairy Tale Of New York plus Xmas faves from Wham!, Shakin' Stevens, Wizzard, Band Aid and Chris Rea

High Climber - Up 50 to number 16 / Back in at numbers 19, 28, 37, 41 and 46

Sean Paul and Dua Lipa - No Lie / Blow Your Mind

Up 4 to number 48 / Up 5 to number 67

Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul and Dua Lipa - Rockabye

Fifth week at number 1

PRESENTERS: Olly Murs dressed as Father Christmas and Nick Grimshaw dressed as an elf

Top of the Pops, 17th December 2015

Christmas is coming on fast, the goose is bulking up alarmingly, and the Pogues are scaling the chart once again, earning their annual From The Vault slot. Meanwhile in the present day it's a week of consolidation on the chart, enabling us to re-feature some recent entries from Years & Years, Robin Shulz and friend of the show Jess Glynn.

The most special performance this week is a Major Lazer double bill, where Olly from Years & Years and our friend Jess both fill in for MO, taking the stage alongside new-hit guest vocalist Nyla. Bieber remains at number 1 but is not here in person so we get a montage of pics of his and Ed Sheeran's faces.

No TOTP next week because it will be Christmas Eve, too close to the special (and actually real) Christmas TOTP.

Debuts: 99 Souls, Bryn Christopher, Nyla

Years & Years - Eyes Shut

Up 6 to number 21

Robin Schulz ft. Yates - Sugar

Up 8 to number 28

Jess Glynne - Take Me Home

Up 1 to number 7

99 Souls - Girl Is Mine

Up 10 to number 23

Sigala ft. Bryn Christopher - Sweet Lovin'

High Climber - Up 65 to number 3

From The Vault: The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York

Up 38 to number 20

Major Lazer ft. Nyla, Olly Alexander and Jess Glynne - Lean On / Light It Up

Up 4 to number 39 / In at number 63

Justin Bieber - Love Yourself

Second week at number 1

PRESENTERS: Olly Murs dressed as Father Christmas and Nick Grimshaw dressed as an elf

Top of the Pops, 11th December 2014

TOTP is starting to take on a best of 2014 feel. The year's success stories Ed, Ella, Calvin, Ellie and 1D are all here, and two of those combine long-lived hits with newies this week. Also, she's been in the chart for aaaages but now is finally the time for the international artist of the year Taylor Swift to make it into the studio. Welcome, your majesty.

Newer faces come in the form of Blonde ft. Melissa Steel and the highest chart placing yet from Union J. And the Christmas lorry trucks on: this week it's the Pogues.

Debut: Blonde (but not Melissa Steel).

Union J - You Got It All

Highest New Entry - In at number 2

Blonde ft. Melissa Steel - I Loved You

In at number 7

One Direction - Night Changes

Up 2 to number 19

Calvin Harris ft. Ellie Goulding - Outside

Up 1 to number 10

Ella Henderson - Yours / Ghost

Back in at number 16 / Up 6 to number 43

From the Vault: The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York

Up 49 places to number 18

Taylor Swift - Blank Space

Up 4 to number 4

Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud / Make It Rain

Up 3 to number 1 / In at number 38

PRESENTERS: Olly Murs dressed as Father Christmas and Nick Grimshaw dressed as an elf

Top of the Pops, 19th December 2013

A show of two halves. We open with the new and up-and-coming hits of the week, including a beaming Pharrell, and then the Christmas fun kicks in with three seasonal delights. It's tinsel all the way from here, viewers.

Jessie J - Thunder 

Up 13 to number 18

Chase and Status ft. Jacob Banks - Alive

Up 20 to number 28

Awolnation - Sail

Up 3 to number 20

Jason Derulo - Trumpets

Up 5 to number 7

Pharrell Williams - Happy

Up 26 to number 4

From the Vault: The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York

Up 1 to number 15

Leona Lewis - One More Sleep

High Climber - Up 31 to number 3

Lily Allen - Somewhere Only We Know

Third week at number 1

PRESENTERS: Olly Murs dressed as Father Christmas and Nick Grimshaw dressed as an elf