Top of the Pops, 22nd December 2022

This close to Christmas, it's not that easy to find charting acts that are still extant. So thanks to Leona Lewis and Ariana Grande for dropping by for their annual festive performances. Earlier, it's a bit of a grime extravaganza as Headie One, Bugzy Malone and the Sidemen are clearly soundtracking their fair share of Christmas parties. And well done to SZA for three new entries this week, none of them obviously related to Christmas.

Wham! deservedly take over the holly-and-mistletoe crown from Mariah Carey.

Debuts: The Sidemen

SZA - Kill Bill / Nobody Gets Me

Highest New Entry - In at number 15 / In at number 27

Headie One - 50S

In at number 48

Bugzy Malone ft Teedee - Out Of Nowhere

Up 1 to number 27

Sidemen - Christmas Drillings

Up 17 to number 41

Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me

Up 2 to number 14

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

Up 1 to number 5

Leona Lewis - One More Sleep

Up 3 to number 31

Wham! - Last Christmas

Up 2 to number 1

PRESENTERS: Greg James dressed as Santa and Matt Edmondson dressed as an elf

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, 17th December 2020

With Christmas just over a week away, it's necessary to invite the self-appointed Mr Christmas Michael Buble on to the show to perform two of his deathless swing-music anthems. Peppier Christmas fare comes from Leona Lewis, Justin Bieber and throwback footage of Brenda Lee. But the big story, of course, is Mariah Carey finally making it to the top after all these years.

Non-tinselly material comes from Kid Laroi, The Weeknd and especially Ariana Grande, whose hows-your-father anthem makes the perfect antidote for anyone who needs it.

Debuts: Kid Laroi.

Leona Lewis - One More Sleep

Up 8 to number 25

Kid Laroi - Without You

Back in at number 23

Justin Bieber - Mistletoe

Up 7 to number 36

Ariana Grande - 34 + 35

Up 1 to number 9

The Weeknd - Blinding Lights

Long Runner - Up 7 to number 39 after 54 weeks

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

Up 4 to number 15

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

Up 6 to number 7 / Up 7 to number 30

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

Up 1 to number 1

PRESENTER: Bruce Willis, in character as John McClane

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, 21st December 2017

You can barely move for Christmas debris in the chart this week. Even what you might call second string Christmas hits like this week's From The Vault spot by Brenda Lee are breaching the top twenty. On top of Miss Lee, we get vaguely contemporary Christmas tunes from Ariana Grande and Leona Lewis, who after a few mulled wines are also persuaded to guest on a charming exclusive version of the Clean Bandit song).

All that December fun still leaves room for a newie from Not3s and the unholy Craig David/Bastille alliance. And we have a surprise on the Ed Sheeran song at number 1. Is it Beyonce? No, even better: friends of the show Little Mix join in for a lovely duet.

(That's it until after New Year now as the real life TOTP takes over. Merry Christmas!)

Debuts:Not3s.

Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me

Up 31 to number 29

Craig David ft. Bastille - I Know You

Up 1 to number 25

NF - Let You Down

Up 2 to number 11

Not3s - My Lover

Up 8 to number 40

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

Up 27 to number 15

Leona Lewis - One More Sleep

High Climber - Up 39 to number 36

Clean Bandit ft. Leona Lewis and Ariana Grande - Symphony

Up 22 to number 44

Ed Sheeran ft. Little Mix - Perfect

Second week at number 1

PRESENTER: James Masterton

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