There's more than one battle for a Christmas Number 1

This Sunday, the gold medal will be awarded to the owner of the Christmas Number 1 single. If you’re an entertainer then this is serious kudos. If you’re their record label, this is serious cash. There are some other serious battles being contested too, so we’re putting our necks on the line here: these are the hotly fought battles and our predicted winners. Reckon you can beat our predictions? Do you? Go on then – let us know where you disagree with us…

Round 1 :: Christmas Number 1 Single
James Arthur, Impossible v. The Justice Collective, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

According to The Official Charts Company, this is the tightest battle for the Christmas Number 1 EVER! Based on the first 3 days of sales data, they say that the Hillsborough tribute single, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, has taken a very marginal lead over James Arthur. So marginal, you could barely separate the two with a rizla (we think) as James Arthur has sold 106,300 so far this week, being pipped by The Justice Collection’s sales of 109,700. Exciting heh?!
Prediction: The Justice Collective, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother will be the Christmas Number 1 Single


Round 2 :: Christmas Number 1 Computer Game
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 v. Fifa 13

Our shortlist of the final 2 contenders could be controversial in itself, because whilst Black Ops 2 is currently Number 1, Fifa 13 is in the No. 3 spot. That’s because the current holder of the No.2 spot, Hitman Absolution, is in that position thanks to a price promotion. Black Ops 2 has been in the Number 1 position for 5 consecutive weeks, and we just can’t see anything knocking it off its perch. It’s obviously a ruddy good game that one, so we may even be brave as to hand Call of Duty its Christmas Number 1 medal now.
Prediction: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will be the Christmas Number 1 Computer Game


Round 3 :: Christmas Number 1 Sport Video
London 2012 Olympic Games v. Ryder Cup 2012, Official Film

The final-day heroics of Team Europe in the Ryder Cup were something else, but there’s only one winner here. London 2012 is currently in the No.1 spot, the Ryder Cup is in the No.2 spot, and it’s going to stay that way up until Christmas. 2012 hasn’t been a European year – t’s been a thoroughly British year. End of. Next.
Prediction: London 2012 Olympic Games will be the Christmas Number 1 Sport Video


Round 4 :: Christmas Number 1 Album
Emile Sande, Our Version of Events v. Michael Buble, Christmas

This isn’t a controversial shortlist on the face of, but when you see that neither of these albums are currently in the Top 2 then it does appear a little more controversial. Let me explain. Emile Sande was in the No.1 spot way back in Feb, and has been in the Top 10 for 45 weeks. That’s pretty impressive we’d say. Combine that with the all-round Christmas Cheese of the Buble and you get our shortlist.
Prediction: Emile Sande’s Our Version of Events will be the Christmas Number 1 Album


Round 5 :: Christmas Number 1 Video Movie
Ice Age 4 – Continental Drift v. The Dark Knight Rises

Ooooo, tricky one this. Really is. The Dark Knight Rises has already been in the Number 1 spot, but Continental Drift recently entered the charts and went straight to the top position, pushing The Dark Knight Rises down to the No.2 spot which it currently holds. Our gut says that Continental Drift is a far more Chirstmassy film than The Dark Knight Rises, and that it’ll manage to hold the top spot for one more week to take the Christmas Number 1 crown.
Prediction: The Dark Knight Rises will be the Christmas Number 1 Video Movie


Round 6 :: Christmas Number 1 Biography
My Time by Bradley Wiggins v. Is It Just Me? By Miranda Hart

Right. This is probably our toughest call yet, believe it or not. Miranda has been No.1 for a few weeks now and has been in the Top 10 for 9 weeks. Bradley however, is currently sitting in the No.2 spot, the same position as he held the previous week, and has only been in the Top 10 for 5 weeks. All of this would point to Miranda being handed the Gold medal, but we think Wiggo’s recent performance, both with his bike and guitar, may have judged nosed him ahead.
Prediction: My Time by Bradley Wiggins will be the Christmas Number 1 Biography


Round 7 :: Christmas Number 1 Cinema Film
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey v. Nativity 2, Danger In The Manger!

We haven’t deliberately done this, but we’ve handed ourselves an easy finisher here. Actually, the tricky bit is picking who will finish number 2 as opposed to who the winner will be. The Hobbit took £11.6m at the box office in it’s opening weekend, with the second-placed Rise of the Guardians grossing only £1.25 million. The Hobbit will clearly storm away to take stand on top of the podium, and we’re predicting that Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! Will move from it’s current No.3 position into No.2 due to it’s Xmas theme, and the fact it’s already so close, having grossed £0.94m last weekend.
Prediction: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be the Christmas Number 1 Cinema Film

Author: Ben Reynolds