Shane MacGowan's widow says Fairytale of New York should be Christmas number one

13 December 2023 , 21:34

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Recently departed: Shane MacGowan (Image: Getty Images)

Christmas is the time for fairytales, and this year could finally see The Pogues become festive No1 after the death of Shane MacGowan.

Fairytale of New York – which peaked at No2 in the UK in 1997 – is 5/4 to reach the coveted spot amid a fans’ campaign. The singer’s widow Victoria Mary Clarke said: “It would be nice, wouldn’t it? It should be the Christmas number one. It absolutely should.”

Proceeds from a 7in vinyl single will benefit the Dublin Simon Community, a charity the couple loved and supported – and the vinyl sales could see them overtake current favourite, TikTok’s Creator Universe, who are covering Wizzard’s 1973 hit I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday in aid of The Trussell Trust.

Joss Stone and the Lorraine show’s breast cancer survivors Change + Check choir are in the running with Golden, and Wham! and Mariah Carey are tipped to chart highly, as they do every year.

Emma Kilkenny, of the Dublin Simon Community, said Shane’s performance at the charity’s pandemic Christmas Busk recording was a “truly magical memory”.

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The race kicks off tomorrow, with the Christmas No1 revealed next Friday.

Ashleigh Rainbird