As always, bids for the title of Christmas number one have come from far and wide in the name of charity. Kirsty Weakley counts down some of the favourites.
Sam Bailey 'Skyscraper' for Great Ormond Street Hospital and Together for Short Lives
X Factor winner Sam Bailey’s debut single looks like a shoe-in for the Christmas number one spot, selling nearly double the nearest rival at the midway point according to statistics released yesterday by the Offical Charts Company. Syco is splitting its profits (at least £1 for each CD and 20 for each digital download) equally between the two charities, continuing its tradition of releasing the winner’s single for charity.
The Big Reunion 'I Wish it Could be Christmas Every' day for Text Santa charities
For fellow children of the 1990s what could be a better early Christmas present than B*witched, 5ive, Blue, 911 and Liberty X and Atomic Kitten all in one room singing festive songs?
It's part of ITV’s annual Text Santa appeal, which this year is raising money for Age UK, Barnardo’s, Beatbullying, British Heart Foundation, Clic Sargent, and Help the Hospices. Texting 66010 costs £1.50 plus standard message rate. Net proceeds after production costs will go to Text Santa.
Susan Boyle 'O Come All Ye Faithful' for Save the Children
Proceeds of Susan Boyle’s version of the traditional Yuletide carol will go to Save the Children. Syco will donate 100 per cent of its profits from the sale of each CD single. This will be at least £1 for each CD sold in the UK and at least 20p for each download sold in the UK.
The Killers 'Christmas in LA' ft Dawes for Project Red
US rock band The Killers has continued its tradition of a Christmas charity song with the release of 'Christmas in LA' (featuring Dawes) for the Project Red campaign which fights Aids in Africa. It is the band's eighth consecutive charity single.
Alan Fletcher 'If You Want a Happy Christmas' for Blue September
Alan Fletcher (aka Karl Kennedy from Neighbours) has become somewhat of a cult hero for UK students and can regularly be found gigging at universities. He is donating his share of the worldwide sales of 'If You Want a Happy Christmas' to cancer research charity Blue September.
Rebecca Newman 'Wonderful Dream' for NSPCC and the Melanie Thornton Foundation
Soprano singer Rebecca Newman is donating 10p from each download of her version of 'Wonderful Dream (holidays are coming)' – the theme tune to CocaCola’s iconic Christmas advert – to ChildLine which is part of NSPCC. Sales of the song will also raise money for the Melanie Thornton Foundation, which was set up following the singer’s death in a plane crash in 2001 and supports children’s arts education projects.
Overtones 'Smile' for Operation Smile
Overtones' charity single for Operation Smile (free cleft lip removal surgery) Rwanda appeal is a cover of Nat King Cole’s 1950s classic 'Smile'. The group is donating 100 per cent of the profits and aims to raise £56,000. The five-piece harmony group decided to make the record after visiting one of the charity's medical projects in Rwanda.
Jai McDowell 'Won't Forget' for the Clutha Appeal
Britain’s Got Talent winner Jai McDowell has leant his voice to this track raising money for the victims of the Clutha helicopter crash. Written by former PC Paul Keenan, it features four policemen from Police Scotland as well as Jai McDowall. It has already entered the top-20 on iTunes.
Jack Topping 'Tomorrow' for Save the Children
The 11-year old Catholic choirboy from Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir is Save the Children’s youngest-ever ambassador. Sales from Jack Topping’s version of 'Tomorrow' will raise money for Save the Children. At least 40p from the sale of physical copies and 50p from each digital version will go to the charity with Jack aiming to raise £15,000.
David Ireland 'A Good Old-Fashioned Christmas' for the Big Issue Foundation
Musician David Ireland is hoping that his latest single will remind people to think of others over the festive period. 20 per cent of all sales and royalties from 'A Good Old-Fashioned Christmas' will go to the Big Issue Foundation.
