George Michael’s Christmas Song Makes History With UK’s Christmas Number One Spot, 40 Years On

Boy George has written that he’s “never gonna be friends” with Janet Jackson, calling her “unfriendly” in his new memoir, Karma: The Definitive Autobiography.The Culture Club singer, whose autobiography was released in November 2023, wrote about his first encounter with contemporary Janet Jackson. The pair met backstage while taping an episode for the American music variety show, Solid Gold, in 1983.Recounting that he approached her “without [his] face on”, George stated that Jackson did not return his congeniality.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Tracy Hurley Martin — co-founder and CEO of the Morbid Anatomy Museum, comedy booking agent, film producer and publicist for Prince, George Michael, Depeche Mode, the Cure and others — has died following a two-year battle with cancer, her brother in law Michael Pagnotta confirmed to Variety. She was 53. She is survived by her husband of 20 years, Depeche Mode/ Yaz/ Erasure cofounder Vince Clarke (pictured above with her in 2016); a son, Oscar; a niece, Isabelle Pagnotta; and her identical twin sister, author and screenwriter Tonya Hurley. Clarke’s Erasure bandmate Andy Bell posted a tribute to Martin on social media: “There are no words.

official press release posted to the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group and shared on Cruise’s social channels, the deal is a partnership marks a return to WB for Cruise, who has worked with the studio on the likes of Edge of Tomorrow, Rock of Ages, The Last Samurai, Eyes Wide Shut, Interview with the Vampire, Risky Business, The Outsiders, and New Line’s Magnolia.Co-Chairs and CEOs Michael De Luca & Pam Abdy said in the release: “We are thrilled to be working with Tom, an absolute legend in the film industry. Our vision, from day one, has been to rebuild this iconic studio to the heights of its glory days, and, in fact, when we first sat down with David Zaslav to talk about joining the Warner Bros. Discovery team, he said to us, ‘We are on a mission to bring Warner Bros. back – we have the best resources, storytelling IP, and talent in the business – and we need to bring Tom Cruise back to Warner Bros!’ Today, that becomes a reality and we are one step closer to achieving our ambition. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Tom back to Warner Bros. and look forward to bringing more of his genius to life on screen in the years ahead.”Cruise added: “I have great respect and admiration for David, Pam, Mike, and the entire team at Warner Bros. Discovery and their commitment to movies, movie fans, and the theatrical experience. I look forward to making great movies together!”Cruise is currently hard at work on the second part of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning which is housed over at Paramount.When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.@ THN - The Hollywood News 2023

Lily Gladstone is a winner!

The Golden Globes kicked off the 2024 awards season with a bang, honoring the best in film and television. One of the most anticipated categories was Best Actress in a Motion Picture-Drama, which featured several powerhouse performances over the past year. In the end, the Golden Globes awarded the honor to Lily Gladstone makes history as the first Indigenous woman to receive the award in the show’s 81 year history for her transformative portrayal in Martin Scorsese drama Killers of the Flower Moon.

Elton John has unveiled his favourite festive songs of 2023.The legendary singer-songwriter shared his selection as part of a Christmas edition of his Rocket Hour show on Apple Music.The list included his own 1973 festive hit ‘Step Into Christmas’ along with seasonal songs and covers by Elvis, RAYE and Phoebe Bridgers.Taking to his official Instagram account, ahead of the show he wrote: “It’s the Rocket Hour Christmas Special! This year I have selected an eclectic mix of old and new, ranging festive classics from The Ronettes, Elvis Presley and Greg Lake, to some of my favourite new Christmas songs and covers from contemporary artists including RAYE, Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens, as well as some lesser-known deep cuts.

Shane MacGowan’s widow Victoria Mary Clarke has reacted to the news that The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale of New York’ was beaten to Christmas Number One by Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’. Writing on X, she posted a link to the George Michael/Andrew Ridgeley track and said: “I love Wham!!! We loved George.” Wham! claimed the top spot on Friday (December 22), finally landing the coveted Christmas Number One for the first time after 39 years. I love ❤️ Wham!!! We loved George ❤️ Wham! – Last Christmas (Official Video) https://t.co/k1nrzqC8X3 via @YouTube— @victoriamary (@Victoriamary) December 24, 2023It made history as having the longest-ever journey to the UK Christmas Number One, after being held off the top on its original release in 1984 by Band Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’.

Denise Welch was praised by fans when she shared that she spent Christmas with her ex-husband, Tim Healy. The Loose Women star showed a fun video where Tim was playing table football, while Denise's husband Lincoln Townley was looking on and chuckling.

Nearly 40 years after it topped the UK Christmas pop chart and made millions of pounds for charity, Band Aid’s charity anthem has come under fresh fire for its lyrics, which critics say perpetuate racist and patronising stereotypes of African people.

Now that it is finally here, people all over Scotland will be enjoying spending Christmas Day with their nearest and dearest. And while you are going through your usual festive rituals and traditions, take a moment to think what the end of the year would be like with no Christmas.

The King and the rest of the Royal Family are set to return to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk this Christmas and will take part in many of the fun and unique traditions that they enjoy year in, year out. Among these quirks that set members of the Firm apart from many of us in the UK are how they open their presents on Christmas Eve and buy one another joke gifts.

Thanks to her early appearances in the show The Newcomers and much-loved movie The Railway Children, Jenny Agutter has been on our TV and cinema screens for almost 60 years. But these days she’s most famous for her role as Sister Julienne in Call The Midwife. What started out as a one-off series in 2012 has spanned over a decade.

Wham! have earned the Christmas Number One with their iconic holiday hit ‘Last Christmas’ after attempting to land the spot for 39 years.The track was penned and produced by the late George Michael with the aim of landing the Christmas Number One in 1984. However, ‘Last Christmas’ was kept off the top spot upon release by Band-Aid’s ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’, a track that would go on to become the second best-selling single of all time.Today, almost four decades later, ‘Last Christmas’ has earned the festive top spot.

Wham! have secured the Christmas 2023 number one single with Last Christmas, having missed out on the title for 39 years. The pop duo, comprised of the late George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, landed the top UK chart spots for their first and second albums and also found success with a number of hits – including Last Christmas in December 1984.

Michelle Monaghan is reflecting on her unconventional honeymoon.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Darlene Love‘s annual television performance of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” was essentially orphaned after “Late Show With David Letterman” went off the air in 2015, putting an end to the 28-year streak that had the music legend singing her signature holiday song with Paul Shaffer‘s band on Letterman’s last original show before Christmas each December. But they all reunited — not over the air, but on YouTube — for a resumption of the tradition, nine years after the last time this particular caroling took place on CBS. Watch the video, below.

NME about how her campaign is about “how climate change affects us all”.Louise Harris released the stirring ‘We Tried’ in November, with the track already having topped the UK iTunes singles chart. Broadcaster Chris Packham has got behind her bid for a Christmas hit, while iconic musician and producer Brian Eno describing the song as “a powerful weapon”.Harris, 25, from Hertfordshire, was arrested after performing the track at a peaceful protest outside Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s home at the end of November.

Wham! taking the lead for the peak position on the charts.The news follows a neck-and-neck race between the iconic ‘80s pop duo Wham! And Eurovision star Sam Ryder over the past week, with their respective songs ‘Last Christmas’ [1986] and ‘You’re Christmas To Me’ [2023].At the first look at the race last week, just 42 chart units stood between the two taking the top spot on the UK charts, however, this week it has been revealed by the Official Charts that Wham! are in pole position, and have widened the gap between Ryder’s Amazon Music original track – which remains at Number Two.However, it doesn’t seem likely that the charts will stay this way until Christmas, with Ryder set to play a fan-exclusive gig tonight (December 19) in Shoreditch, London, in a push to promote the song in time for Christmas Day.Similarly, today (December 19) The Pogues are sharing a special, limited-edition physical run of their own iconic Christmas song ‘Fairytale Of New York’ in a push to climb the charts.Originally released in 1988 and featuring Kirsty MacColl, the track is being reissued in memory of the band’s late singer Shane MacGowan, who died “peacefully” in hospital from pneumonia on November 30. He was 65 years old and his funeral took place in Nenagh, County Tipperary on December 8.All proceeds from the reissue will be donated to the Irish charity Dublin Simon Community, and the release also arrived alongside a fan campaign to get Fairytale of New York to Christmas Number 1 for the first time.The push for the top position on the charts has also been endorsed by Shane MacGowan’s widow, Victoria Mary Clarke.

Simon Cowell left viewers stunned on Sunday night [17 December] as he made his annual appearance at The Royal Variety Performance 2023.Taking to the stage the Britain's Got Talent judge, 64 was quickly compared to the late iconic pop star George Michael. Near the start of the star-studded show, which was attended by Prince William and Kate Middleton, Simon joined Bradley Walsh on stage to introduce this year’s winner of Britain’s Got Talent, Viggo Venn. For the occasion, the TV star donned a smart black suit and a pair of orange-tinted sunglasses.

Christmas card after several eagle-eyed royal watchers noticed that Prince Louis, 5, is missing a middle finger. “A Christmas photo released by the royal family features a bad Photoshop job where Prince Louis’ finger appears to be missing,” “Weekend Update” co-anchor Colin Jost said Saturday.“And this is sweet,” added Jost, 41. “Meghan Markle said she has a finger they can use if they need it.” The punchline was met with a loud outburst of laughter, forcing Jost to crack a grin.