Justin Bieber congratulates NHS Choir to UK Christmas number one

By Park Sae-jin Posted : December 31, 2015, 09:06 Updated : December 30, 2015, 17:42

The NHS Choir has beaten pop heavyweight Justin Bieber to secure the UK’s Official Christmas Number 1.

The Lewisham and Greenwich group's charity single A Bridge Over You claimed the top spot, in what was the closest chart battle since 2009 when Rage Against The Machine beat X Factor star, Joe McElderry.

The choir overtook Bieber after he had urged his 72 million Twitter followers to buy the charity single.

Altogether the choir amassed combined chart sales of over 127,000 copies while Bieber’s song Love Yourself notched up sales of 97,000.

The two songs had been switching back and forth between the number one spot all week, with the choir taking an early lead before Justin Bieber took over.

In a message to his 72 million Twitter followers earlier this week, Bieber said: “I'm hearing this UK Christmas race is close, but the NHS Choir single is for charity. So for one week it's OK not to be number one. Let's do the right thing and help them win. It's Christmas. This is what it's all about. Merry Christmas.”

Bieber still holds a strong chart presence with three of his songs placing in the second, third and fifth positions in the charts.

Another singer celebrating festive success is Adele, who has scored the biggest-selling album of Christmas week for 2015.

Her album, 25, has already made chart history and now holds the top spot for the fifth week running.

Official Charts Company chief executive Martin Talbot said: "What a fantastic result for the NHS Choir to claim the 2015 Christmas number one.

"There will be thousands of NHS staff across the country working through Christmas Day while the rest of the nation is putting its feet up - this success is for them. There couldn't be a more deserving group of winners."

By Ruchi Singh
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