Military Wives claim Christmas number one
Military Wives The Military Wives topped the festive chart on Christmas Day selling over half a million copies in one week.
The track has now sold more than the rest of the top 12 combined.
The group were put together by choirmaster Gareth Malone on BBC 2's The Choir and is made up from women whose families are deployed in Afghanistan. Proceeds from sales of the single will go to The Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association (SSAFA).
Gareth Malone, the Military Wives' choirmaster told The Official Charts Company: "This is so surreal. Who would have guessed in those first rehearsals that we could take Christmas number one? It's testament to the Military Wives' hard work and the nation's support of them as well as the power of choral singing.
"It's a winning combination – a Christmas number one winning combination! Thank you to the British public for supporting The Royal British Legion and SSAFA Forces Help by buying this single."
The track is made up from poems compiled from letters sent and received from servicemen and their wives.
Composer Paul Mealor said: "Never, when I sat down to compose this song, did I imagine it could get Christmas number one and touch so many people's hearts. The support we have all received has been overwhelming. Blessings to Gareth, The Wives, and all our supporters, wherever you are!"
Little Mix's Cannonball drops from top spot to number two while Lou Monte's Dominick The Donkey makes third place. YouTube sensation Alex Day enters the chart in fourth place with Forever Yours. Coldplay's Paradise makes up the top five.
Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit reached 11 with sales of over 30,000. Stacey Solomon's Driving Home For Christmas debuts at 27 and The Cast of TOWIE's take on Last Christmas reaches 33.
