'Fairytale Of New York' tipped for Christmas number one

The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's 'Fairytale Of New York' is set to challenge The X Factor's bid for the seasonal number one in the UK this year.

The Irish classic, which only reached number two when it was released in 1987, is predicted to move into the top 10 this weekend.

An internet campaign has also been launched on social networking sites to get it to number one.

'The X Factor' winner has been hot favourite to take the festive top spot, thanks to a guaranteed fanbase from the ITV show.

But music experts believe that the downloading of old classics to play at Christmas parties could influence who lands the number one placing.

Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' is number 13 in the midweek charts and is expected to get into the top 10 in the coming days.

Downloads of Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas', Wizard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday', and Slade's 'Merry Christmas Everybody' are all in the top 20.

But Eva Cassidy and Katie Melua's duet, 'What A Wonderful World', is also being tipped as a serious challenger to 'The X Factor' for the Christmas number one.

The charity single is backed by Radio 2 breakfast DJ Terry Wogan and is expected to knock Leona Lewis off the top of the charts this Sunday.

Welsh warbler Rhydian is tipped to win Saturday night's 'X Factor' final, against brother and sister duo Same Difference and Leon Jackson.

The X Factor winner will be battling for the top spot with a cover of the Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston duet 'When You Believe'.

HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said: "It might well be close this Christmas. A lot of people are downloading old favourites for their Christmas parties.

"If the campaigning takes off Kirsty MacColl could be number one. 'Fairytale of New York' never made it the first time, so it would be amazing if it could do it 20 years on."