Band Aid takes UK Christmas top spot

LONDON - The reworked Band Aid charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" has clinched the coveted Christmas number one spot in the UK.

As expected, Band Aid 20, a nod to the two decades that have passed since Bob Geldof assembled the leading pop stars for the 1984 smash hit record, clung on to the top spot beating off competition from Ronan Keating and pop queen Kylie Minogue.

Proceeds from the new Band Aid recording -- featuring vocals from stars such as Jamelia and Coldplay's Chris Martin and rap from Dizzee Rascal -- will go towards relief efforts in Ethiopia and Sudan.

Geldof welcomed the number one spot. "It's an excuse to think about someone else this Christmas," he told BBC radio. "Thank you very much everybody. What you have done is remarkable and important."

Bookmakers William Hill stopped taking bets on Band Aid taking the top Christmas spot two months ago and instead focused on the festive number two. The charity single has outsold Ronan and Kylie by five to one, William Hill said.

Despite missing the number one spot, Christmas came early for Irish heartthrob Ronan. His duet "Father and Son" with Yusuf Islam, who first recorded the song when he was known as Cat Stevens, went straight in at number two.

The melancholic remake pushed Kylie's typically upbeat "I Believe In You" down a spot to third, the Official UK Charts Company said on Sunday.

Rapper Ice Cube's "You Can Do It", featuring Mack 10 and MS Toi, also moved down a spot to fourth place.

Bo Selecta's double comedy charity single "Soda Pop/I've Got You Babe", featuring Patsy Kensit and Davina McCall, was one of three new entries in the top 10, going straight to number five.

Music veteran Morrissey's "I Have Forgiven Jesus" was also new at number ten.

But the man who has become a perennial feature on the festive charts, Cliff Richard, stayed outside the top 10. His ballad "I Cannot Give You My Love", entered at number 13.

The top spot on the Christmas album chart went to crooner Robbie Williams whose "Greatest Hits" was followed by opera quartet Il Divo. Irish rockers U2 were third with their "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" album.

- REUTERS