The Pogues anti-Christmas Christmas anthem is in a race to the coveted top spot on the UK Christmas number 1 charts this year.

The beloved Pogues song will take on stiff competition if the form of Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' and Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas', festive classics.

Fairytale of New York has never reached the top spot in the UK charts, since its release in 1987. The track peaked at number two in the year of its release but lost out on the elusive Christmas number one spot to the Pet Shop Boys' 'Always on My Mind'.

However, the track did top the charts in Ireland that year, taking the number 1 spot in Christmas 1987.

'Last Christmas' by pop duo Wham!, is currently on course to take the coveted UK Chart's top spot next Friday after climbing four spaces, according to the Official Chart Company.

However in the words of the Official Chart Company Wham!'s projection of Christmas number 1 is 'Not a done deal' as Mariah Carey's beloved classic 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' is less than 1,500 chart units behind at the moment.

The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl’s Fairytale of New York is also in with a chance of the top spot this week, as fans campaign to get the track to Number 1 for the first time ever following the death of Shane MacGowan. The track currently holds the number 3 spot.

Fairytale of New York has seen a surge up the charts following the death of Shane MacGowan, rising 15 places since last week to claim the third spot.

Fairytale of New York has appeared in the UK Christmas top 40 every year since 2005 but has never reached the top spot, according to the Official Charts Company.

Speaking on BBC Radio Four, Victoria Mary Clarke- the wife of the late Shane MacGowan said of the possibility of the track securing the Christmas number 1 spot 'It would be nice wouldn't it? It should be number 1. It absolutely should".

The UK Christmas number one is set to be announced on 22 December live on BBC Radio 1's The Official Chart show.

The Pogues icon died peacefully at home on  November 30, with his wife and family by his side. The funeral of Shane MacGowan is to be held in his home county of Tipperary on Friday the 8th of December.