Sam Ryder hopes 'Fairytale of New York' beats him for the UK's Christmas Number One

Eurovision star, Sam Ryder is in the running for this year’s Christmas Number One spot with his single ‘You’re Christmas to Me’, taken from the film Your Christmas or Mine 2 which is only available via Amazon Music.

Ryder joins The Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York' featuring Kirsty MacColl, which has been climbing the charts since Shane MacGowan's death. Fans have been rallying to get the Christmas classic on the top of the UK charts in his honour. It peaked at the second spot in 1987 after its release.

The Pogues icon died peacefully on November 30, with his wife and family by his side.

‘Fairytale of New York’ rose to Number Four this week, behind Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’. As well as Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas is You’ and Jack Harlow’s ‘Lovin' on Me’. Sam Ryder currently sits at Number 12 in this week's UK Singles Chart with ‘You’re Christmas to Me’.

In an interview with the Daily Star, Ryder said that he too would love to see ‘Fairytale’ come out on top: “I’ve got love in my heart for the ‘Fairytale of New York’ situation,” he said. “That’s never got to Number One and that would be a gorgeous moment, especially now Shane MacGowan’s left us.”

He continued, “There’s a lot of tragedy wrapped up in that song – two gorgeous voices no longer with us and taken too soon. That’s me taking a lovely romantic view on it.”

MacGowan’s widow Victoria Mary Clarke would also be glad to see ‘Fairytale’ finally reach the top spot in the UK. “very much in favour” of the track topping the charts. “It would be nice, wouldn’t it?” she said. “It should be the Christmas number one. It absolutely should.”

Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill were joined by members of The Pogues in a version of the song at Shane MacGowan's funeral in Tipperary on December 8.