X Factor rejoins race for Christmas number one single
- Published
Matt Cardle was the last X Factor winner to have a Christmas number one
The winner of this year's X Factor will release their song in time to be in the running for the Christmas number one spot in the Official Singles Chart.
The Official Charts Company has announced the single will be released on Monday 16 December, a day after the contest's final.
The Christmas number one will then be revealed the following Sunday on 22 December.
The TV show has avoided the festive chart battle for the past two years.
2011 winners Little Mix and 2012 winner James Arthur both reached number one but were knocked off the top spot the week before Christmas.
Joe McElderry was beaten to the top spot by Rage Against The Machine in 2009
That was because both singles were released two weeks before the Christmas number one was revealed.
Little Mix were overtaken in 2011 by The Military Wives' song Wherever You Are.
In 2012 James Arthur was beaten by The Justice Collective's Hillsborough fundraising song He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.
In 2009, Joe McElderry was beaten to number one by an anti-X Factor track, Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine.
Also in the running for this year's Christmas top spot are 11-year-old choirboy Jack Topping and Britain's Got Talent finalists Richard & Adam.
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