The Story of the Christmas No. 1 with Marc Burrows

Join us on the 12th day of Christmas for The Story of the Christmas No. 1 with Marc Burrows, who will be discussing questions like why does being No. 1 in the singles chart at Christmas make headlines, even now? Why do we return to the same songs every year? What makes it such a uniquely British phenomenon, and why do we care? And why is it seen as so ubiquitous and so relatable to the audience that it’s literally a plot point in Love Actually? This event will be at The Heath Bookshop.

Marc Burrows explores the peculiarly British cultural phenomenon of the Christmas singles chart. The festive top spot was something that, prior to 1973, wasn’t particularly important but has since become a cornerstone of the December news cycle and, for years, an annual cultural moment … that may have reached the end of its life.

He traces the origins of the concept, through the Beatles and the- years-when-it-wasn’t-really-a-thing, the Glam rock boom, Band Aid, novelty records, the X-Factor years and the awful Sausage Roll charity records of the 2020s. This exploration is supported by interviews with figures involved in some of the most iconic hits and notable chart battles of the past half century and obsessive, in-depth research. He explores the sometimes fascinating and sometimes weird and unlikely stories behind some of the most beloved (and some of the most utterly loathed) songs in British musical history.

The Story of the Christmas No. 1 is more than just a nostalgic music book. It subtly explores pop culture and social history, examining our relationship with Christmas, how our national identity is reflected in the music we listen to together, and how the music industry has changed. It also reveals how the Christmas No. 1 reflects the current social reality of today and how technology and culture have reshaped the way music is consumed.

Marc Burrows is an award-winning author, comedian and musician, currently residing in Bristol. His 2020 biography of Sir Terry Pratchett won the Locus Award for best non-fiction and became the basis for a stand-up show that received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe and

has toured extensively across the UK. His second book, The London Boys, explored 1960s London through the lives of the teenage David Bowie and Marc Bolan and received 8/10 from Classic Rock and four stars from Shindig! He plays bass in the cult punk band The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing, writes regularly for The Independent, Big Issue, The New Statesmen and many more and is working on a novel and a new stand up show. He is generally quite tired. His last book, NIRVANA: A detailed guide to the band that changed everything was published in November 2024.

We look forward to seeing you.

Catherine & Claire