The race for the Christmas No. 1 is heating up as Paddington’s involvement joins seasonal favorites from The Pogues, Mariah Carey, and Wham!, with Fletcher’s track viewed as a genuine contender.

Taylor Swift has two songs in contention, Opalite and Elizabeth Taylor from her October 2025 album The Life Of A Showgirl, while Denise Welch competes with the hyperpop single Slayyy Bells.

In the Paddington musical, the song is performed by Mrs Brown, played by Amy Ellen Richardson, with preview performances ongoing at the Savoy Theatre.

Welch previously supported Swift during Healy’s relationship with Swift in 2023, but their dynamic cooled after the romance ended, including Welch’s remarks about not being Swift’s mother-in-law and the ensuing tension.

The backstory includes The Tortured Poets Department (April 2024), with fans and critics interpreting it as detailing Swift‑Healy history through tracks like 'Guilty as Sin?' and 'The Black Dog.'

London music-video chatter mentions a possible Swift shoot in Croydon and maps listing London filming locations.

Wicked’s theme, featuring Erivo and Grande, is framed as a strong seasonal entry due to its emotional resonance and the musical’s cultural footprint.

Tom Fletcher wrote the Paddington musical’s music, with an album due in March 2026, while McFly members Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd attended workshops and showed support.

Background notes highlight Laura Monks’s recognition in Music Week’s Women In Music Awards and related Decca/UMG UK collaborations.

Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department (2024) is believed to reference Healy, adding to the publicized history as the chart race unfolds.

The piece blends artist bios, track specifics, charity angles, and chart-race logistics in an upbeat, anticipatory tone.

A National Rail sign in the Paddington theme reads 'Spreading joy and marmalade to all,' tying into the festive context.