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Culture Music News George Michael’s family ‘overjoyed’ that Wham! song ‘Last Christmas’ has reached No 1 Andrew Ridgeley said he was ‘somewhat amazed’
Georgie Michael dies aged 53 Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
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Your support makes all the difference. Close Read more George Michael ’s family have expressed delight at the news of Wham! classic “Last Christmas” reaching No 1 in the charts.
The 1984 hit, by Michael and Andrew Ridgeley , has topped the UK singles chart for the first time, more than three decades after it was first released.
It was streamed 9.2 million times over the last week, knocking LadBaby's “Don't Stop Me Eating” off the stop spot.
In a statement, Michael’s family said they were “overjoyed”. They added: “After such a difficult 2020 for all of us and at the time of year that was so special to George we are so grateful to everyone who made this possible and know how much it would have meant to him.”
Ridgeley said he was "somewhat amazed" the record had now reached number one.
He said he was "delighted" and "profoundly pleased" at the news, "albeit 36 years after its first release which is, perhaps more than anything, a testament to its timeless appeal and charm".
"It is a fitting tribute to George's song-writing genius and one of which he would have been immensely proud and utterly thrilled," Ridgeley added.
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