Sam Ryder has "played 26 shows in 6 days" in the race for Christmas Number 1

Now that the race for the most UK chart-topper of the year - Christmas Number 1 - is moving into the final 24 hours, Sam Ryder is really pulling out the big guns of promo for one last push. 

With a special appearance on BBC Radio 1's Breakfast show with Greg James this morning to assist Greg on a bespoke Live Lounge with Ricky, Melvin and Charlie, Sam was asked about the sterling efforts he's made across the entire month to help push his Amazon Music Original, You're Christmas To Me, to Christmas Number 1, which will be revealed live on BBC Radio 1's Official Chart with Jack Saunders tomorrow, Friday 22 December from 4pm. 

Revealing that he's played 26 shows in the last 6 days across the country, there has been no other act this year as dedicated to getting his song out there than our Sam, that's for sure.

MORE: Why Sam Ryder is a contender for Christmas Number 1 2023

Sam has certainly been spreading the festive joy far and wide throughout December, and has been popping up all around the place; playing special fan gigs in London, personal appearances in towns and shopping centres, showing his face across many TV shows like BBC Breakfast and This Morning. 

Speaking to Greg about the Christmas Number 1 race in more detail, Sam admitted that even though he "loved" You're Christmas To Me when he first wrote it, its place in this year's Christmas Number 1 race has surprised him. 

"When December rolled round it just when into [the Official Singles Chart]," Sam said. "And it's just so cool. It's bonkers. I think it's really important to set a precedent for new artists coming through with new [Christmas] classics.

"[You've] got to make sure the work is good and not passively promoting a song. Get out there and do it! It takes big, optimistic boots on the ground."

When will 2023's Official Christmas Number 1 single be announced?

The Official Christmas Number 1 race 2023 kicked off Friday December 15, the final cut-off for sales and streams to count is midnight (11.59pm) on Thursday, December 21. So whoever you're backing, get behind your favourites before then.

Tune in to The Official Chart on BBC Radio 1 on Friday December 22 from 4pm to hear the Christmas Top 40 countdown and the exclusive reveal of the Official Christmas Number 1 2023.

The full Top 100 Official Christmas Singles Chart and Albums Chart will be published on OfficialCharts.com from 5.45pm.

Join the Official Charts mailing list and opt in to Breaking News alerts, we'll keep you tipped on the Christmas Number 1 race and music's biggest breaking stories as they happen! 

Keep up with all our Christmas Number 1 news and features here and join the conversation over on social media now using the hashtag #XmasNo1. Follow @OfficialCharts on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.