This week's new single, album and DVD releases - December 18, 2015

This week's new releases is a Christmas special, given that Friday, December 18 officially marks the start of the race for the 2015 Christmas Number 1! 

So who's in contention for the crown? We've included all the songs that artists, charities and Facebook campaigners who are driving their followers to download and stream this week, all of which you can read about in more detail here. 

MORE: Remind yourself of Every Christmas Number 1 ever

Songs hoping to go all the way this Christmas include A Bridge Over You by the NHS Choir (read our interview with the campaigners here), Blake and Shirley Bassey's The Christmas Song, and Military Wives' 500 Miles. The latter topped the Official Christmas Chart back in 2011 with Wherever You Are. Can they repeat the trick this year?

Meanwhile, could British MC Stormzy claim this year's festive chart crown? His campaign to get Shut Up to Number 1 is already off to a flying start this week. Or could Star Wars top the Official Singles Chart as well as the box office chart? A drive to get the iconic theme to Number 1 has a huge following on Facebook. At this stage, it's all to play for.

MORE: Test you festive chart knowledge with our Official Charts Christmas quiz

A bit of detail: sales and streams of songs between 00.01am on Friday, December 18 and midnight on Thursday, December 24 will count towards the 2015 Official Christmas Singles Chart. The Official Christmas Singles Chart Top 40 will be counted down on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart Show with Greg James between 10am - 1pm on Friday, December 25, and will also be revealed on BBC One's Top of the Pops. You can also follow all the action on Twitter with the hashtag #XmasNo1. 

On your marks, get set... GO!

Click here to check out the full list of songs and albums out this week