Last Christmas by Wham! in the running for festive Number One to commemorate George Michael

Wham! festive hit Last Christmas is in the running to be this year’s Christmas number one to commemorate George Michael.

The campaign to get the classic tune to the top spot is being backed by band member Andrew Ridgeley to remember the superstar who died on Christmas day last year.

Despite its popularity and enduring appeal, Last Christmas has never been number one since its release in 1984.

Currently it is in third place in the running behind Eminem and Ed Sheeran, the Official Charts Company said.

Sheeran is the front runner in the race to the top position, followed by Eminem who is also a contender for the 2017 festive chart-topper.

British singer-songwriter's single Perfect is just ahead of River, a new entry from Eminem, which also features Sheeran.

The countdown for the top spot kicked off on Friday and ends at midnight on Thursday December 21.

The figures are based on pre-orders and early sales data up to midnight on Friday night.

It comes after Sheeran scored a charts double with a number one single, Perfect, and a number one album, Divide.

Other singles include AC/DC's For Those About To Rock (We Salute You), at 22, following a fan campaign in remembrance of band member Malcolm Young, who died last month.

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe's all-star charity single Bring Me Sunshine is currently at 37, and Ralph McTell's Streets Of London, reworked with Annie Lennox and the Crisis Choir to raise money to support thousands of people facing homelessness, is at 41.

Sheeran's track Perfect has been released in lots of different guises, including with Beyonce and most recently with Andrea Bocelli, but all the versions count towards his front-running position.

The Christmas top 40 will be counted down on The Official Chart on BBC Radio 1 on Friday December 22 from 4pm.