What happened to the novelty Christmas No1?

From Robbie Williams to Gabrielle Aplin, the seasonal charts have taken a serious turn this yearDecember used to be silly season for the charts. The Christmas Top 40 was home to the wacky (Mr Blobby), the weird (Mike Flowers Pops) and Cliff Richard. But in recent years there has been a swerve away from the novelty Crimbo hit towards something noticeably more maudlin. From charity songs such as The Military Wives' Wherever You Are to self-important power-ballads from X Factor victors, the top end...

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