Hertfordshire's Wham! fans tell of Christmas number one 'elation'

Fans of Wham! say they are "elated" that the single Last Christmas has finally reached Christmas number one.

The song reached number two when it was released in 1984 and has been number one in recent years, but never at Christmas.

Steve Stunt, of the George Michael Appreciation Society of Bushey, said it was "a brilliant, poignant posthumous gift for George".

Michael died on Christmas Day 2016 at the age of 53.

He formed Wham! in the 1980s with Andrew Ridgeley after the pair met at Bushey Meads School sixth-form in Hertfordshire.

Last Christmas was written by George Michael in his childhood bedroom in February 1984, "and as far as I was concerned it was a number one", he told Smash Hits in 1986.

Inspiration struck out of the blue, while the singer was hanging out at his parents' house in Hertfordshire.

Tracey Wills, who founded the appreciation society, said: "Because George passed at Christmas, it is quite an emotional thing for the song to be number one.

"George will be looking down on us all and be very happy."

Mr Stunt has been a "lifelong fan" of Wham! and said he was "slightly devastated" when Last Christmas didn't get to number one in 1984.

"There was good reason of course, because of Band Aid, but we deserve this," he said.

"We've got to be the most patient fans for waiting 39 years."

He said the news brought mixed emotions for fans, adding: "It is touching - and there will be elation."

"It's a big moment," said Wham! member Andrew Ridgeley. "It's an extraordinary achievement."

When asked if anything special goes into writing a Christmas song, Ridgeley said: "That's the magic. It's very difficult to identify quite what it is."

He said Last Christmas managed to "distil the essence of Christmas" in an audio sense.

Ms Wills said the song was huge during her childhood.

"Last Christmas was always on the radio, at school parties, supermarket - to me it's the Christmas tune," she said.

"This news is huge for the appreciation society. We've pushed and pushed for it to be number one.

"It's the best Christmas ever."

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