Military Wives become Xmas Number One - Sky News Australia

Updated: 03:58, Monday December 26, 2011

British choir The Military Wives have stormed to the top of the charts and taken the Christmas Number One spot.

Their single Wherever You Are sold 556,000 copies in the last week - more than the rest of the top 12 combined.

The group was formed by Gareth Malone for the BBC programme The Choir, which ended with the women performing at the Royal Albert Hall.

Their song knocked X Factor winners Little Mix off the top of the charts, selling five times as many as the girl group since its release.

Proceeds from the single are being donated to the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA).

Malone said: 'This is so surreal. Who would have guessed in those first rehearsals that we could take Christmas Number 1?

'It's testament to the Military Wives' hard work and the nation's support of them, as well as the power of choral singing. It's a winning combination.'

Choir member Emma Williams, 33, who was celebrating Christmas with her husband Staff Sergeant Gavin Williams, said: 'It's absolutely fantastic.

'I can't believe that I can actually sit here on Christmas day and say I've got a single out that is number 1, and what a brilliant Christmas for our two charities, the British Legion and SSAFA. It feels unreal.

'It just feels like it is happening to someone else and you see yourselves on the television or the children are watching you sing the song on television and they're like 'Mummy, Mummy, it's you, it's you'. It's just unbelievable.'

Kelly Leonard, who is married to RAF flight sergeant Andy, added: 'It's really surreal and I don't think it has really sunk in yet so yes, it's pretty amazing, actually. Just the thought of being able to tell my grandkids I had a Christmas number one, it's a bit scary really.'

Wherever You Are has become the fastest-selling single since Alexandra Burke's Hallelujah sold 576,000 in its first week in December 2008.

It is the seventh biggest selling single since electronic records began in 1994, according to the Official Charts Company.

The song combines a poem compiled from letters to and from servicemen and their wives, with music composed by royal wedding composer Paul Mealor.

He said: 'This is truly unbelievable. Never, when I sat down to compose this song, did I imagine it could get Christmas Number One and touch so many people's hearts.

'The support we have all received has been overwhelming. The Military Wives now have a voice that no one for evermore, will ever underestimate. Blessings to Gareth, The Wives, and all our supporters, wherever you are.'

Official Charts Company managing director Martin Talbot said: 'To have achieved more than 500,000 sales in a week without the backing of a vast promotional operation over many weeks, like X Factor, is truly remarkable.

'It is hard to think of a more deserving winner in 60 years of Christmas Number Ones. Their victory should prompt all of us to think of the many wives and families of servicemen who are not home this Christmas.'