Ed Sheeran and Elton John face strong competition in the race for the first Christmas hit

Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John have released their highly anticipated Christmas single, featuring sleigh bells, festive lyrics and a music video featuring a cast of famous friends.

UK proceeds from “Merry Christmas” during this year’s holiday season will go to Sheeran’s Suffolk Music Foundation and the Elton John Aids Foundation.

Both have experience in preparing festive hits.

Sheeran secured the first Christmas hit of 2017 with “Perfect,” while Sir Elton’s 1973 hit “Step Into Christmas” has returned to the top 10 in the past two years.

As the duo enters the race, here are the other contenders for this year's Christmas number one hit.

– Adele

Numerous tracks from the London-raised pop superstar’s latest album “30” are still selling well weeks after their release.

The number one single “Easy On Me” as well as the tracks “Oh My God” and “I Drink Wine” compete for the Christmas number one spot.

– LadBaby

Video blogger Mark Hoyle and his wife Roxanne have secured the top spot for the past three years with their sausage roll-themed musical parodies, and although they have not yet announced a candidacy for 2021, they remain the bookies' favourites.

– Gary Barlow and Sheridan Smith

The former Take That star and the Olivier Award-winning actress and singer teamed up for the first time for Barlow's Crooner Sessions in lockdown.

Now they have released a festive duet called “How Christmas Is Supposed To Be,” accompanied by a video of them unwrapping presents and singing together at a white piano.

The song comes from Barlow's first Christmas album, 'The Dream Of Christmas', and he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his former bandmate Robbie Williams, who topped the charts with his own Christmas record in 2019.

– Abba

The Swedish superstars could crown their comeback with a Christmas number one.

At the beginning of the year, Agnetha Faltskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad came together again to release their first album “Voyage” in almost 40 years.

It contains the track “Little Things,” which is about the joy of Christmas morning.

With a children's choir and the support of Sir Ian McKellen, the song could be a contender for the top spot.

– Craig Revel Horwood and Rietta Austin

An unexpected participant in the race is Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood.

The dancer and choreographer, known for her dark mood, teamed up with her close friend and Strictly Live singer Rietta Austin for the song “It's Christmas, Merry Christmas!”

The title was co-written with Nik Page, who played the role of Jean Valjean in the West End production of Les Misérables.

– Gypsy Pistoleros

The flamenco-influenced punk band's cover of “Livin' La Vida Loca” was backed by Jon Morter, who also led the successful campaign that prevented X Factor winner Joe McElderry from scoring a number one hit at Christmas.

Instead, “Killing In The Name” by Rage Against The Machine took the top spot in 2009.

Gypsy Pistoleros hope to achieve the same feat with this new campaign, with all proceeds going to the housing and homeless charity Shelter.

– Olivia Dean

Rising star Olivia Dean enters the race with a cover of the Christmas standard “The Christmas Song,” made famous by Nat King Cole and recorded as part of an Amazon session.