X Factor to bow out of the Christmas chart battle

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Page last updated at 06:07 GMT, Wednesday, 14 November 2012

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By Natalie Jamieson
Newsbeat entertainment reporter X Factor judges Tulisa, Louis and Nicole with presenter Dermot O'Leary

The X Factor is taking itself out of this year's race for Christmas number one, Newsbeat has learnt.

It's thought the show will hold its final on 9 December, a fortnight before the Christmas chart will be announced.

Traditionally The X Factor has wrapped up the week before the Christmas singles chart, to maximise potential for reaching the festive top spot.

Last year Christmas Day fell on a Sunday, with the TV show ending earlier than past years.

Christmas run

In 2011 winners Little Mix got to number one with their cover of Cannonball on their first week of release, but couldn't hold on to the top spot on 25 December when the Military Wives claimed top spot.

It's been confirmed that The X Factor production teams are working towards the earlier dates for the show ending this year, although ITV would not reveal the final schedule until nearer the time.

Rage Against The Machine beat Joe McElderry to the Christmas number one

The X Factor had an unbroken run of topping the Christmas chart from its second series in 2005 when Shayne Ward won, until 2008 when Alexandra Burke had a Christmas number one single with Hallelujah.

In 2009 though, an online campaign started by Jon Morter was successful in ending the festive chart predictability by getting Rage Against the Machine to number one instead of X Factor winner Joe McElderry.

The TV show triumphed the following year with Matt Cardle's cover of Biffy Clyro's Many of Horror (renamed When We Collide).

It lost out again last year when the power of the Military Wives and choir leader Gareth Malone proved unstoppable.

Martin Talbot, managing director of the official charts company, said: "Last year, it meant that Little Mix's debut single Cannonball had its strongest week before the battle for festive Number one was underway - letting in the Military Wives with Wherever You Are.

"But with rumours that the X Factor finalists' single is also due to be a charity single, that could help it sustain through a second week and right into Christmas - if they get the song and the charitable cause right."

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