New BBC Two documentary tells the story of Wham's Last Christmas as iconic festive hit turns 40
A new documentary marking 40 years of Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' is set to air this December.
The 40th anniversary of Wham!'s festive classic 'Last Christmas' is set to be celebrated with the hour-long documentary, 'WHAM!: Last Christmas Unwrapped'.
Set to air on BBC Two in December, the film will see Wham!'s Andrew Ridgeley, 61, return to Saas-Fee in Switzerland, where he and the late George Michael famously filmed the iconic music video for the 1984 Yuletide classic.
George - who died on Christmas Day in 2016 - will make an appearance through archive footage and photographs.
The mayor of Saas-Fee, who drove the pair around on the snowy set, will also be interviewed, as will the duo's backing singers Pepsi DeMacque-Crockett and Shirlie Kemp of Pepsi and Shirlie fame.
Celebrities including Bob Geldof, Mary J Blige, Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant, and Sam Smith will also appear to discuss the enduring success of the beloved hit.
'Last Christmas' spent five consecutive weeks at number two in the UK singles chart, and was held off the top spot at Christmas by Geldof's Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', which also featured George.
The song eventually reached number one in the UK Singles Chart on New Year's Day 2021, more than 36 years after its initial release.
The tune has been covered by many artists over the years, including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Billie Piper, and even CGI-animated amphibian and Eurodance icon Crazy Frog.
Andrew said: “It’s a privilege, 40 years on, to be able to have this opportunity to celebrate WHAM!’s wonderful and enduring musical homage to Christmas and I’m absolutely thrilled that WHAM! in partnership with The BBC will present this joyful and touching tribute to the nation this Christmas. Christmas was a special time of year for George and Christmas songs were a special type of song for him too and that was why he considered writing a Christmas classic one of the great achievements of his career. Only he will ever know quite what inspired him to such dizzying heights, but his songwriting genius led him to distil the quintessential essence of Christmas into a song whose breadth of appeal spans the generations. Revisiting Saas Fee, four decades on, with some of the closest friends of my youth was a very special experience and one which I know Yog would have loved to have shared in.”
George Michael Entertainment commented: “Last Christmas remains as iconic today as it was 40 years ago, continuing to capture the essence of Christmas with the same magic and emotion. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the song, a true testament to George Michael’s songwriting brilliance. A timeless holiday classic, it holds a place among the greatest Christmas songs ever written, resonating with listeners of all ages and inspiring new generations today as it did 40 years ago. As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we are proud to be involved in this heartfelt tribute to the song, the video, and those involved. It offers fans the chance to relive the magic and gain fresh insight into the making of this beloved masterpiece, allowing us to share its enduring legacy with the public and fans around the world.”
Jonathan Rothery, Head of Commissioning, BBC Pop Music TV, added: “Last Christmas is a flawless festive song that has stood the test of time. I’m delighted that the BBC is celebrating its 40th anniversary, who doesn’t want to spend an hour in the winter wonderland of WHAM! with George, Andrew, Pepsi and Shirlie?”
