The musical is already getting rave reviews
A song penned by McFly vocalist Tom Fletcher for Paddington The Musical has been backed to claim this year’s Christmas number one spot. A fresh rendition of One Of Us, performed by Fletcher, hit the shelves on Friday and sits amongst the bookmakers’ top picks for the festive chart crown.
Martin Talbot, chief executive of The Official Charts Company, remarked: “A Christmas number one race isn’t complete without the arrival on the starting blocks of a bona fide legend. The vision of Paddington taking on this year’s diverse gaggle of new festive chart contenders, alongside seasonal classics from The Pogues, Mariah (Carey) and Wham!, will be something to savour.”
The track comes with a music video showcasing Michael Bond’s beloved bear at Paddington Station alongside the singer. In the West End production, the number is performed by Mrs Brown, portrayed by Amy Ellen Richardson, with the show currently in previews at the Savoy Theatre.
Additional contenders for the Christmas number one crown include Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran and Sabrina Carpenter.
Children’s characters who have previously conquered the festive peak of the UK singles chart include Mr Blobby, who dominated in 1993, and Bob The Builder, who seized the summit in 2000 with Can We Fix It?
A complete album featuring music from Paddington The Musical, composed by Fletcher, is set for release by Decca in March 2026, with a vinyl edition of the record following in May. This follows the Prince and Princess of Wales meeting Paddington Bear backstage at the Royal Variety Performance on Wednesday evening, where they also met the McFly star.
William praised Fletcher’s performance of the new musical as “fantastic”, before gesturing towards the marmalade sandwich clutched in the bear’s paw and remarking: “Your sandwich looks very nice.” Paddington has maintained ties with the Royal family since appearing alongside the late Queen Elizabeth II in a memorable sketch for her platinum jubilee celebrations in 2022, during which Her Majesty famously revealed she stored marmalade sandwiches in her handbag.
The beloved character finds itself at the centre of a legal dispute between Spitting Image creators Avalon and rights holders StudioCanal, who are demanding that a “frightening” puppet they claim bears resemblance to Paddington be either destroyed or handed over to them.
First appearing in print in 1958, Paddington has enjoyed numerous adaptations throughout the decades, including a BBC television series in 1976 featuring the voice of the late Sir Michael Hordern.
The character has enjoyed recent cinema success with films released in 2014, 2017 and 2024 – all of which proved popular with audiences at the box office.
Looking for more from MyLondon? Subscribe to our daily newsletters here for the latest and greatest updates from across London.
