MJ Hibbett & The Validators have thanked everyone who helped them to achieve their aim of NOT getting to Christmas Number One this year.
"We're especially excited," said MJ Hibbett, "because, with the possible exception of Simon Cowell, we're the only group whose Christmas Number One campaign was in any way successful!"
The campaign began a few weeks ago when the band decided NOT to try and get their Christmas single The 29th Day Of December to the top of the charts. "So many people try for the Christmas Number One these days that it's become boring", said violinist Tom 'The Tiger' McClure. "We decided to go the other way - and succeeded!"
The 29th Day Of December was accompanied by a stop-motion animation which has similarly managed not to top the YouTube charts. "That wasn't part of our original intention", says drummer Tim Pattison, "but it's a nice extra Christmas present for all of us."
The advantages of the band's victory are many. Just this morning bass player Frankie Machine didn't have to get up extra early to appear on Daybreak to talk about it. Singer Emma Pattison, meanwhile, didn't have to cancel an appearance on The Andrew Marr show when her flight home was delayed by snow. "Being stuck in an airport was stressful enough", she remarked by telephone, "without having to reschedule TV appearances!"
