LadBaby say it's been 'surreal' working with Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John for fourth Christmas song
By ITV Central Production Journalist George Hancorn
LadBaby is aiming to top the charts at Christmas for a fourth year in a row - with the help of Elton John and Ed Sheeran.
The pair were previously nominated for a Pride of Britain award after raising more than £200k for food banks with their previous Christmas singles.
Their new song is called 'Sausage Rolls for Everyone'.
The track is a light-hearted spin on Ed Sheeran and Elton John's latest Christmas song, called 'Merry Christmas Everyone'.
YouTube stars Mark Hoyle and wife Roxanne say "It’s been quite a surreal few months but it’s been incredible that they [Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John] understood what we were trying to do and how we are trying to raise money for the Trussel Trust and the food banks in the UK.
"They were willing to come along, get dressed up, sing silly lines and eat sausage rolls!”
All of the proceeds made from the song will go towards the Trussel Trust charity which helps more than 14 million people living in poverty across the UK.
Watch LadBaby's new Christmas single featuring Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John
The comic-duo from Nottingham say they're going to keep working as hard as they can to get that number one spot for Christmas.
And if they do, it could mean that they overtake the Spice Girls and Beatles as the act with the most consecutive Christmas number ones.
The pair took the coveted Number One spot back in 2018 with their hit 'We built this city... on Sausage Rolls'.
They then made it two years in a row by releasing 'I love Sausage Rolls' in 2019.
Then, their song 'Don't Stop Me Eatin', which is an ode to Journey's 1981 hit, put them in some pretty impressive company last year.
The pair join The Beatles and The Spice Girls as groups that have landed three Christmas Number Ones in a row.
Now they're aiming for a fourth with some impressive talent alongside them.
Mark and Roxanne say it's been a crazy few years but are grateful for all of the support.
The Hoyles made the announcement on Instagram - with over 12 million fans in total online waiting with bated breath.
Chart-topper Ed Sheeran reached out to Ladbaby online offering support for their charity appeal - and between them a plan was hatched for this momentous Christmas number one attempt.
In a video on the page, Elton John said "It's time to bring back some Christmas magic with the power of sausage rolls!"
Mark and Roxanne said: “It’s been a crazy few years and it’s down to the amazing people who’ve supported us.
"We just try and bring something out that’s a lot of fun and makes everyone want to smile. We want families getting together having a little sing song, something to laugh about at Christmas."
They added: "We approached Ed and Elton with an idea to do something that had never been done: to combine the music world with the social media world and join forces to make a difference to the people in the UK that need it most!
"Ed and Elton are pop royalty and they’ve both had huge success at Christmas, so we’re honoured and excited to be coming together to help families this Christmas and bring back some true Christmas spirit with the power of sausage rolls!"
The pair made the announcement on YouTube alongside chart-topper Ed Sheeran.
Ed Sheeran - who approached the pair about the track - said, “I’m proud to be supporting and featuring on LadBaby’s very fun rework of Merry Christmas. All profits will be donated to The Trussell Trust which is a very wonderful and important charity, so make sure you stream it, buy it and play it on repeat x”
Data from the Trussell Trust, showed food banks in its network distributed 935,749 emergency food parcels in the six months to the end of September.
That’s more than 5,000 packages a day - with food banks braced to meet an increase in demand of around 7,000-a-day this month as temperatures plummet and families face an impossible decision between“eating or heating” in the run-up to Christmas, they say.
Emma Revie, Chief Executive Officer at the Trussell Trust said:
“We are so grateful to LadBaby for their incredible support for a fourth year running – not only does it mean we can support food banks to provide vital emergency support, but it helps us work in the longer term towards a future where no one needs a food bank. Thank you.”
The LadBaby family has been on a (sausage) roll over the last few years.
Last year they became the third act in UK chart history, after The Beatles and the Spice Girls, to score three straight Christmas number one singles. Don't Stop Me Eatin' ' a pastry take on Journey's Don't Stop Believin' followed by 2018's ‘We Built This City’ ; and 2019's ‘I Love Sausage Rolls’.