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The song has been storming up the charts and could tonight finally be crowned number one when the official chart positions are announced at 6pm.
Fans are calling for The Fairytale of New York to become the Christmas Number One after Shane MacGowan's death - an achievement that could earn The Pogues £500,000 in royalties.
MacGowan, 65, died on Thursday after an eight-year battle with a brain condition; chart data suggests The Pogues' Christmas hit is well on its way to reaching number one in tribute.
The Irish band's duet with Kirsty MacColl is at number 18 in this week's Official UK Top 40, compiled by Official Charts, up 35 places from number 53. Earlier in the week it was at number 23.
Fairytale of New York was already the favourite to hit number one as fans rallied around the Pogues frontman during his fight with viral encephalitis, a life-threatening condition affecting the brain.