If you were around in 1973, you might remember Noddy Holder and the Slade boys releasing “Merry Christmas Everybody”. I don’t, as I was born 5 years later. But every Christmas since then this song and a select few others (Fairytale of New York by The Pogues, Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin’ Stevens etc) have been the soundtrack to my festive season.

Isn’t it strange that since these songs were written there has been very little in the way of decent Christmas songs that have captured the imagination. The Killers tried. The Darkness tried. Many X Factor failures have tried. But no songs have appeared since the late 80s/early 90’s that have broken into the Christmas CD monopoly. And that’s sad, in a way only Santa on Boxing Day can appreciate.

So here’s a suggestion. In the film About a Boy (2002), Hugh Grant played Will Freeman, who’s dad wrote a famous Christmas song and this has allowed him to live comfortably from the royalties ever since. Considering the lack of creditable alternatives, would it be that much of a stretch to believe that the unappreciated actor who played a dick of a guy and is the son of another guy with some musical DNA could create the next great tune of the Christmas songbook? Could it be worse than Bob the Builder? Could Hugh Grant fix this Christmas tragedy?

• Writing and Musings