Justin Bieber: Strange things happen at Christmas

The time of year so magical that you find yourself applauding Justin Bieber:

so for 1 week it's ok not to be #1. Let's do the right thing & help them win. It's Christmas. @Choir_NHS good luck https://t.co/ORCtFY1k4i

— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 23, 2015

When Justin Bieber is, effectively, standing next to you to tell Jeremy Hunt to go screw himself, you can only applaud Bieber.

Whoever saw that coming, though?

(Apparently, bookies have now stopped taking bets on the number one, as they think Justin's tweet will have swung it.)

Ben Haenow is the Christmas Number One

A few minutes ago, Ben Haenow was named the Christmas Number One, just seven days after winning The X Factor and four days after slipping into obscurity.

Ben Whohe hit number one with a cover of a One Republic song, in a year when nobody could even summon up the energy to be that bothered about The X Factor taking the Christmas Number One slot.

It's believed the letter officially dropping him from Syco has been delayed in the Christmas mail.

Gary Barlow learns a hard lesson

A sharp Twitterslap to the side of the head has taught Gary Barlow what he should have known: you treat Carol Decker with the respect she deserves.

He'd slagged off T'pau's version of China In Your Hands after one of the inmates on X Factors did a caterwauling cover of it:

The Take That star said he preferred Devlin’s version because it was “in tune”.

Decker responded on Twitter, asking Barlow what his problem was and saying: “I actually have perfect pitch [an innate ability to stay in tune].”

She also swore at him and aimed an insult at his music, saying: “I had to suffer a Take That concert for the sake of my kids this summer.”

Barlow sort-of apologised.

But one thing more: mysteriously, Decker's invite to appear on Xtra Factors on ITV2 was dropped.

It looks like Barlow is happy to dish it out but not man enough to take it.

Luckily, you can send a message by making China In Your Hand the Christmas number one.