Noddy Holding is vying for a second Christmas number one, decades after picking up the accolade with Slade. The 76-year-old first topped the charts in 1973 with Merry Xmas Everybody.
But Noddy has now spent this week recording his part of a new charity single. The singer narrates a diary entry by a First World War soldier after the Christmas Day truce of 1914, reports The Mirror.
It includes the lines: "The brutal war had stopped. There was no noise, no screams, just silence."
The reading will be laid over music produced by Brian Eno before a new Christmas single begins. The track is released by The Evamore Project for The Cancer Awareness Trust.
Noddy, possibly best remembered for his "It's Chriiiiiiiiistmas" shout in the festive classic, was keen to support a cancer cause after Slade bassist Jim Lea and drummer Don Powell have both battled the disease. Tony Colville, Managing Director of The Cancer Awareness Trust, told the Mirror they selected Noddy as he is "the voice of Christmas".
The new song is half of a double A-side record. Ozzy Osbourne also does a reading on the other track, in which two unnamed vocalists will sing.
Both singles will be on an album out next year. It will feature 50 stars including Glenn Close and Sinead O'Connor.
All the content of the songs comes from letters written by World War I soldiers. David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and The Lightning Seeds are also vying for the festive top spot with a sleigh bells-enhanced version of Three Lions.
The past four Christmas No. 1's have been charity singles by social media star Ladbaby. The latest was Sausage Rolls For Everyone, featuring Elton John and Ed Sheeran. For more information about Noddy's upcoming track and The Cancer Awareness Trust, visit thecancerplatform.com
