Students bidding to get Russ Abbot song Atmosphere to Christmas number one

University Radio Nottingham presenters George Scotland and Damian Stephen are making an "absurd" bid to get Abbot's novelty track 'Atmosphere' to the top spot ahead of heavyweight contenders like Liam Gallagher, Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande.

The duo says musician and comedian Abbot is fully behind the campaign to make his biggest hit single this year's festive number one, with all proceeds going to charity.

Atmosphere was released back in 1984 and peaked at number seven in the charts the following year.

George and Damian says there is no better way to end such a difficult year than getting a novelty pop song to Christmas number one.

They are urging as many people as possible to stream and download the song as much as they can between December 18 and Christmas Eve.

The song is currently 16/1 to take the top spot with Bet365 as the campaign begins to gather pace, with the song getting air time on BBC Radio Nottingham.

George said: "Russ Abbot and his family are fully behind our campaign and Russ Abbot himself will be making endorsement videos in the coming days for the final push to Christmas number one.

"The campaign is gaining real traction now on social media. It has been endorsed by the likes of Paul Chuckle, Scott Maslen and Alistair Griffin.

"There is a great positive momentum and energy behind this campaign. The absurd commitment of two plucky students in their mid-20s getting an uplifting cheesy novelty pop song by Russ Abbot of all people to Christmas number one is really catching on.

"Proceeds of this record will be going to charity which we will reveal soon. We are stressing people download this from Amazon from 0.99p or continue to stream of Spotify."

Abbot's grandson Laine Roberts has thanked everyone who has supported the campaign so far and said the family was right behind the boys.

He added: "They shouldn't know the song but they're absolutely loving it!"