Fairytale Of New York voted best 80s duet by Radio 2 listeners

Updated August 1, 2025 - 11:40 am

BBC Radio 2 listeners have crowned Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl as their favourite duet of the 1980s.

The 1987 festive classic topped a public vote which invited listeners to select up to five of their favourite 80s duets.

Second place went to Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie (1981), while Islands In The Stream by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers (1983) placed third.

The full Top 40 countdown, hosted by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, is available now on BBC Sounds. A two-hour special of the Top 30 will be broadcast on Radio 2 on Saturday 9 August from 1–3pm. The programme forms part of the station’s Radio 2 Loves the 80s season.

Songwriter Jem Finer said: “A huge thank you from us to the Radio 2 listeners for voting Fairytale Of New York your ultimate 80s duet.

“It took about three years of endless revisions before we successfully recorded it with Kirsty MacColl and it became the version you know now. Thanks for listening.”

The celebration of 80s music continues throughout August across Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. Highlights include Don’t You Forget About Me: The Accidental 80s Anthem (Sunday 3 August), featuring Jo Whiley, Jim Kerr and K.T. Tunstall; and Ultimate 80s: Live! (Sunday 9 August, 8–10pm), with Gary Davies and the BBC Concert Orchestra performing iconic 80s hits live from Malta.

Also available on BBC Sounds are new episodes of Dance Sounds of the 80s and programmes like The Story of the 12” Single, Sounds of 1985 – 40 Years On and Live Aid: The Fans’ Story.

The full top 40 as voted for by listeners is:

1 The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl – Fairytale Of New York
2 Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure
3 Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers – Islands In The Stream
4 Aretha Franklin & George Michael – I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
5 Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush – Don’t Give Up
6 Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe – Barcelona
7 Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life
8 Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield – What Have I Done To Deserve This
9 The Communards & Sarah Jane Morris – Don’t Leave Me This Way
10 Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson – I Know Him So Well
11 Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan – Especially For You
12 Meat Loaf & Cher – Dead Ringer For Love
13 David Bowie & Mick Jagger – Dancing In The Street
14 Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes – Up Where We Belong
15 Philip Bailey & Phil Collins – Easy Lover
16 Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin – Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves
17 Marc Almond & Gene Pitney – Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart
18 David Bowie & Bing Crosby – Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy
19 Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb – Guilty
20 Lionel Richie & Diana Ross – Endless Love
21 Tears For Fears & Oleta Adams – Woman In Chains
22 UB40 & Chrissie Hynde – I Got You Babe
23 Bronski Beat & Marc Almond – I Feel Love / Johnny Remember Me
24 Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville – Don’t Know Much
25 Bryan Adams & Tina Turner – It’s Only Love
26 Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder – Ebony And Ivory
27 Prince & Sheena Easton – U Got The Look
28 Gary Moore & Phil Lynott – Out In The Fields
29 Patti Labelle & Michael McDonald – On My Own
30 Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin – Separate Lives
31 James Ingram & Michael McDonald – Yah Mo B There
32 Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson – Say Say Say
33 Roy Orbison & k.d. lang – Crying
34 Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around
35 Billy Preston & Syreeta Wright – With You I’m Born Again
36 David Grant & Jaki Graham – Could It Be I’m Falling In Love
37 Cherrelle & Alexander O’Neal – Saturday Love
38 Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney – The Girl Is Mine
39 Al Green & Annie Lennox – Put A Little Love In Your Heart
40 Michael Jackson & Siedah Garrett – I Just Can’t Stop Loving You

Songs needed to be two individual voices, united in song, and released as a single between December 1979 and December 1989, and made the UK Top 50.