“I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” by Wizzard has been a festive favorite for more than five decades, but the children who appeared in the iconic 1973 recording weren’t the ones seen in the original music video.
While the children shown on screen were from London drama schools, the real voices behind the chorus were from Birmingham, thanks to an initiative by Wizzard’s keyboard player, Bill Hunt.
In 1973, Wizzard frontman Roy Wood, who wrote the song, wanted to feature children from his hometown of Birmingham.
Hunt, living near Stockland Green School, worked with the school’s music teacher, Mr. Powell, to select a group of 11- and 12-year-olds who could handle the studio atmosphere and “create a good noise.”
Among the selected children was Hilary Gunton, who convinced her reluctant parents to let her go by threatening never to speak to them again.
The young singers traveled to London during their half-term holiday, some in Hunt’s car and others in Wizzard’s tour bus.
The recording session was filled with excitement and fun, with the children enjoying treats like Mars bars and fizzy drinks.
Despite most of the track being recorded earlier, their part—the choir—was added in a festive studio decorated with tinsel and fairy lights.
Some of the children, like Denise Pitkin, even had a bit of fun pulling on Roy Wood’s beard to see if it was real.
However, the young singers’ hopes of seeing themselves on television were dashed when the video for the song, as well as its appearance on Top of the Pops, featured children from London’s Italia Conti acting school and Tiny Tots Model Agency instead of the Birmingham kids who had actually sung on the track.
This was due to the strict trade union rules in place at the time, which made it easier to hire children from London who had union cards.
For decades, the young singers struggled to convince people that they were the ones on the record, with many doubting their involvement because of the televised footage with different children.
Despite this disappointment, the original singers, including Hilary Gunton, David Brookes, Mary Lafferty, Denise Pitkin, and Nik Romillie, reunited to record the song once again with current Stockland Green students.
As a celebration of their contribution, the Official Charts Company presented them with a Top Ten Trophy.
Even after all these years, the song remains a cherished part of Christmas, and the singers are proud of their role in its success.
Mary Lafferty, now a grandmother, shares the joy with her grandchildren, who proudly tell people, “That’s my Nan on there.”
For Romillie, the experience was life-changing, as it inspired him to pursue a career in music, performing under the name Colonel Red.
The song may have been the start of something big for these kids, and now, more than 50 years later, it’s clear that their contribution will never be forgotten.
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