The BBC reportedly won’t play a new live version of Fairytale of New York on its radio stations.
The first live version of the song has just been released, but according to reports, the BBC won’t play it because it contains the homophobic slur "cheap, lousy f****t".
The hit track by The Pogues, featuring Kirsty MacColl, was released in 1987, but has never hit number one - though it usually reenters the top ten at Christmas, and has made it as high as number two.
Fans had hoped the new live version could give it a renewed push to the top slot - but the BBC’s reported refusals to play the unedited track could dent its hopes.
“It feels unfair that this live version which shouldn't be edited has now been barred from the Beeb's playlist,” a music industry insider told The Sun.
"It's an authentic performance of a much-loved track by a much-loved band and this move might be the measure that prevents it from getting to number one at Christmas, which is where it has always deserved to be."
The Standard has contacted the BBC for comment.
Last year, Shane MacGowan’s wife, Victoria May Clarke, revealed how the late Pogues frontman felt about the success of the group’s biggest hit.
MacGowan died in 2023, aged 65.
“Shane was not fussed about Christmas at all, like he always said, ‘It’s Jesus’s birthday,’” she told The Independent.
“He never thought it was about presents or turkeys or any of that stuff. He indulged me, because I always insisted on having a tree, and he would think that was cute with the decorations.”
Clarke added: “I think he was genuinely pleased that people wanted to play it and that it was recognised, and he did definitely appreciate what a brilliant piece of songwriting.
“At the same time, he had other songs he was fond of that he might have liked people to know about.”
The Pogues producer and MacColl’s ex-husband Steve Lillywhite also spoke to The Independent about the live version of the track which has just been released.
“To me, Fairytale of New York is like a fine wine, it grows on you,” he said.
“You don’t hear anyone cheering the song at first, until Kirsty walks on– she was probably more famous in Scotland than she was anywhere else, with her red hair and the Scottish name, even though she was from Croydon, they loved her there.
“So I kept all of that cheering in there. She did have stage fright, but boy, she transcended that to [deliver] this vocal, she was absolutely fantastic. The spirit of the song really comes through.”
