Chris Rea, the British rock singer behind the festive classic “Driving Home for Christmas”, has died aged 74.
The news was shared by his family, who said he died on Monday 22 December in hospital following a short illness.
A statement on behalf of his wife and two children said: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
Rea suffered a number of health issues over the years. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001, and suffered a stroke in 2016.
Born in Middlesbrough, Rea found fame in the late Seventies and Eighties with hits such as “Fool (If You Think It's Over)”, which was nominated for a Grammy, “Let's Dance” and “The Road To Hell”.
His debut album, titled Whatever Happened To Benny Santini?, was released in 1978 and was named in reference to the stage name his record label wanted him to adopt.
Rea’s famous song “Driving Home For Christmas”, which features in this year’s M&S Food Christmas advert, was first released in 1986. Just days before his death, he spoke with The Independent about the story behind the song.
Among those paying tribute was his longtime friend, comedian Bob Mortimer.
Chris Rea death: Key points
- Chris Rea dies after 'short illness', aged 74
- Bob Mortimer calls Rea a 'lovely, brilliant, funny giant of a bloke'
- Statement from Chris Rea's family on his death
- Chris Rea's health issues over the years
- It took Chris Rea a while to hit the big time
Chris Rea, the British rock singer behind the festive classic “Driving Home for Christmas”, has died aged 74.
His family said he died on Monday 22 December in hospital following a short illness.
Chris Rea's family release statement
Monday 22 December 2025 15:20 , Jacob StolworthyIn a statement on behalf of Chris Rea’s wife and two children, a statement said: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
Chris Rea's health issues over the years
Monday 22 December 2025 15:21 , Jacob StolworthyRea suffered a number of health issues over the years. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001, and suffered a stroke in 2016.
Chris Rea was almost given a much different stage name
Monday 22 December 2025 15:14 , Jacob StolworthyIt’s hard to imagine Chris Rea being called anything else, but if his record label had their way, the musician wouldn’t have gone by his birth name, but the stage name Benny Santini.
Rea referenced this in the title of his 1978 debut record, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?.
It took Chris Rea a while to hit the big time
Monday 22 December 2025 15:17 , Jacob StolworthyIt wasn’t until Rea released his eighth record in 1986 that he became a star in the UK and around Europe. His first No 1 record – The Road to Hell – arrived in 1989, with another (Auberge) topping the charts in 1991.
The story behind Chris Rea's hit single 'Driving Home for Christmas'
Monday 22 December 2025 15:27 , Roisin O'ConnorChris Rea is the unmistakeable voice behind one of the world’s most popular Christmas songs, but he wrote it at a time when he was hardly in the holiday spirit. His record contract was almost done, and his manager had just informed him he was quitting. Rea was keen to get home from London’s Abbey Road studios to Middlesbrough, but he’d been banned from driving, and his label refused to pay for a train ticket.So, his wife picked him up in their battered Austin Mini and they set off for Middlesbrough. The snow set in, as did the traffic, prompting Rea to look across at the other drivers, who looked equally miserable. Jokingly singing that now-famous line, he started to scrawl down lyrics in a notepad on his lap.
VIDEO: Chris Rea tells the story behind his classic 'Driving Home for Christmas'
Monday 22 December 2025 15:30 , Roisin O'ConnorIN PICTURES: Singer Chris Rea
Monday 22 December 2025 15:34 , Roisin O'Connor
'It has that hope and warmth to it': Chris Rea on 'Driving Home for Christmas'
Monday 22 December 2025 15:41 , Roisin O'ConnorIn an interview just weeks before his death, Rea told The Independent: "It has that hope and warmth to it, like all the classic Christmas songs. That and the frustration of being stuck in the motorway traffic – that’s what people relate to!"What’s funny is that I’d been banned from driving just before I wrote it, and we originally thought we’d give it to Van Morrison. It was a Fifties jazz thing, like he used to do. Then the record label put it out as a B-side of mine, and a DJ started playing it. And here we are today."
Read our archive interview with Rea from 2004
Monday 22 December 2025 15:52 , Roisin O'Connor“Chris Rea's down-home qualities and all-round good bloke demeanour were strongly in evidence when he ran through the music from his new CD, The Blue Jukebox, at Bush Hall in Shepherd's Bush, London, recently. Playing music that owed more to blues traditions than anything else, his onstage manner suited the old blues phrase "he never said a mumblin' word" as he and his group worked purposefully through the tunes. On that particular night Rea was not only in fine form vocally, but was playing sumptuous slide guitar of a suppleness and individuality beyond most guitarists, which-ever side of the Atlantic they live. Intrigued, I drove to in his Cookham studio complex, in Berkshire, for the interview.”
Read this wonderful archive interview with Rea from 2004:
Middlesbrough FC pay tribute to a 'Teeside icon'
Monday 22 December 2025 16:01 , Roisin O'Connor“We're deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Rea. A Teesside icon. Rest in peace, Chris.”
We're deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Rea.
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) December 22, 2025
A Teesside icon. Rest in peace, Chris ❤️ pic.twitter.com/LFZHiXqYSX
The late Chris Rea on the ‘warmth and hope’ of ‘Driving Home for Christmas’
Monday 22 December 2025 16:11 , Roisin O'ConnorThe British rock singer talked to The Independent just days before his death aged 74.
The late Chris Rea on the ‘warmth and hope’ of ‘Driving Home for Christmas’
Piers Morgan shares news of Rea's death
Monday 22 December 2025 16:21 , Roisin O'ConnorPiers Morgan: “Chris Rea, who wrote and sang one of the most famous festive songs in history, Driving Home for Christmas, has died just three days before Christmas, aged 74.”
BREAKING: Chris Rea, who wrote and sang one of the most famous festive songs in history, Driving Home for Christmas, has died just three days before Christmas, aged 74. pic.twitter.com/hz8vx2zHcT
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 22, 2025
Resurfacing a silly but touching anecdote from Bob Mortimer
Monday 22 December 2025 16:31 , Roisin O'ConnorChris Rea with an egg in his bath. That’s all.
(From Mortimer’s memoir.)
A tribute from radio host Mike Read
Monday 22 December 2025 16:41 , Roisin O'ConnorRotten news to hear about Chris Rea. I will be including the Driving Home For Christmas video on the week's Heritage Chart TV as a small tribute. Here's snap I took of the lovely man c.1989 outside Broadcasting House.
Rotten news to hear about Chris Rea. I will be including the Driving Home For Christmas video on the week's Heritage Chart TV as a small tribute. Here's snap I took of the lovely man c.1989 outside Broadcasting House. @Chrisrea pic.twitter.com/KAYZjdZBsQ
— Mike Read (@MikeReadUK) December 22, 2025
What Chris Rea told Bob Mortimer about 'Driving Home for Christmas'
Monday 22 December 2025 16:51 , Roisin O'ConnorSpeaking about the song during the 2020 Mortimer And Whitehouse Gone Fishing Christmas special, Rea told comedian Bob Mortimer: " I was on the dole when I wrote that.
"My manager had just left me. I'd just been banned from driving, right. My now wife, Joan, she had to drive down to London, picked me up in the Mini, and take me home, and that's when I wrote it."
Rea was good friends with Mortimer and in 1997 they recorded “Let's Dance” for Middlesbrough Football Club's FA Cup Final.
Lizzie Cundy remembers starring in Chris Rea charity video
Monday 22 December 2025 17:00 , Jacob StolworthyLizzie Cundy is the latest star to pay tribute to Chris Rea. Cundy was one of several celebrities to appear in a charity music video for the singer’s festive track “Driving Home for Christmas”, filmed in 2009.
I’m so sad to hear Chris Rea has died. I was lucky enough to star in his music video Driving home for Christmas. I loved every minute and was an honour to work with him and be in his iconic music video . He will always be an inspiration and legend to me. Rest in peace Chris
— Lizzie Cundy (@lizziecundy) December 22, 2025
Rea's hometown mayor says singer 'helped put Middlesbrough on the map'
Monday 22 December 2025 17:10 , Kevin PerryMiddlesbrough mayor Chris Cooke has paid tribute to Rea.
In a statement, Cooke said: “This is really sad news and my thoughts go out to Chris’ loved ones.
”Chris Rea was deeply proud of his Middlesbrough roots and the people of our town were equally proud to call him one of their own.
“Millions of people around the world will listen to his music tonight. His songs helped put Middlesbrough on the map and he leaves behind a brilliant legacy.”
Chris Rea didn't play Christmas classic live until 2014
Monday 22 December 2025 17:10 , Jacob StolworthyThe late musician might have released “Driving Home for Christmas” in 1986, but it took him almost 20 years to play it live for the first time.
After booking a gig at Hammersmith Odeon in December 2014, five days before Christmas, Rea was badgered by the road crew to perform the track.
He told The Guardian: “I went, 'If I'm going to sing this f***ing song, we're gonna do it properly.' So, we hired 12 snow cannons. When we started the song, you couldn't hear it for the noise of the crowd, and we let go with the machines. We put three feet of artificial snow in the stalls.”
He claims the venue ended up charging him £12,000 to clean up the mess.
Timmy Mallett pays tribute
Monday 22 December 2025 18:00 , Kevin Perry
Television presenter Timmy Mallett recalled buying a house from Rea in a tribute posted to X.
“RIP Chris Rea,” wrote Mallett. “I bought his house 1991 on garage wall is happy Christmas message his daughters sprayed it's still there Chris is driving home For Christmas now singing for our nearest & dearest. Grateful for his wonderful gravely voice. God bless you Chris.”
'It has that hope and warmth to it': Chris Rea on 'Driving Home for Christmas'
Monday 22 December 2025 18:29 , Kevin PerryIn an interview just weeks before his death, Rea told The Independent: "It has that hope and warmth to it, like all the classic Christmas songs. That and the frustration of being stuck in the motorway traffic – that’s what people relate to!
"What’s funny is that I’d been banned from driving just before I wrote it, and we originally thought we’d give it to Van Morrison. It was a Fifties jazz thing, like he used to do. Then the record label put it out as a B-side of mine, and a DJ started playing it. And here we are today."
Looking back: An interview with Rea from 2004
Monday 22 December 2025 19:00 , Kevin PerryFrom The Independent archives, here’s Keith Shadwick on meeting the man himself in 2004:
“Chris Rea's down-home qualities and all-round good bloke demeanour were strongly in evidence when he ran through the music from his new CD, The Blue Jukebox, at Bush Hall in Shepherd's Bush, London, recently. Playing music that owed more to blues traditions than anything else, his onstage manner suited the old blues phrase ‘he never said a mumblin' word’ as he and his group worked purposefully through the tunes.
“On that particular night Rea was not only in fine form vocally, but was playing sumptuous slide guitar of a suppleness and individuality beyond most guitarists, which-ever side of the Atlantic they live. Intrigued, I drove to in his Cookham studio complex, in Berkshire, for the interview...”
VIDEO: Chris Rea tells the story behind his classic 'Driving Home for Christmas'
Monday 22 December 2025 19:30 , Kevin PerryA very silly but touching anecdote from Bob Mortimer
Monday 22 December 2025 20:01 , Kevin PerryComedian Bob Mortimer once told a very silly, very funny, totally made-up story about Chris Rea putting an egg in his bath on panel show Would I Lie To You?
In Mortimer’s memoir, he shared Rea’s wonderful response:
The Waterboys frontman pays his respects
Monday 22 December 2025 20:30 , Kevin Perry
On X, Waterboys singer Mike Scott writes: “I'm sorry to hear about the passing on of Chris Rea. I always liked him. And I guess now he truly is ‘driving home for Christmas’. Travel onward well, Buddy.“
Automobile Association president says Rea 'loved his cars'
Monday 22 December 2025 21:00 , Kevin PerryEdmund King, the president of the Automobile Association, writes on X: “Chris Rea is what 'Driving home for Christmas' is all about. Sorry that this is his last trip. RIP. Wrote other classics including 'Road to hell' and loved his cars. Thank you.”
Chris Rea is what 'Driving home for Christmas' is all about. Sorry that this is his last trip. RIP. Wrote other classics including 'Road to hell' and loved his cars. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/cQP9eYTPEU
— Edmund King OBE (@AAPresident) December 22, 2025
Bob Mortimer calls Rea a 'lovely, brilliant, funny giant of a bloke'
Monday 22 December 2025 21:22 , Kevin Perry.jpg)
Bob Mortimer has shared a tribute to Rea, writing on X: “So so sad. A lovely brilliant funny giant of a bloke. Oh Man....RIP Chris .. Boro legend forever. Love to family and friends.”
Rea was good friends with Mortimer and in 1997 they recorded “Let's Dance” for Middlesbrough Football Club's FA Cup Final.
So so sad.A lovely brilliant funny giant of a bloke. Oh Man....RIP Chris .. Boro legend forever. Love to family and friends. pic.twitter.com/jWPuKUGzUi
— bob mortimer (@RealBobMortimer) December 22, 2025
American soccer icon says Rea song is 'in my all time starting XI'
Monday 22 December 2025 22:00 , Kevin Perry
Alexi Lalas, who famously played for the United States at the 1994 World Cup, has added his voice to those praising Rea.
“‘Driving Home for Christmas’ by Chris Rea is in my all-time starting 11 of Christmas songs,” he wrote. “He painted the scene with a beautiful floating melody tinged with the perfect amount of melancholy. RIP”
Statement from Chris Rea's family
Monday 22 December 2025 22:38 , Kevin PerryA statement on behalf of Chris Rea’s wife and two children earlier today said: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris. He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.”
Chris Rea was almost given a much different stage name
Monday 22 December 2025 23:00 , Kevin PerryIt’s hard to imagine Chris Rea being called anything else, but if his record label had their way, the musician wouldn’t have gone by his birth name, but the stage name Benny Santini.
Rea referenced this in the title of his 1978 debut record, Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?.
Chris Rea's health issues over the years
Monday 22 December 2025 23:30 , Kevin PerryRea suffered a number of health issues over the years. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001, and suffered a stroke in 2016.
VIDEO: Chris Rea tells the story behind his classic 'Driving Home for Christmas'
00:00 , Kevin Perry'It has that hope and warmth to it': Chris Rea on 'Driving Home for Christmas'
00:30 , Kevin PerryIn an interview just weeks before his death, Rea told The Independent: "It has that hope and warmth to it, like all the classic Christmas songs. That and the frustration of being stuck in the motorway traffic – that’s what people relate to!
"What’s funny is that I’d been banned from driving just before I wrote it, and we originally thought we’d give it to Van Morrison. It was a Fifties jazz thing, like he used to do. Then the record label put it out as a B-side of mine, and a DJ started playing it. And here we are today."
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