It told a bittersweet tale of lost love amid the joy of the festive season, so perhaps it’s only fitting that the legacy left by Wham‘s much-loved hit Last Christmas is one complicated by sadness.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley’s ballad hitting the airwaves, cementing its position as one of the greatest festive hits of all time and with a video documenting a trip to a ski chalet that’s just as loved as the song.
To mark the occasion, Andrew has returned to the same Swiss Alpine village where the video was filmed, joined by Wham! backing singers Shirlie Kemp and Helen ‘Pepsi’ DeMacque was well as Jon Fowler, Cheryl Harrison, Pat Fernandes and David Ridler, who also appeared in the video.
The trip was also designed as a tribute to George, following his death in 2016 at the age of 53, with Andrew telling a documentary marking the anniversary: ‘There is an incompleteness being here without George. When he left us, he died at Christmas.
‘To lose such a dear friend, when you have a particular bond, it was a truly desperate moment. He was my other half, I’d never conceived of a future without him.’
The group last performed together at WHAM! The Final concert at Wembley in June 1986 and despite multiple rumours of a reunion, they never performed again together.
Debbie Killingback was the bouncy-haired blonde beauty who famously played George’s ‘girlfriend’ in Last Christmas
To mark the occasion, Andrew Ridgeley has returned to the same Swiss Alpine village where the video was famously filmed, joined by Wham! backing singers Shirlie Kemp and Pepsi DeMacque
Their first public reunion came 31 years later when Andrew, Pepsi and Shirley appeared on stage at the BRIT Awards in 2017 to pay tribute to George.
While Last Christmas’ video was considered groundbreaking at the time, with a focus on its narrative over performance, many of its stars have experienced varying fortunes since its release.
Wham remained one of the most successful acts of the 1980s, but other names that famously featured in the video have battled struggles including alcoholism, backstage feuds and brushes with the law.
Last Christmas finally reached number one in the UK charts in January 2021 following a huge campaign by fans, and this year it’s once again tipped to be in contention for the coveted Christmas number one.
MailOnline takes a look at how the lives of some of the stars of Last Christmas have taken a darker turn than some might expect…
Andrew Ridgeley
Over the past two decades, Andrew has largely been keen to shun the limelight, after his attempts at forging various new careers came to nothing (pictured right in Last Christmas)
Andrew is also a keen cyclist and often shares social media posts about his latest treks on Instagram
A few months ago, the star revealed he is involved in ‘several’ relationships and no longer ‘aspires’ to be monogamous – and has recently split from socialite Amanda Cronin
Over the past two decades, Andrew has largely been keen to shun the limelight, after his attempts at forging various new careers came to nothing after Wham! disbanded.
Shortly after the band split, he briefly moved to Monaco to pursue a career in Formula Three motor racing before trying his hand as an actor in LA.
He moved back to the UK permanently in 1990 and released a solo album Son of Albert, which was both a critical and commercial failure.
However, in the same year his personal life took a turn for the better when he started dating his long-term friend – Bananarama’s Keren Woodward.
In 1991 he joined George on stage for his encore at the Rock in Rio event at the Maracanã Stadium in Brazil, marking a distinct end to his public appearances.
Since then he had largely shunned the limelight, quitting London for good in 1994 to move to a 15th century Cornish farm house with Woodward and her son Tom.
Despite his lack of commercial success, Andrew has been able to live comfortably thanks to the royalties from Careless Whisper, which he co-wrote with George Michael, earning a reported £10 million since 1982.
While Andrew has in the past kept a low profile – mostly surfacing in public to campaign for environmental causes and in particular safer, cleaner water – he has been more public in the years following George’s death.
In 2019, he came out with an autobiography – titled George & Me, which detailed George’s struggles to keep up the pretence he was straight during his Wham! heyday.
Andrew knew Michael was gay in 1983 when the pair were shooting Club Tropicana, but it was 15 years before he came out publicly.
He revealed how Michael kept up the ‘facade’ for fear that going public could damage his career and chance of competing with stars such as Michael Jackson.
Despite their close bond, Andrew also admits in the book that he was sometimes ‘envious’ of Michael.
He writes that, while he was ‘amazed’ by his friend’s ‘prodigious talent’, it ‘would have been fabulous to have some of that stardust sprinkled upon me’.
Andrew was also behind a hugely successful Wham! Netflix documentary to mark their 40th anniversary, that left fans with ‘goosebumps.’
One of its producers, Simon Halfon, says his team spent over two years digging for footage and audio, and as a friend of both men Simon had a good idea where to look.
Andrew’s love life has faced exciting twists and turns too, following his separation from Keren in 2017 – after 27 years together.
A few months ago, the star revealed he is involved in ‘several’ relationships and no longer ‘aspires’ to be monogamous.
The former singer has also recently split from socialite Amanda Cronin in May.
Andrew confirmed he is ‘happily single’ but added that he is dating multiple people, though he said he wanted to keep their identities private.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Andrew said: ‘I like to protect the privacy of the women that I’m romantically linked with, or have a romantic interest with.
‘It would be something that one would have to mutually agree if one were to make it public.’
When asked if he is currently in a relationship, he replied: ‘No. I have several [romantic] relationships.’
He continued that he does not want to commit to a single person currently because his lifestyle makes it too difficult to maintain.
Andrew said: ‘Love comes in a variety of forms. I had a long-term relationship with Keren for many years, and we still have a great affection for each other.
‘But at this point in time, I’m not aspiring to a monogamous one, or to commit to a single person for the foreseeable future.
‘The way my life is makes it a bit tricky to hold down any one particular relationship, because I’m not in any one particular place. But yes, I am happily single.’
His ex-girlfriend Amanda previously suggested she had split from Andrew because of their differing views on monogamy and explained she wanted her next partner to be someone she shared values with.
She told the Daily Mail: ‘I’m looking for a monogamous relationship. When the next Mr Right comes along, he will have the same set of values that I have.
‘I’m quite traditional, a sweet, country girl. I’m also discerning and want to be around other people who understand what that means.’
Andrew is also a keen cyclist and often shares social media posts about his latest treks.
Shirlie Kemp
Shirlie (left) was a backing singer and dancer for Wham! and was seen setting the table in the video for Last Christmas
In 1995 Martin was diagnosed with two brain tumours and Shirlie took time out from her career to look after him, and ended up being declared bankrupt (pictured with their son Roman)
Along with Pepsi DeMacque, Shirlie was a backing singer and dancer for Wham! at the height of their fame.
After Wham! ended, they formed a duo Pepsi and Shirlie and had two UK top ten hits with Heartache and Goodbye Stranger.
They also provided backing vocals on Geri Haliwell’s 200 number one Bag It Up.
As well as giving the singers a platform for fame, their time in Wham! led to Shirlie meeting her husband Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp and as their son Roman revealed, forced George to call her.
‘I remember the first date that Shirlie and I ever went on,’ Martin told Piers Morgan on his show Life Stories. ‘George came as a chaperone. I spent the whole evening trying to lose him so that me and Shirlie could sneak off somewhere and snog.
The couple married in 1988 and went on to have a daughter Harley Moon and a son Roman, George’s godson.
In 1995 Martin was diagnosed with two brain tumours and Shirlie took time out from her career to look after him, and ended up being declared bankrupt.
She took on a part-time role with George Michael’s record label Aegean, run by his cousin Andros Georgiou.
The venture ultimately failed, but Shirlie has forged a new career for herself as a photographer and interiors stylist.
She specialised in vintage style table adornments and whimsical style photographic portraits.
Shirlie is also a patron of the bereavement charity the Good Grief Trust.
George remained ‘like a brother’ to her and she, Martin and Roman were due to spend Boxing Day with the singer before his tragic death.
In 2019, she and Martin released their first album together, which largely contained jazz covers.
The following year, the love released an autobiography and relationship advice book titled ‘Shirlie and Martin Kemp: It’s a Love Story’.
In 2021 Shirlie also featured in her son’s highly regarded mental health documentary, Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency.
Earlier this year, she and Martin featured on the fourth series of The Masked Singer.
Helen ‘Pepsi Demacque’
Helen ‘Pepsi’ DeMacque was seen getting the table ready in the video for Last Christmas while George put tinsel on the tree
Shirlie (right) appearing on Loose Women with her former Wham! co-star Helen ‘Pepsi’ DeMacque in 2011
At the 2017 Brit Awards an emotional trio made their first appearance on stage together in 31 years, tragically missing one member of their close knit group
The singer has since settled in St Lucia, where her family originally hails from and runs a charter sailing company with her husband James. Pictured last month
As well as performing as one part of Pepsi and Shirlie, Helen, 65, collaborated with Mike Oldfield in the late ’90s, performing on his Then & Now tour and at the premiere of Tubular Bells III.
She also dabbled with acting, appearing in the musical Hair at London’s Old Vic Theatre in 1993.
She then quit the showbiz scene and moved to New Zealand where she worked in a gift shop in Lambton Quay.
The singer has since settled in St Lucia, where her family originally hails from and runs a charter sailing company with her husband James.
In addition to running tours for holidaymakers, their company offers a summer training programme for students from the National Skills Development Centre, which helps get young people into work and teaches them life skills.
‘My life in the Caribbean is very different to London life but just as exciting,’ she says.
‘I’m discovering and enjoying new ways of being. Loving sunsets, food, people, landscapes and lots more.’
On Twitter she also describes herself as a singer, actress, writer, traveller ‘and beyond’ – and her Instagram bio promises a debut novel in 2024.
It is understood that Helen practices Buddhism.
In 2021, the pair came out with a book called It’s All in Black and White.
Explaining the title, on Loose Women last year, Shirlie said: ‘Whenever I was younger, people would always say ‘you always see things in black and white’ that meant I could see things clearly or I didn’t.
‘But then, a black girl and a white girl, you can take it that way.
‘It never meant anything to us, we were just friends.’
Andros Georgiou
Andros (pictured far right in Last Christmas) previously called himself one of George’s closest childhood friend, admitting they shared such a bond that they referred to each other as ‘cousins’
While they both pursued careers in music, they sensationally fell out in 1998, with Andros claiming he has a collection of unpublished songs written and sung by George
Andros previously branded himself as one of George’s closest childhood friend, admitting they shared such a bond that they referred to each other as ‘cousins.’
While they both pursued careers in music, they sensationally fell out in 1998, with Andros claiming he has a collection of unpublished songs written and sung by George.
Speaking on the Victoria Derbyshire Show, Andros described Georga as a ‘private person, an incredibly generous person, one of the nicest people you could ever meet,’ and shared how they used to drive around the West End at Christmas with two Range Rovers full of food for the homeless.
Andros also previously said that on one occasion, when George was unable to go to a charity auction run by the Elton John Aids Foundation he told him to ‘just buy everything’ when people were not bidding.
George was also a godfather to Andros’s son James Kennedy though he has since expressed his regret that they were never able to heal their rift before his death.
He said: ‘That hurts the most, that I didn’t get to say goodbye.’
In 2020, Andros shared that he was planning to release a string of tracks that he recorded with George and his band Boogie Box High in the 10 years from 1987.
Andros’ ex Jacqueline has struggled with alcoholism, and her son James Kennedy, who stars on Vanderpump Rules, has previously shared insight into her struggles to get sober
Andros’ ex Jacqueline has also had her fair share of struggles, despite carving out a career as an actress.
She has previously struggled with alcoholism, and her son James Kennedy, who stars on the US reality series Vanderpump Rules, has previously shared insight into her struggles to get sober.
In 2020, he explained their journey to sobriety together on the Daily Dish podcast, saying: ‘She’s still sober. So she has now over a year under the belt, and our relationship is at a high, you know?
‘She texts me every day, we talk every day, we live 10 minutes away from each other, so I like to see her. I treat her for lunch a couple times a week.
‘So, we stay close and our relationship has gone leaps and bounds since I stopped drinking as well, because now that we’re both sober, we’re both counting the blessings together every day and it’s just such a beautiful thing, you know?
‘I never really thought that this would happen, but it really has and it’s just incredible, you know? There’s no more hiding s**t.
‘There’s no more secrets now, do you know what I mean? Those family secrets, it’s so hard to get over because, you know, everyone loves their mom, but, like, you know?
‘There are some things that are kept from people and said, and it just breaks families apart sometimes.’
With a son who stars on one of Bravo’s most popular reality shows, it’s no surprise that Jacqueline crossed paths with other Vanderpump Rules stars.
In 2016, Stassi Schroeder shared some shocking claims about James’ mother, including claims that she ‘robbed a bank’ and was relying on cannabis to ‘help her sleep.’
Speaking on her Reality Tea podcast, Stassi said: ‘Well, she robbed a bank! I don’t know if I’m allowed to say this.
‘She robbed a bank and she stole money from Kristen and it was like a huge deal. I don’t want to know too many details because of reasons like this, I have to say them on a podcast. So just don’t tell me. She might be my hero.’
Stassi later clairified that Jacqueline did work at the, but this is far from the only claims that have been made about her.
But In Reality previously shared claims that Jacqueline stole Kristen Doute’s credit card and used it to buy Botox, and she discovered the theft when it was flagged by the spa.
Kathy Hill
Kathy, who is now 67, (left) captured the heart of the nation in the video with her dark brunette curls and festive yellow cardigan (right)
The model played George Michaels love interest in the festive music video
She also showed off her incredible physique and toned abs in bikini snaps as she took to social media to share photos from her holiday
Kathy, who is now 67, captured the heart of the nation in the video with her dark brunette curls and festive yellow cardigan, while starring as George’s love interest in the iconic Last Christmas video.
Yet the star now looks unrecognisable from her music video days, ditching her dark locks for blonde curls.
The star recently revealed she featured on the Celebrity Christmas single So Delicious which is raising money for Great Ormond Street hospital.
She also showed off her incredible physique and toned abs in bikini snaps as she took to social media to share photos from her holiday.
Previously Kathy spoke about her experience filming the famous video with Wham!
She told The Mirror: ‘It was so much fun and really natural. It was just right. It wasn’t staged – it’s just a group of friends having fun. That’s the magic.
‘In the scene around the festive dinner table, we all got a little bit tipsy. I don’t think George did, but we did. I drank a lot of red wine.
She also revealed that George’s fall in the snow wasn’t staged and he actually slipped.
Kathy added: ‘George slipped down every time. Once he ended up sitting on me, laughing – and that’s the bit they used. It was completely natural. We were just laughing our heads off. He couldn’t stand up. It’s my favourite scene.’
David Ridler
David made a fleeting appearance in Last Christmas as a log carrier, a role that is still a joke topic between himself and Jon Fowler, who also starred in the video, years later
David made a fleeting appearance in Last Christmas as a log carrier, a role that is still a joke topic between himself and Jon Fowler, who also starred in the video, years later.
Jon previously told The Telegraph: ‘I wasn’t asked to do anything like that and it stayed with me. That gets brought up when we’re together. We’ll be at the rugby club and someone will say, ‘How come he got to carry the logs?’
‘I usurped Jonny for that spot and he’s never forgiven me,’ David joked. ‘He’s very bitter.’
David went onto open a bar with Andrew in north London, with George stunning the locals by popping in on occasions.
Debbie Killingback
Debbie Killingback was the bouncy-haired blonde beauty who famously played George’s ‘girlfriend’ in Last Christmas
Actress Debbie Killingback with a photograph of her and George Michael outside the late pop star’s home the year he died
Debbie was the bouncy-haired blonde beauty who famously played George’s ‘girlfriend’ in Last Christmas.
Following George’s death in 2016, she paid an emotional tribute to him outside his home.
She remembered Michael, who died on Christmas Day at the age of 53, as the ‘most amazing person’ when she visited his home in north London.
Delivering flowers and holding a photo of her and the former Wham! star, she said: ‘He was just lovely, normal and down-to-earth.
‘He was fun and liked to laugh and was just the most amazing person. We all became close after the video was filmed.’
Reminiscing over the part she played in the hit video, adding: ‘I remember we had a few drinks on a night in but George was very good.
‘We also had a bed scene but that got cut. When we went back I missed my plane and George was at the airport and said: ‘We thought you’d been kidnapped.”
Pat Fernandez
She also worked as a model, but since their split, she has been noticeably absent from the spotlight (pictured with George in 1985)
Pat Fernandez, who was dating George at the time, also appeared in the video
Having previously dated George back in the 80s, Pat was a fixture in several of Wham’s music videos, including Wake Me Up Before You Go Go! and Last Christmas.
She also worked as a model, but since their split, she has been noticeably absent from the spotlight.
Mark Monero
Mark Monero made a fleeting appearance in Last Christmas’ music video
Mark has gone onto land a string of other roles, including a brief stint in Coronation Street, The Bill and Doctor Who
After making a fleeting appearance in Last Christmas, Mark Monero has gone onto land a string of other roles, including a brief stint in Coronation Street, The Bill and Doctor Who.
He also had a seven-year stint as Steve Elliot in EastEnders from 1991 to 1996.
He also starred in the 1986 miniseries Sid And Nancy, and last year starred in the ITV series The Tower.