TOWIE gang
Reality stars record Christmas charity single Twitter/ The Only Way Is Essex

The Only Way Is Essex stars kicked off the festive season yesterday by recording a charity Christmas single that could potentially rival the X Factor winner for the Christmas number one.

The reality TV stars, who are known for their constant on-screen bickering set their differences aside long enough to record a cover of Wham's hit Last Christmas.

Minus ladies' man Mark Wright, the TOWIE gang, who were dressed up in red, white and gold outfits to perform the hit song, were led by crooner James 'Arg' Argent .

Arg later signalled that the race for the Christmas number was officially on after they had recorded the single by tweeting: 'The Only Way Is Essex Have officially recorded a Charity Xmas Single covering Wham's "Last Christmas"! Gona be so funny #Towie4XmasNo1 !!!!!'

This is not the first time that X Factor has received fierce competition for the top spot.

In 2009, X Factor winner, Joe McElderry, was deprived of the Christmas number one when a dedicated fan spurred a successful Facebook campaign to get Rage against the Machine's Killing in The Name to the top spot.

The TOWIE Christmas song will be released through TakeThat's record label, Universal's subsidiary Polydor Records.

Do you think the TOWIE gang's single will make it to number one? What song will you be rooting for?