East 17 are BACK with a new Christmas hit – and those iconic big coats – and they’re convinced they’re heading for ANOTHER Christmas No. 1

East 17 are back on Friday with a brand new Christmas hit, Merry Quitmas, and the music video pays tribute to their famous festive hit, Stay Another Day.

The three band members – who brought back those iconic big jackets for the video – told MailOnline in an exclusive chat that they are confident they will get number one under their belts after the success of their old song reaching the top spot three times . weeks in 1994.

With LadBaby out of the running, frontman Terry Coldwell is confident their parody song, complete with an Elton John lookalike, will top the festive charts.

However, everything is different than it was, as the band now consists of original band member Terry and new band members Joe Livermore, 39, and Robbie Craig, 56.

They replaced originals Brian Harvey, who left the band permanently in 2010, Tony Mortimer, who left in 2013, and John Hendy, who parted ways with East 17 in 2018.

Brian was quickly replaced by Blair Dreelan in 2011 – he left the same year – and John's place was quickly filled by Terry John in 2018, but he left the following year.

While shooting the music video, the group agreed to give Santa Claus cancer this year in hopes of raising awareness about the dangers of smoking.

When asked if he thought their new Christmas hit would do as well in the charts as Stay Another Day, Terry replied: “Yes, but obviously they're two completely different songs.”

“Two different songs, but hopefully with LadBaby out of the way this year we have a good shot,” he added.

Fans can expect the unexpected from the new song: it will be a comedic hit packed with well-known lookalikes and TikTok stars.

The trio has been as thick as thieves for over a decade and continues to dominate the charts around the world. Their song 24/7 reached seventh place on iTunes in Turkey this year.

In an interview with MailOnline he said: 'It's a Christmas cracker to encourage people to quit smoking.

'We have Ed Sheeran, Elton John, George Michael, Noddy and Slade.

“It's not normally an East 17 style song, but it was fun for a laugh.”

The three-minute shoot featured 'Elton John locked out of his taxi', 'George Michael breaking the window' and Noddy Holder as a gardener.

Fans also caught a glimpse of TikTok stars Chef Dave and The Riot Squad in the highly anticipated song.

With their fourth chart-topping hit, LadBaby broke the record for most consecutive UK Christmas No. 1s, jointly held by the Beatles and Spice Girls.

They then broke the Beatles record for overall Christmas songs with their fifth.

But frontrunner Mark Hoyle told Metro they won't be going for a sixth this year, and have decided to 'hand the baton to the great British public'.

Stay Another Day entered the UK charts at number seven, and during the last three weeks of 1994 the song consolidated its place at number 1 for at least three weeks in a row.

It outpaced Mariah Carey's hit single for the weeks of December 11, 18, and 25, selling approximately 130,000, 120,000, and 160,000 copies.

Sales took the lead from Mariah in the week before Christmas and reached around 60,000, securing the 1994 Christmas number one to East 17.

Terry said the band were all smiles during the recording as he reminisced about the “politics” surrounding their 1994 hit.

According to the musician, the production is more fun this time.

He said: 'It's a lot more fun there because in a way I'm involved in politics a lot, he said.

'You know, we all used to write separately anyway, but this one was kind of, with the lineup, what it is, we all write together, and it feels a little bit more fun to write it together because when you perform it , you know, you all put your heart and soul into it.”

The band is so determined to encourage Brits not to smoke that the singer himself is quitting – a dangerous habit he says he has been a victim of since he was a 'kid'.

Hoping to inspire others, Terry will document his journey in a journal, which he will share on Instagram.

He said he will put 'his heart and soul' into stopping the bad habit and is keen to support anyone in need.

Terry also opened up to MailOnline about his personal life and revealed he is grateful to be such a big part of the Stay Another Day legacy.

He hopes that after his death, his great-grandchildren will continue to watch their grandfather spread Christmas cheer for everyone on TV every year.

He said: 'It's the legacy that's left behind.

'Really, it's such a fantastic song. You know, if I'm gone for a long time, hopefully not too soon. But when I'm gone, the great-grandchildren will also go, ''yes, that was my great-grandfather.''