Vera Lynn and Tom Moore are locked in a chart battle with NHS charity singles

18 April 2020, 18:07

Captain Tom More and Dame Vera Lynn are involved in the most unlikely chart battle, as the pair take the top two spots in the iTunes downloads chart.

The 99-year-old war veteran has teamed up with Michael Ball for a cover of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', and the single currently sits at number one on iTunes in the UK.

Meanwhile, the pair have knocked off Dame Vera Lynn and Katherine Jenkins, who have released a duet version of 'We'll Meet Again', albeit with Vera's vocals coming from her original song from 1939.

Moore and Ball's single will raise money for the NHS, alongside Captain Moore's ongoing walking appeal.

You'll Never Walk Alone - Captain Tom Moore, Michael Ball & The NHS Voices of Care Choir

The new version features an introduction spoken by Moore, who says: "When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark.

"At the end of a storm there's a golden sky and the sweet silver song of a lark."

The single also features vocals from the NHS Voices for Care Choir.

The Story of... 'You'll Never Walk Alone'

Meanwhile, Vera Lynn and Katherine Jenkins' song is raising money for the same cause, the NHS Charities Together.

Should Tom Moore or Vera Lynn score the official UK number one, they would easily become the oldest living person to do so. The current record holder is Louis Armstrong at 66 years old with 'What a Wonderful World' in 1968.

Michael Ball hailed Moore as an "inspiration", and said singing with him has been "one of the single greatest honours of my career".

He added: "Not only is he the biggest single fundraiser in British history and a decorated war veteran, he is the most charming man you could ever wish to meet."

Captain Moore said: "I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would be releasing a single with Michael Ball OBE, but I also never thought it possible for me to walk in the garden and raise millions.

The Story of... 'We'll Meet Again'

We'll Meet Again (NHS Charity Single)

"So why not sing, spread some cheer and again raise money for our national heroes. NHS this one is for you!"

The Second World War veteran has become a national UK hero, after raising over £22 million for the NHS by completing laps of his garden.

He finished his target of 100 laps before his 100th birthday on April 30, but has pledged to keep walking for as long as people kept donating.

After calls for him to be knighted, Number 10 said Prime Minister Boris Johnson "will certainly be looking at ways to recognise Tom for his heroic efforts".