Christmas legend Chris Rea, who died on 22 December 2025, was actually banned from driving while he wrote his iconic festive song back in 1978
Chris Rea actually couldn’t drive when he wrote Driving Home For Christmas.
The singer, who sadly died today [22 December] aged 74, wrote the song back in 1978 and and it quickly became a cult Christmas classic when it was released 10 years later. Rea recently spoke to comedian Bob Mortimer about the origin of his tune, which has become a Christmas tradition for many who, literally, drive home for the festive season every year.
He explained: “I was on the dole when I wrote that. My manager had just left me. I’d just been banned from driving. My now wife, Joan, had to drive down to London to pick me up in the Mini and take me home and that’s when I wrote it.”
Chris said the trip took him a whopping six hours and the pair didn’t walk through their front door until the early hours of the morning.
He told The Guardian in 2016: “I’d look across at the other drivers, who all looked so miserable. Jokingly, I started singing: ‘We’re driving home for Christmas…”
“Then, whenever the street lights shone inside the car, I started writing down lyrics.”
Luck was on his side that Christmas as he received a cheque for £15,000 after his song Fool (If You Think It’s Over) had won over American audiences. Chris was surviving on his last £200 at the time.
Driving Home For Christmas re-entered the charts in 2007 reaching the number 33 spot and reportedly brings in an incredible £200,000 every December.
A spokesperson for his family confirmed the sad news of his death on 22 December 2025 with a statement: “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 had previously been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed back in 2001.
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