Ed Sheeran’s X spends third week at Number 1

X by Ed Sheeran remains the biggest selling album in the UK for a third week in a row, the Official Charts Company can confirm.

The 23-year-old singer/songwriter’s second album has held onto the top of the UK’s Official Albums Chart despite tough competition this week from Futurology, the new album from Manic Street Preachers (Number 2).

To date, X (which is pronounced ‘multiply’) has sold over 327,000 copies in the UK since it s release last month.

Meanwhile, Manic Street Preachers claim this week’s highest new entry. Futurology, which is the Welsh band’s twelfth studio full-length, was produced by Alex Silva, who helmed the band’s seminal 1994 album, The Holy Bible. Futurology was recorded at Berlin’s Hansa Tonstudio, which was used by the likes of Davie Bowie, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop back in the 1970s.

Meanwhile, Dolly Parton continues to feel ‘the Glastonbury effect’ as her latest album, Blue Smoke, climbs one place to Number 3 today. It is now the highest charting UK album of the US star’s career.

Sam Smith’s In The In The Lonely Hour spends its seventh week in the Top 5, climbing one place to Number 4 today, while George Ezra is down two to Number 5 with Wanted On Voyage.

New Entries

Example claims his third Top 10 album today with Live Life Living. The album, which is the London-based MC’s first since signing to major label Epic Records last year, enters at Number 8.

Australian singer/songwriter Sia has taken a break from writing songs for the likes of Beyonce, Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Kylie Minogue to release her new solo album. 1000 Forms Of Fear, which features her recent Top 10 single, Chandelier, is new in at Number 11 today.

Homecoming by Nicola Benedetti enters at Number 19. It is the Scottish star’s highest charting album to date, and she also becomes the first British classical violinist to reach the UK Top 20 in almost 20 years.

This week’s new entries are completed by Lewis Watson’s The Morning (28), Milky Chance’s Sadnecessary (36) and Crosby Stills Nash & Young’s live album, CSNY 1974 (37).

The Official Albums Chart Top 10 is as follows. Click here to see the Official Albums Chart Top 100 in full after 7pm.

© 2014 Official Charts Company. All rights reserved.