Gareth Malone’s All Star Choir storm ahead in singles race

The song – a cover of Avicii’s chart-topping million seller – was recorded by Gareth and his choir of celebrities including Jo Brand, Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood and actress Linda Robson.

Choir master Gareth, who already has two Number 1 singles under his belt courtesy of the Military Wives’ 2013 Christmas Number 1, Wherever You Are, and Gary Barlow’s Diamond Jubilee single, Sing, tells OfficialCharts.com: “To see the Number 1 within reach this week is just wonderful for this group of unlikely choristers.

"Everyone involved has worked so hard to create this record and it’s fantastic to see the support we are getting in return. Children in Need has a huge impact on the lives of children in the UK and if this single helps then it will be a proud day for us all”.

Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud holds at 2, and last week’s Number 1 I Don’t Care by Cheryl slips to 3.

Following their performance on last week’s X Factor results show, One Direction have climbed five places to Number 4 with Steal My Girl. The track previously peaked at Number 3 when it was released last month.

New entries and high climbers

Australian pop duo The Veronicas enter at Number 6 on today’s Official Chart Update with You Ruin Me. If the track holds on to its current position, it will be their highest charting yet in the UK, after 2007’s Untouched peaked at Number 8.

Tom Odell’s John Lewis Christmas advert soundtrack Real Love leaps 14 places to Number 7, and Sam Smith – who also performed on last week’s X Factor - lands at Number 9 with Like I Can.

Further down the chart, Kendrick Lamar is on track to score his first UK Top 40 hit this Sunday with i, which is new at 12, and One Direction’s Where Do Broken Hearts Go is at 22. The song features on the group’s new album Four, which follows on November 17.

Finally, Taylor Swift’s Blank Space makes its Top 40 debut at Number 30. The song features on her latest album 1989, which was recently named the fastest-selling female album of the year so far after shifting 90,000 copies in its opening week.

The Official Singles Chart Update Top 40 is as follows. The Official Singles Chart Top 100 will be posted in full, here, on Sunday at 7pm.

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