Hillsborough single takes critical lead in Christmas Number 1 race

Hillsborough charity single He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother has taken a critical lead over James Arthur’s Impossible in what has become the tightest battle for the Official Christmas Number 1 EVER!

The Official Charts Company can confirm that The Justice Collective’s Hillsborough charity single, He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, has taken a marginal lead over James Arthur's Impossible today, based on the first three days of sales data.

Yesterday, Impossible was just over 3,000 sales ahead of He Ain't Heavy… (based on sales to midnight on Monday), but this morning the positions have flipped, with The Justice Collective’s track taking a 3,400 sales lead (based on sales up until midnight last night). He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother has sold over 109,700 copies so far this week, vs Impossible’ s sales of 106,300.

Official Charts Company Managing Director Martin Talbot says:

"This really is the closest Number 1 battle we can remember - even closer than the legendary 2009 battle between Rage Against The Machine and Joe McElderry. The poll concludes at midnight on Saturday night (December 22), so there is a long way to go yet - but this one looks like going down to the wire."

In 2009, Rage Against The Machine's Killing In The Name and Joe McElderry's The Climb mounted the most exciting battle for Christmas Number 1 yet seen. But the two records were never closer than 8,000 sales from each other, with RATM extending their final lead to almost 52,000 by the end of the week - 503,000 to 451,000.

The Official Christmas Number 1 will be revealed on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart Show with Reggie Yates and on www.officialcharts.com this Sunday (December 23).

New entries and climbers

Elsewhere in the festive Official Chart Update, Stupid Stupid - a new entry from YouTube blogger Alex Day, is just outside the Top 10 at Number 12 today. You may remember the 23 year old unsigned musician gate-crashed the Christmas Number 1 race this time last year, rallying his then 500,000 YouTube channel’s subscribers to help him compete for the Christmas Number 1. Alex finished the race in fourth place in 2011, who knows what 2012 may bring for this cheeky contender?

Come on ladies, come on ladies… East London market trader One Pound Fish Man, climbs nine places this week, and is currently on course for his debut Top 40 hit with One Pound Fish at Number 38.

Further down the festive new entries, just outside the Top 40 today, a new entry from Eddie Stobart’s Truckers with 12 Days Of Christmas is at Number 44. The track, which has been recorded in aid of Help For Heroes, features ten Stobart drivers singing the Christmas classic.

At 49 is Alistair Griffin & The Games Maker Choir with I Wish For You The World. The all-volunteer group who performed at the Olympic Park during London 2012 are donating all proceed to the British Olympic Foundation and British Paralympic Association to develop and create opportunities for aspiring young people in pursuit of their sporting dreams.

Area 11’s Minecraft Christmas, a festive tribute to the hugely popular video game is at Number 52, while Welsh rockers Kids In Glass Houses are on course for a Top 100 appearance at Number 87 with Secret Santa.

The Official Christmas Singles Chart Update Top 40 is as follows:

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