Robbie Williams on track for 13th UK Number 1 album with The Christmas Present

Robbie Williams’ latest album may have debuted at Number 2 on last week’s Official Albums Chart, but that’s potentially not the end to the Christmas fairytale.

Robbie’s 12^th studio album The Christmas Present leads today’s Official Chart Update, based on physical and digital sales and streaming data from across the weekend. Rob’s double album featuring collaborations with the likes of Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart has a lead of more than 5,000 chart sales at the midweek stage. Should the album keep up its momentum, it will mark Robbie’s 13^th UK Number 1 as a solo artist.

Last week, The Christmas Present shifted 67,000 units, scoring the fastest-selling cassette of the decade in the process. All of Robbie’s 15 chart eligible albums have reached the Top 2 of the Official Albums Chart.

MORE: The Official Top 40 biggest albums of 2019 so far

Rod Stewart also looks to improve on his chart position last week, 50^th anniversary album You’re In My Heart is on course to rise to Number 2, ahead of last week’s chart-toppers Coldplay who slip to Number 3 with Everyday Life.

This week’s highest new entry could belong to Cliff Richard & The Shadows. The Best Of The Rock ‘N’ Roll Pioneers is currently at Number 7, and could mark Cliff’s 46^th UK Top 10 album.

John Barrowman’s festival album A Fabulous Christmas begins the week at 12, potentially his highest charting album in eight years, and one slot behind at 13 is Chilled Classics, the third album from Pete Tong, the Heritage Orchestra and Jules Buckley.

JME’s fourth studio album Grime MC available only on physical format starts at Number 18, followed by Pink Floyd retrospective The Later Years: 1987-2019 (19), and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s Christmas With The Stars (20).

Finally, two classic albums could re-enter the Top 40 following new reissues. Prince’s 1999 is at Number 26 after its super deluxe edition featuring 35 unreleased recordings was released, and Fleetwood Mac classic Rumours is at Number 27 after being re-pressed on clear vinyl.

View this week's Official Albums Chart Update Top 100 in full