Take That battling Ed Sheeran for Number 1 on this week’s Official Albums Chart

Plus there are new releases by James Blunt, Zayn and Paul McCartney heading for strong entries on this week's Official Chart.

Take That and Ed Sheeran are locked in almighty battle in the race for Number 1 on this week’s Official Albums Chart.

On today’s Official Chart Update (March 27), Take That’s new album Wonderland is at Number 2, having shifted 96,000 across physical, download and streaming equivalent sales in its first three days on sale. Ed’s ÷ continues to lead the way at Number 1, currently 27,500 equivalent units ahead.

Ed looks set to bag the Official Chart double for a fourth week this Friday (March 31), as Shape Of You leads the way on the Official Singles Chart for what could be its 12 week at Number 1.

Albums

Behind Take That, James Blunt is looking good for a Top 5 this Friday – his fifth collection The Afterlove is new at 4.

Scottish alt-rockers the Jesus and Mary Chain are on course to return to the Official Albums Chart Top 40 for the first time in over 22 years with Damage and Joy at 9, while Southampton punk band Creeper start at 12 with Eternity In Your Arms.

Steel Panther start at 18 with Lower The Bar, Michael Bublé’s Nobody But Me rockets 49 places to 19, and singer-songwriter Steve Hackett starts at 24 with The Night Siren.

Following their performance of classic hits on ITV’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Take That’s nineties retrospective Never Forget – The Ultimate Collection leaps 67 spots to 25, while a reissue of Paul McCartney’s 1989 album Flowers In The Dirt is at 29 on today’s Update.

Jethro Tull are new at 36 with The String Quartets, Robbie Williams’ The Heavy Entertainment Show climbs 10 to re-enter the Top 40 at 38, while Olly Murs’ 24HRS also makes a reappearance at 39 and Trey Songz is new at 40 with Tremaine – The Album.

Check out the Top 100 Official Albums Chart Update in full

Singles

Behind Shape Of You (1), Ed Sheeran is threatening to overtake himself at the top with Galway Girl at 2, currently just 1,200 equivalent units behind. Meanwhile, Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson’s Symphony climbs three places to 3.

Rag’n’Bone Man’s Human could be returning to the Top 10 this week thanks to its outing on The Voice UK by contestant Mo Adeniran over the weekend, currently at 9, and Bruno Mars is set for a big climb with That’s What I Like, up 12 places to Number 13 on today’s update.

Zayn is on track to claim this week’s highest new entry with Still Got It ft. Partynextdoor, Rag’n’Bone Man’s Skin is set for a Top 40 return, currently at 24, and Lorde’s Green Light is scaling back up the chart, up nine spots to 29.