Christmas Number One 2018 shock: Midweek chart shows Ariana Grande is NOT in the lead

The star’s track thank u, next [sic] is number three in the midweek update – although it’s very close indeed. The Official Charts Company have revealed that only 1486 sales separate the Top 3 as things stand, with Ava Max out in front with Sweet But Psycho. The US star’s breakout hit has been No2 for the last fortnight but is in a good position to be the country’s No1 over Christmas.

Just 978 combined sales and streams behind Ava and 508 ahead of Ariana is YouTuber LadBaby. The blogger, real name Mark Hoyle, is raising money for foodbank charity The Trussell Trust.

He’s recorded his own version of Starship’s 1985 hit We Built This City – dedicated to sausage rolls rather than rock and roll. The track is performing very well on sales (it’s No1 on iTunes at time of writing) but is absent from the Top 200 on streaming giant Spotify’s in-house rankings.

100 premium video and audio streams count as one sale; as do 600 free video and audio streams.

Hoyle told OfficialCharts.com: “Who would have thought it? A sausage roll song being sung by a Nottingham lad would be sitting at Number 2 in the Official midweek Singles Chart?!

“What a fantastic achievement and great START… but let’s not stop there!! Let’s pinch that Number 1 spot from the global mega stars, eat our own body weight in sausage rolls AND most importantly raise even more money to support the amazing UK food banks charity Trussell Trust this Christmas!”

He added: “UK…I BELIEVE IN YOU, WE CAN DO THIS!!!! #LadBabyForNumberOne.”

Grande is at No4 as well with her new tune Imagine, while Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You rounds out the Top 5.

Wham’s Last Christmas is at No8 and The Pogues’ Fairytale Of New York is at 9 at the halfway stage.

Of the other charity efforts, Light Up by Flakefleet Primary School is currently at No15, while The Fire Tones’ spin on Do They Know It’s Christmas is at No67.

Over on the album chart, The Greatest Showman is due to rise back to the summit in time for Christmas.

It will be its 23rd non-consecutive week on the throne if it manages to maintain its lead until Friday.

Bruce Springsteen is at No2 with Springsteen on Broadway.

This year’s Christmas Number One will be announced on Friday, December 21.