Ed Sheeran set for a Happy X-mas on the album chart

The million-selling X is currently Number 1 on today’s Album Chart Update, with a lead 35,000 copies on his closest competitor, Sam Smith’s In The Lonely Hour. If he holds on to his current position, it will give Ed his 11th non-consecutive week at the top.

Meanwhile, Olly Murs is at 3 with his former chart-topping album Never Been Better, George Ezra’s Wanted On Voyage is at 4, and Take That’s III completes the Top 5.

New entries and high climbers

Michael Buble’s Christmas album climbs to Number 7 in today’s Update, and Paloma Faith’s A Perfect Contradiction continues its ascent back up the chart thanks to its repack, currently placed at Number 12.

Further down the chart, Nicki Minaj is this week’s highest new entry at Number 17 with her third studio album The Pinkprint. The album follows 2012’s chart-topping Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded and includes the Top 5 single Anaconda and new track Bed of Lies.

Elsewhere, Aussie band 5 Seconds Of Summer debut at 21 with their first live album LiveSOS, Ed Sheeran’s + re-enters the Top 40 at 39, and D’Angelo’s first album in 14 years Black Messiah is currently just outside the Top 40 at 41.

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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