Ellie Goulding and Beyoncé neck-and-neck in battle for Number 1 album

Queen Bey is still gunning for Ellie on the Official Albums Chart, while Pharrell looks set to regain his singles throne.

Remember when Beyoncé was in Destiny’s Child and sang that she was a Survivor? Well, she may have gone solo but she’s lost none of her appetite for a good scrap – she’s got Ellie Goulding’s Number 1 album crown in her sights.

Ellie’s second album Halcyon finally reached the top of the Official Albums Chart last Sunday after 65 weeks in the Top 75. But that reign at the top could be very shortlived. Coming up behind Ellie’s slow-burner is Beyoncé’s shock-and-awe fifth self-titled studio album, which the star released with little fanfare last month. According to Official Charts Company's latest sales data, just over 1,500 copies separate elfin Ellie and the queen of the divas, but who will claim victory when the Official Albums Chart is announced on Sunday?

Ellie’s got form for denying pop megastars the top spot – she kept Lady Gaga off Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart thanks to her huge hit Burn. Is the Independent Woman going to end up disappointed come Sunday, or will she smooth down her Freakum Dress and leave Ellie in a Halcyon daze? Be sure to tune in to BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart Show with Jameela Jamil and Dan And Phil this Sunday (January 12) to see who comes out on top.

Over on the Official Singles Chart, supercool Pharrell Williams’ New Year looks to be getting off to a great start. His former chart-topper Happy has pulled further ahead of last week’s Number 1, Timber from Pitbull and Ke$ha.

As we reported in Wednesday’s Official Chart Update, just over 1,000 copies separated the two tracks, but now the snake-hipped music producer has increased his lead over the nonstop party animals to almost 7,000 copies. Can the Florida rapper and his sassy sidekick have a late burst of energy and turn Pharrell’s Happy face into a second-place frown?

Listen to BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart Show this Sunday from 4pm to find out who makes it all the way.