Is Rik Mayall’s ‘lost’ World Cup single heading for a Top 5 finish thi

Campaign to get the late comedian’s World Cup anthem Noble England to the top of the Official Singles Chart gathers pace with only 2 days to go.

Rik Mayall’s 2010 single Noble England looks to be challenging for a Top 5 placing on the Official Singles Chart this Sunday following a fan-led crusade to get the comedy legend to Number 1 following his death on Monday 9 June.

Noble England, originally released for the 2010 World Cup, didn't make the chart first time around. But thanks to a social media campaign, the previously forgotten track entered Wednesday’s midweeks at Number 38.

24 hours later, it surged a further 27 places to Number 11, and according to latest sales data has broken through the Top 10 barrier to land at Number 8 this morning, based on sales up to midnight last night.

If Noble England continues with its current sales momentum, it could be looking at a Top 5 placing when the final whistle goes on Sunday. Will Rik’s last-minute penalty shot hit the back of the net? With two more days left to run of the chart week, it’s certainly feasible. The cut off for this week’s Official Chart is midnight Saturday.

If he makes it, it won’t be Rik’s first time in the Top 5, of course. As part of the Young Ones, he spent three weeks at Number 1 featuring on a new version of Living Doll with Cliff Richard in aid of Comic Relief.

To find out where Rik Mayall places, tune in to hear the Top 40 being counted down on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart with Jameela Jamil on Sunday from 4pm. The full Top 100 will be published on OfficialCharts.com from 7pm.