Ren's Sick Boi closes in on Rick Astley's Are We There Yet? in Number 1 album race

It's set to be a photo finish as Ren creeps closer to Number 1 midweek

The race for this week's Official Number 1 album hots up, as Ren's Sick Boi closes in on Rick Astley's latest LP Are We There Yet? in today's update.

Welsh breakout star Ren (full name Ren Erin Gill), raised on the Isle of Anglesey, now sits fewer than 150 chart units behind current leader Rick with his second studio record.

In a nail-biting battle of pop faces famed and flourishing, Sick Boi looks set to become Ren's first-ever entry on the Official Albums Chart; being his second full-length release following 2016 debut Freckled Angels. Rick, meanwhile, already has two Number 1 LP (1987's debut album Whenever You Need Somebody, and 2016's comeback release 50) plus a further nine Top 40 albums under his belt.

Speaking exclusively to Official Charts earlier this week, Ren claimed the prospect of a chart-topping record was 'mind-blowing.'

He explained: "Having a shot at Number 1 is the most mind-blowing thing ever. I've been working towards this since I was 12."

Read our full interview with Sick Boi star Ren here.

MORE: See where every Rick Astley song and album has charted in the UK

While he might be yet to make his mark on the Official Albums Chart, Ren is no stranger to the charts.

His emotive single Hi Ren - which sees him confront health issues both physical and mental with its accompanying, viral video clip - entered the Official Singles Sales Chart at Number 81 back in March.

Ren's tracks Suic*de and Murderer also achieved Official Singles Sales Chart success at Number 94 and 95 respectively.

WATCH Ren's Hi Ren music video below:

MORE: Who is Ren? Meet the rising Welsh musician behind Sick Boi

Elsewhere in today's Top 5 update, Holly Humberstone's debut LP Paint My Bedroom Black eyes a Number 3 entry, while Troye Sivan could claim a career-best with his third studio release Something to Give Each Other, predicted to land at Number 4.

The Streets' The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light could also earn Mike Skinner a Top 5 placing this week (5). The Streets last saw such success with 2020's None of Us Are Getting Out of this Life Alive (2).

Who do you want to see claim this week's Official Number 1 album - are you Team Ren or Team Rick? Let us know over on Facebook and Twitter/X.

Don't forget to listen to The Official Chart with Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Sounds live this Friday October 20 from 4PM BST to find out who makes it, and keep your eyes peeled to OfficialCharts.com for all the latest.