Will Sam Bailey and One Direction top the Christmas charts?

In the final sales flash before the Official 2013 Christmas Number 1 single and Number 1 album are announced, we reveal who are currently leading the races.

This Sunday (December 22) Jameela Jamil and Scott Mills will reveal who’s scored the Official 2013 Christmas Number 1 single and album live on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart Show. As ever, it’s been a closely fought race, as the nation waits with baited breath to find out who’ll be going down in the history books as this year’s festive chart toppers.

According to this morning’s Official Charts Company sales data, X Factor star Sam Bailey could set to celebrate another victory this Sunday a mere week after winning the latest series of ITV’s reality TV singing contest. The 36-year-old mum of two is currently in pole position on today’s Official Singles Chart with her cover of Demi Lovato’s Skyscraper. Up to midnight last night (Thursday, December 20) Sam’s debut single has sold more than 107,000 copies so far this week, a cool 68,000 ahead of her closest rival, Pharrell Williams’ Happy (Number 2).

Leona Lewis holds firm at Number 3 with her festive single, One More Sleep, while Avicii’s Hey Brother and Lily Allen’s cover of Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know complete the Top 5.

Over on the Official Albums Chart, things aren’t as clear cut: Reigning chart champ Robbie Williams’ Swings Both Ways is currently neck-and-neck with One Direction’s Midnight Memories. The 1D boys are narrowly ahead of Robbie this morning by just 2,700 copies.

The rest of the Top 5 remains static with Gary Barlow’s Since I Saw You Last (3), Olly Murs' Right Place, Right Time (4) and Beyoncé’s new self-titled album (5).

When will the 2013 Christmas Number 1 be announced?

The cut-off point for sales to be counted towards this year’s Official Christmas Number 1 is midnight next Saturday night (December 21). The Official Christmas Singles Chart Top 40 will then be counted down on BBC Radio 1’s Official Chart Show with Jameela Jamil and Scott Mills between 4 and 7pm on Sunday (December 22), with the full Top 100 posted here on OfficialCharts.com at 7pm.