Take That's This Life secures biggest opening week for British act in 2023 as it hits Number 1

Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald surpass Lewis Capaldi's previous record

Take That secure the biggest opening week for a British act on the Official Albums Chart in 2023, as This Life becomes the group’s ninth Number 1.

Boasting UK chart units of 116,000 in its first seven days, 97% of which are on physical formats, the ninth studio album from Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald surpasses 2023’s previous fastest-selling record by a British act; Lewis Capaldi’s second album Broken By Desire to Be Heavenly Sent, which earned 95,000 chart units in its first week on sale.

Take That have previously enjoyed Number 1 success with Everything Changes (1993), Nobody Else (1995), Greatest Hits (1996), Beautiful World (2006), The Circus (2008), Progress (2010), III (2014) and Odyssey (2018).

MORE: See where every Take That song and album has charted in the UK

The group now draw level with Bob Dylan, Coldplay and Kylie Minogue on the list of acts with the most UK Official Number 1 albums to their names, with nine apiece.

On their Official Charts success, Take That say:

“First of all, wow. We're so grateful our ninth studio album has given us our ninth UK Number 1 record.

“Thank you to our fans from the bottom of our hearts for every bit of love they've shown us this year, whether it was coming for a singalong at BST Hyde Park in the summer or streaming and buying the album this week.

“Our focus now turns to the tour next year. We cannot wait to take this show on the road.”

WATCH Take That accept their Official Number 1 album award for This Life:

MORE: Everything you need to know about the 2023 Official Christmas Number 1 single race

Elsewhere on this week’s Official Albums Chart, Michael Bublé’s yuletide staple Christmas leaps 12 back into the Top 5 for the first time this year (4).

Following her death in May of this year, aged 84, hits compilation Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll earns the late Tina Turner a 13th Top 40 LP (16).

And finally, Kylie Minogue’s chart-topping 1988 debut Kylie returns to the Top 40 for the first time in 34 years thanks to a 35th anniversary reissue (30). Now available on neon pink vinyl, the album is this week’s most popular LP on wax; topping the Official Vinyl Albums Chart.

Kylie also claims Number 1 on the Official Record Store Chart, proving the most-purchased physical album in the UK’s independent record shops this week.