U.K. MIDWEEKS: FENDER AMPED FOR #1

Sam Fender is heading for his second #1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart with Seventeen Going Under (Polydor), while Elton John and Dua Lipa might finally dethrone Ed Sheeran at singles.

Fender has a comfortable midweek lead of 20k ahead of his closest rival, Drake’s Certified Lover Boy (Island), at #2. Should Seventeen Going Under hold onto its position until Friday, it will afford Fender his second #1, following his 2019 debut, Hypersonic Missiles.

Trivium is eyeing its highest-ever album peak on the U.K. chart, with In the Court of the Dragon (Roadrunner) starting at #3. James Blake could also score a career best, with Friends That Break Your Heart (Polydor) at #5.

Outside the Top 10, Johnny Flynn’s fifth album, Lost in the Cedar Wood (Transgressive), written in collaboration with writer and professor Robert Macfarlane, is on course to debut at #11. In the run-up to her return with new music this Friday, Adele’s 25 (XL) is up 15 places to #12 so far, while 21 (XL) leaps 23 spots to #25.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, Elton and Lipa’s “Cold Heart” (EMI/Warner Records) has moved up one place to claim the top spot, pushing Sheeran’s “Shivers” (Atlantic) down to #2.

Former Little Mixer Jesy Nelson claims this week’s highest new entry with her solo debut, “Boyz” f/Nicki Minaj (Polydor), which starts at #3.

Beyond the Top 10, Coldplay and BTS’ new collaboration, “My Universe” (Parlophone), is set to rebound back to #11 ahead of the Friday release of the former’s ninth album.

Becky Hill & Topic’s “My Heart Goes (La Di Da)” (Polydor) continues its rise, currently up one spot to #14, its highest peak thus far. Dermot Kennedy’s “Better Days” (Island) is also looking to gain a new peak, jumping six places to #20.