U.K. MIDWEEKS: THE CHRISTMAS RACE BEGINS

Adele is on course to score the #1 album on Christmas Eve with 30 (Columbia). Over on singles, LadBaby, Elton John and Ed Sheeran take an early lead.

Should 30 hold on for Friday, the album will claim five consecutive weeks at the top of the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart this year, matching Olivia Rodrigo’s winning feat with SOUR (Polydor).

Elsewhere, Michael Bublé is up one to #4 with Christmas (Reprise), while Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra eye a new peak at #5 for Happy Together (UMG). Rod Stewart’s Tears of Hercules (Warner Records) looks set to climb three to #7.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss could re-enter the Top 10 at #8 with Raise the Roof (Warner Music U.K.) following the album’s vinyl release. Little Mix could also be set to land back in the Top 10 with their greatest hits set, Between Us (RCA), at #10.

The highest new entry this week looks to be Roddy Ricch, with Live Life Fast (Atlantic) starting at #26.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweek chart, YouTube fixture LadBaby takes an early lead for the coveted Christmas #1 with “Sausage Rolls for Everyone” (Frtyfve) f/Sheeran and John. The track, which leads on downloads, is benefiting the food-bank charity The Trussell Trust. Should it hold onto its midweek apex, "Sausage Rolls" will be LadBaby’s fourth Christmas #1 in a row, making him the first act to achieve that feat. Sheeran and John are his closest competition, with “Merry Christmas” (Atlantic/EMI) currently at #2. Others in the running include Wham! with “Last Christmas” (Epic), which is the most-streamed track of the week so far at #3, while Mariah Carey remains at #4 with “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (Columbia).

The second-most-downloaded track of the week so far is punk band The K**ts' special message for the Prime Minister, “Boris Johnson Is still a F**cking C**t” (Direct Action), at #5. The track follows up their similarly named 2020 release, which finished in the Top 50.