Indie rockers The Wombats are the most likely act to finally knock reigning champion The Greatest Showman soundtrack off the top of the charts this week.
However, the Liverpool band’s fourth album Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life will need a boost as it is still 10,000 sales behind the current number one at the halfway stage of the charts week, the Official Charts Company has said.
The Greatest Showman’s cast recording – featuring its stars Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron and Zendaya – has remained at number one for five consecutive weeks.
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE! Our new album is OUT NOW!! Follow the link below to download your copy now! 🎉 🎉 🎉https://t.co/k31b9Xe0fJ pic.twitter.com/3utZ7jpha8
— The WOMBATS (@thewombats) February 9, 2018
It has so far fended off competition from the likes of Craig David and Justin Timberlake to retain pole position.
In line to debut at number three on Friday is Franz Ferdinand’s fifth record Always Ascending, and British MC Mist is at number four with new EP Diamond in the Dirt.
Ed Sheeran’s Divide is set to finish the week in fifth place on the albums chart.
Other new additions to the charts top 40 this week include London rapper Fredo’s debut Tables Turn in at number six, and The Gaslight Anthem’s lead singer Brian Fallon at number seven with his second solo effort Sleepwalkers.
The singles chart sees Canadian rapper Drake at number one with God’s Plan after a three-week stint, but Rudimental’s These Days is catching up and is less than 1,500 combined sales behind.
One of the tracks from The Greatest Showman, This Is Me, has jumped up three places to number three.
US rockers Portugal. The Man have continued to climb the chart after weeks in the top 100 with Feel It Still, with the increasingly popular track now looking likely to end the week in fourth place, ahead of London rapper Ramz’s Barking at number five.