Bradley Walsh outsells Zayn Malik for biggest UK debut album of 2016
Walsh's debut Chasing Dreams has reportedly sold 110,650 copies since October
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Bradley Walsh has beaten Zayn Malik to become the biggest-selling debut artist of 2016, according to reports.
You read that correctly.
The host of gameshow The Chase has managed to surpass the former One Direction star along with rising indie band Blossoms, to become the only new British act to release a record that went gold this year.
Walsh's first album Chasing Dreams, consisting of jazz covers such as 'That's Life' and 'Mr Bojangles' along with the title track, an original song written by Walsh, has sold an impressive 111,650 copies since its release by Sony CG in October, and is Britain's 7th best-selling LP overall, Music Business Worldwide reports.
Walsh told the i Paper: "I grew up listening to legends such as Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Tony Bennett.
"From those early days I've always been a huge fan of this style of music and now have the opportunity to record some of the greatest songs and arrangements ever written, alongside a 54-piece orchestra and band, is absolutely thrilling.
"I never expected that [a gold album]. It just goes to show that great songs live forever."
Stockport five-piece Blossoms had the second best-selling debut of the year, shifting a respectable 74,1455 albums in 2016, according to Official Charts Company figures.
Zayn Malik's Mind Of Mine sold 65,208 copies, and Brits' Cricts' Choice winner Jack Garratt managed 62,954 copies with his debut Phase.
It's worth keeping in mind that these figures show physical album sales but do not take streaming figures into account - on Spotify the numbers are very different.
Walsh's most-streamed song on Spotify is his cover of 'That's Life' from Chasing Dreams, which has 17,256 streams. Zayn Malik's 'Pillowtalk' off Mind of Mine, meanwhile, has clocked 467,029,072.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments