Third week lucky for chart-topper Will

Will Young was today celebrating a third week at the top of the British charts despite a strong challenge from Ali G and Shaggy.

The Pop Idol winner - who announced he was gay last weekend - hung on to the number one position with his double A-side single Anything Is Possible/Evergreen.

But Me Julie, a duet between reggae artist Shaggy and spoof rapper Ali G, has debuted at number two, pushing Shakira down into the third slot.

Ali G’s crack at the single charts follows his foul-mouthed outburst on Radio 1, during which he called Will a ‘‘batty boy’’, derogatory slang for a homosexual.

The release by the Will, a former politics graduate who triumphed in the television talent show, has notched up phenomenal sales and has already entered the record books as the fastest selling UK single of all time.

During last week it outsold Ali G’s release by around two to one,

But it now looks as if Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates will challenge Will for the number one slot when he releases his debut single Unchained Melody tomorrow.

Retailers believe that Gareth’s single could be an even bigger seller than Will’s track.

Orders from shops have led the record company BMG to press up 1.3 million copies initially - 100,000 more than for Will’s release.

Gareth will also be racing his musical hero George Michael to the number one position as he will be releasing a comeback single, Freeek!, on the same day.