Take That reunion album tipped for Christmas No. 1

Take That’s latest album was tipped for Christmas Number One as it went on sale today, after becoming the biggest pre-order release of the year.

'Progress', the band’s first album since reuniting with Robbie Williams, was pre-ordered by thousands before going on sale to the public, making it the most in-demand Take That album of all time.

Bookies say the group are heading straight for the top after a sensational live performance on the 'X Factor' results show last night.

Ladbrokes have labelled the band “unstoppable”, slashing the odds for the album reaching Christmas Number One to 2/5.

Odds for Take That’s latest single, 'The Flood', climbing to the Christmas top spot were also slashed to 14/1.

The single entered the charts last night at number two.

This followed news that 'Progress' had received twice as many online orders as any other album released this year.

It was also pre-ordered more times than any other Take That album, including the 2008 release 'The Circus', which was the seventh biggest-selling album on Amazon.co.uk.

Online sales of the album have already surpassed expectations, and figures for the physical copies are likely to increase further.

Julian Monaghan, head of music buying at Amazon.co.uk, said: “Take That and Robbie Williams have enjoyed significant chart success over recent years but the demand for this first album with Robbie back in the fold is higher than anything that either of them have achieved before.”

“It is going to be a massive seller throughout the Christmas period and with the sell-out tour still to follow, it could be at the top end of the music charts for a long time to come.”

Progress, the band’s sixth studio album, is the first to feature the full line up of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Robbie Williams since 1995’s Somebody Else.

The 10-song album was produced by Stuart Price and is a mix of pop, rock and ballads.

HMV’s Gennaro Castaldo said: “Progress has all the makings of one of the biggest and fastest selling albums of recent years, and it should comfortably shift well over a million copies in just a few weeks as we approach Christmas - when it will undoubtedly top the festive charts.

“Robbie’s return to the band is the fairy tale chapter that was waiting to be written.”

The album is available to buy or download now for €10.50.