X Factor winner Louisa Johnson well short of Christmas no 1

The X Factor winner Louisa Johnson has made a poor start in the race for Christmas number one, entering the charts at number nine.

After singing her way to victory in the ITV talent show last Sunday, she has achieved sales of 39,000 for her single, a cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’.

Last year’s The X Factor winner, Ben Haenow, achieved 214,000 sales with his winner’s single, ‘Something I Need’, in its first week — it was Christmas number one. The X Factor winners usually do well in the charts at Christmas, with number-ones from winners Haenow (2014), Sam Bailey (2013), Matt Cardle (2010), Alexandra Burke (2008), Leon Jackson (2007), Leona Lewis (2006), and Shayne Ward (2005). Johnson faces another obstacle: The X Factor final took place earlier this year. With the official charts having moved from Sunday to Friday, Johnson has also not yet had a full week to make an impression.

However, The X Factor has given a boost to One Direction’s single, ‘History’, which reached number 11 after their performance of the song on Sunday’s final.