David Bowie dominates album chart as Blackstar shoots to number one

David Bowie's Blackstar has rocketed into number one as mourning fans helped the late singer secure a quarter of the spots in the UK Top 40 album chart.

Bowie's final LP debuted in first place with almost 150,000 combined sales, making it the fastest selling album of the year so far and clinching the Starman his tenth chart-topping record - although it was already on course for the top spot before Bowie's death on January 10.

A total of 623,000 Bowie records sold this week, breaking down into 241,000 album sales, 167,000 singles purchased, and over 19 million song listens on audio streaming services.

The highest entry after Blackstar among Bowie's 10 top 40 albums was 2014's retrospective Nothing Has Changed - The Very Best Of in fifth, and included classics Hunky Dory, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust, and Aladdin Sane in 14th, 17th and 23rd place respectively.

Bowie's triumph knocks Adele's 25 from her seven week run at the top and she falls to third place.

Elvis Presley's If I Can Dream holds at number two while Justin Bieber's Purpose keeps its grip on four.

Bowie's dominance continues in the singles chart with five tracks re-entering the Top 40 and peaking at number 12 with Heroes - a new high for the track which only reached 24 on release in 1977.

Bieber won the clash of the Canadians for the number one spot, logging a sixth, non-consecutive week at the top with Love Yourself and pushing Shawn Mendes into second with Stitches.

Bieber's Sorry and What Do You Mean take third and fourth position respectively, and the top five is rounded off by Sigala with Sweet Lovin' feat. Bryn Christopher.

:: Bowie's albums to feature in the Top 40 Chart Album are:

1 - Blackstar

5 - Nothing Has Changed - The Very Best Of

11 - The Best Of 1969/1974

14 - Hunky Dory

17 - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust

18 - Best Of Bowie

23 - Aladdin Sane

25 - The Next Day

31 - Low

37 - Diamond Dogs