Elton takes No 1 spot

Sir Elton John is celebrating today after his latest single - a collaboration with boy band Blue - beat a Christmas novelty record and went straight to the top of the charts.

The single, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, knocked rapper Eminem off the number one slot.

Sir Elton had already taken the single to number 11 in 1976, before any of the members of the British boy band were even born.

His closest rivals were The Cheeky Girls, a pair of Transylvanian twins with The Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum), written for them by their mother.

Critics have already questioned whether the double act will be more than a one-hit wonder, with producer Pete Waterman calling them "the worst act ever".

They were rejects from the current Pop Idol: The Rivals series which may yet produce a challenge to Sir Elton next week as the debut songs from the successful boy and girl bands flood the Christmas market.

The boys, One True Voice, and the girls, Girls Aloud, are releasing rival singles this week which will battle it out for the top, with the boys already accusing the girls of launching a war of words against them at the order of record company bosses.

Both groups have spurned cover versions of old songs - the tactic used in the original Pop Idol - to produce their own singles. Girls Aloud release Sound Of The Underground today, while One True Voice unveil Sacred Trust. Both bands will start on a hectic promotional tour of the country in a bid to boost sales.

The BBC's rival programme, Fame Academy - won on Friday by 24-year-old former busker David Sneddon - has decided not to enter the race to beat the ITV groups to the top.

Instead he will release his single in the New Year, after the Christmas hype has passed.

Gareth Gates, the Pop Idol runner-up, was fifth this week with his single What My Heart Wants To Say, leading to some pop industry insiders privately wondering if his popularity is now beginning to fade.

There was disappointment for Robbie Williams, with his single Feel falling from fourth to seventh place.