Singing now he's winning

Robbie Williams's latest album has become the year's biggest seller in the UK after only five weeks, sales figures showed today.

The star - whose album is the Christmas number one - has sold more than a million copies of Escapology since November 18.

The release is his first under a massive new deal with his label EMI, worth around £50 million, and will be seen by the label as some satisfaction for their huge spend. Williams has been at the top of the charts each week since the album was released.

His first single from the album Feel peaked at number three, but it is albums that are the real moneyspinners and most important for a return on EMI's investment.

Escapology is the fastest-selling album of 28-year-old Williams's career and has also proved a worldwide hit with 4.4 million copies to meet demand.
It has still to be released in north America and Japan, where he has yet to experience major sales.

Escapology is his third consecutive Christmas number one album - following Sing When You're Winning and Swing When You're Winning - and it has been at the top of the charts in 10 other countries.