Say what you like about Simon Cowell ("Whatever happened to Michelle?" is a good starting point), but he has a knack for pulling off moments of genius. Yesterday was one of those momemts when Il Divo, a little known operatic vocal group signed up by Cowell, topped the album chart, knocking Robbie Williams off the top spot having shifted 130,000 records in one week with their eponymously titled debut long player. Well done them.
Elsewhere in the albums chart and well done to the Kings of Leon who go straight in at 3 with 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' - the Manics, meanwhile, go in at 13 with their new album 'Lifeblood'. Lots of best ofs in the chart this week - Travis at 4, Tina Turner at 6, the Bee Gees at 7, Phil Collins at 10 and the Verve at 15, while there are live albums from Busted at 11 and the Rolling Stones at 38.
Singles wise and five new entries at the top of the charts, all from our American cousins - Eminem went straight in at the top with 'Just Lose It', followed up by Destiny's Child at 2, Britney at 3, Christina at 4 and Usher at 5.
Elsewhere in new entries land we have dance stalwart Michael Gray at 7 with 'The Weekend', Jamelia at 9 with 'DJ/Stop', Wet Wet Wet with 'All I Want' at 14, Elton John with 'All That I', Allowed (I'm Thankful)' at 20, the Kaiser Chiefs with 'I Predict A Riot' at 22 plus Candee Jay at 23, Tyler James at 25, The Strokes at 27, Gerge Michael at 32 and Chingy at 34. Lovely.