Sam Ryder celebrates hitting number one on charts with his debut album
‘Looks like Christmas came early!’ Sam Ryder celebrates the number one album by becoming the first British male solo artist to top the charts with a debut release in three years.
Sam Ryder said it “feels like Christmas came early” after his debut album – There’s Nothing But Space, Man! – topped the UK charts.
The 33-year-old singer finally clinched the top spot after placing second in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest and peaking at number two on the Official Singles Chart with his uplifting pop song Space Man earlier this year.
It has become the first debut album by a British male solo artist to reach number one in over three years.
Delighted: Sam Ryder, 33, said ‘it feels like Christmas came early’ after his debut album – There’s Nothing But Space, Man! – topped the UK charts
Sam, who battled health issues while promoting the album, told the Official Charts Company: “It feels like Christmas came early, because we hit a number one record together.” Thank you very much to all. If you knew how many people have worked so hard on this, you’d be surprised. This is pure collaboration.
“It couldn’t have been done without so many fabulous, amazing and optimistic legends. I love you, peace.’
The album’s success caps off a mammoth year of triumphs for the Essex singer, who rose to fame as Britain’s Eurovision contender, losing the top spot to Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra.
Success: The singer achieved the top spot after placing second in this year’s Eurovision and reaching number two on the Official Singles Chart with his song Space Man earlier this year.
New Heights: It has become the first debut album by a British male solo artist to reach number one in over three years.
She has performed at Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace, appeared at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium singing a cover of Queen’s Somebody To Love with Brian May, Roger Taylor and Foo Fighters, and has been commissioned to present his own BBC One New Year’s Eve TV special alongside special guests Mel C and Sigrid.
Sam, who wreaked havoc during an appearance to discuss his single on This Morning on Thursday when he flouted television regulations, battled competition from US singer SZA’s highly anticipated second studio album, SOS, which charted at the top of the charts. number two.
Meanwhile, on the singles chart, Last Christmas by Wham! it secured the top spot with 11.4 million views, according to the Official Charts Company.
Originally released in 1984, the song once held the record for the best-selling single to never hit number one in the UK, famously being held at number two by Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?
It first peaked at the top spot on New Year’s Day in 2021, at the time breaking a chart record for the longest time a track has taken to top the singles chart, which is now held by Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush.
In all, six of the top 10 songs on this week’s charts are Christmas themes, including Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You and Michael Buble’s cover of It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas.
Born to perform: The album’s success caps off a mammoth year of triumphs for the singer, who represented the UK at Eurovision, coming second behind Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra (pictured on stage at the Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard earlier this month)