U.K. CHARTS: JAMES ARTHUR TAKES THE CROWN

James Arthur has emerged as the surprise victor of this week’s U.K. Official Albums Chart race with his fifth set, Bitter Sweet Love (Columbia). Over on singles, Noah Kahan remains on top.

Despite the Reytons' and The Smile's being engaged in a battle for #1 midweek, Arthur edged ahead in the final hours; Bitter Sweet Love is the biggest album on digital downloads this week, while 74% of its sales came from physical copies. This is Arthur’s second #1 and fifth Top 3.

The Reytons’ self-released Ballad of a Bystander ends the week at #2. Radiohead offshoot The Smile—comprised of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and Tom Skinner—celebrates a career best with Wall of Eyes (XL) at #3.

Tom Odell’s Black Friday (UROK) is new at #5. Future Islands’ People Who Aren’t There Anymore (4AD) is their first U.K. Top 10 at #7.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart, Kahan’s “Stick Season” (Republic) has a fifth week at #1. It’s the most-streamed song of the week, with 8.8m listens.

Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” (Atlantic) is up three to #3. Madonna returns to the U.K. Top 10 for the first time in years, with her The Weeknd and Playboi Carti collab, “Popular” (Republic), jumping four to #10.

Outside the Top 10, “Beautiful Things” (Warner Records), by Benson Boone, rises seven to #11, and “Never Lose Me” (RCA), by Flo Milli, climbs two to #15.