London, Dec 01: Pop heart-throb Will Young topped Britain's singles charts on Sunday having overcome a midweek sales blunder, while scandal-plagued Michael Jackson outperformed his miserable ranking in U.S. charts. Midweek sales of Young's "Leave Right Now" had been lagging the nearest competition, "I'm Your Man" by Shane Richie, by about 12,000 units after some stores ran out and fans were left empty handed.
But figures on Sunday from the Official UK Charts Company showed the spiky-haired crooner had managed to make up the lost ground to take the number one spot.
Richie's "I'm Your Man," which was recorded for the Children in Need charity and was also in its debut week, took the second spot. Scandal-plagued Michael Jackson, whose "Number Ones" album failed to make the top 10 in the U.S. this week, had more success in the UK singles charts where his "One More Chance" reached number five in its debut week.

Jackson surrendered to California police last week to face child sexual molestation charges and was released on $3 million bail. He has told his fans on a Web Site that the charges against him are based on a big lie.

Last week's number one, "Mandy" by Irish boy-band Westlife, fell to number three this week. The ballad was the band's 12th UK number one and was originally a hit for American crooner Barry Manilow in the 1970s. Made-for-TV band Girls Aloud, whose Cheryl Tweedy was found guilty last month of attacking a female nightclub attendant, fell from number two to four with "Jump."

Alex Parks, the winner of TV's "Fame Academy 2003," slipped from number three to number six with "Maybe That's What It Takes."

Notable new entries this week also included "Clap Back/Reigns" by rapper Ja Rule at nine, "Rainmaker" by rock veterans Iron Maiden at 13, "Feeling This" by Blink 182 at 15 and Limp Bizkit's cover of The Who classic "Behind Blue Eyes" at 18.
Bureau Report