Although first week sales of 102,993 are barely a quarter of the 411,820 sales that earned 49-year-old Boyle's debut, I Dreamed A Dream, pole position 50 weeks ago, The Gift easily defeated Bon Jovi's Greatest Hits, which holds at number two on sales of 59,267 copies. Containing covers of Lou Reed's Perfect Day, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah and Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over, The Gift otherwise concentrates on covers of Christmas and New Year favourites.

After debuting last week at ...