Arthur breaks X Factor records

Despite a decline in viewers for this year’s ITV1 show, the 24-year-old has notched up the fastest-selling winner’s single at this point in its release.

According to the Official Charts Company, by midnight on Monday there were 187,000 digital sales of Impossible, which went on sale on Sunday evening immediately after Arthur was crowned X Factor winner.

The sales overtake those of all other X Factor winners – Alexandra Burke’s debut Hallelujah sold 147,000, Matt Cardle’s When We Collide sold 112,000 and last year’s winner Little Mix sold 69,000 during the same time period. Leona Lewis’s track A Moment Like This sold 101,000 during the first two days on sale.

Based on opening-week sales, Shayne Ward’s That’s My Goal is the all-time fastest-selling X Factor winner’s single with 742,000 copies.

Official Charts Company managing director Martin Talbot said: “There has been a lot said about X Factor’s popularity this year and questions have been raised that perhaps its momentum is beginning to wane. But this amazing opening performance by James Arthur suggests that it remains the pre-eminent launch pad for new artists.”