Ed Sheeran holds on to UK No.1 album spot with 'x'

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is due to hold onto his No.1 position on the official UK albums chart this week with his sophomore studio album, 'x'.

Today's midweek chart update (July 9) has shown that the 'Lego House' superstar is still ahead, but he faces tough competition from the Manic Street Preachers who have entered at No.2 with their brand new offering and twelfth studio album, 'Futurology'.

Elsewhere in the UK Top 40's Top 5, Dolly Parton’s 'Blue Smoke' has climbed one place to No.3, Sam Smith is up one spot to No.4 with his impressive debut 'In The Lonely Hour', and 'Live Life Living' by Example is a new entry at No.5.

'Chandelier' songstress Sia has made an appearance at No.9 with '1000 Forms Of Fear', 21-year-old Oxfordshire singer/songwriter Lewis Watson is new in at 15 with 'The Morning', and Nicola Benedetti's 'Homecoming' is at No.23.

Watch footage of Sheeran performing at the Capital FM Summertime Ball here: