Joe McElderry knocks Rage off number 1

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Having missed out on the Christmas number one, the winner of "The X Factor" TV talent show Joe McElderry has finally reached the top spot in Britain's New Year singles chart.

McElderry was denied the coveted Christmas number one by an internet campaign to win it for US rap-metal band Rage Against the Machine.

But in the past week, McElderry's "Climb" sold 196,000 copies, 130,000 more than Rage Against the Machine's 1992 single "Killing in the Name," which came in at number two, the Official Charts Company said on Sunday (Monday, NZT).

McElderry's single was also just outside the top five for the year, 10,000 sales behind La Roux's "In For The Kill."

Lady Gaga stays at number three this week with "Bad Romance" and maintains her year-to-date top spot with "Poker Face," which has sold around 870,000 copies.

X Factor judge Cheryl Cole also shares the distinction of featuring in both the weekly and year-to-date charts, with her single "3 Words" rising to number four this week, while "Fight For This Love" is the fourth biggest selling single of 2009 so far.

The last week of the chart year ends at midnight on Saturday January 2.

- Reuters