The best-selling debut British album is the *most* unexpected thing ever

You will NEVER guess

Considering that One Direction alumnus Zayn Malik released his debut album back in 2016, it was to be expected that the Directioners would have safely put him at the top of the charts for the most bought album in the UK last year. But no. That was not the case at all.

While Zayn's debut album Mind Of Mine sold a total of 65,208 copies, and Brits' Critics' Choice winner Jack Garratt reached 62,954 for his album Phase, the winner eclipsed these numbers by selling an impressive 111,650 copies, becoming Britain's 7th best-selling LP so far.

And... drumroll please, it was Bradley Walsh who wins the title of the biggest-selling debut artist of last year according to Official Charts Company figures.

Yes, the same Bradley Walsh who hosts ITV gameshow The Chase. Bradley's first album consists of catchy jazz covers like That's Life and Mr Bojangles and was released last October.

Bradley told the i Paper: 'I grew up listening to legends such as Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Tony Bennett. From those early days I've always been a huge fan of this style of music and now have the opportunity to record some of the greatest songs and arrangements ever written, alongside a 54-piece orchestra and band, is absolutely thrilling. I never expected that [a gold album]. It just goes to show that great songs live forever.'

What this also shows is how younger listeners are consuming music, as these stats only take physical album sales into consideration, ignoring streaming figures from music programmes like Spotify. While Bradley may have beat Zayn in terms of physical sales, his album Chasing Dreams was only streamed 17,256 times, compared to Zayn Malik's Pillowtalk single which clocked up 467,029,072 listens.

So, Congratulations are in order for the The Chase presenter - who recently had fans in hysterics over his drunken appearance on Channel 4 breakfast show Sunday Brunch. Cheers to that.