James Blunt secures his first Number One album in 19 years with Airplane Mode

James Blunt has surged straight to the top of this week’s Official Albums Chart with Airplane Mode, his eighth studio album, securing a third Number 1 and his first chart-topping record in 19 years since 2007’s All the Lost Souls. The chart achievement also leaves the singer-songwriter with a playful pledge to fulfill, following a tongue-in-cheek social media stunt in which he vowed to legally change his name to Ryan Air if the album reached the summit.

After making a similar promise in 2024 when a reissue of Back to Bedlam peaked at Number 7, the long-awaited name change now appears officially cleared for take-off. Celebrating the milestone, Blunt expressed his gratitude to fans while revealing his plans for the evening: “I can’t tell you how grateful I am to every single person who has gone out there and downloaded, or bought, or streamed my album. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much! I’m going to get absolutely pissed.”

Elsewhere in a fiercely competitive Top 5, Royal Blood debut at Number 2 with their fifth studio LP, Dead Company, ending an unbroken streak of four consecutive chart-topping albums. Olivia Rodrigo holds steady at Number 3 with You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In, while Skepta makes a triumphant return at Number 4 with The Fork and Knife, marking his first solo LP in seven years and his fourth straight Top 5 release. Kings of Leon round out the Top 5 with their first self-produced studio album, O My Beloved.

Further down the countdown, progressive rock favourite Steven Wilson earns his fifth solo Top 10 with Requiem For A Village at Number 6, just ahead of the late George Michael, who claims his 11th Top 10 entry at Number 7 with live collection The Faith Tour. Meanwhile, Tinie Tempah returns to the chart after a nine-year absence as The Night’s Not Dead lands at Number 20 and tops the Official Dance Albums Chart, alongside notable Top 40 entries from Rex Orange County, Queen, Bryan Adams, and Roxy Music.