A BATTLE for the top of the charts began today between Pop Idol rivals Will Young and Gareth Gates.
Gareth was releasing his debut single, which could be an even bigger seller than Will's Anything Is Possible/Evergreen, the number one disc for the past three weeks.
Orders from retailers for the 17-year-old's cover of Unchained Melody have led his record company, BMG, to press up to 1.3 million copies initially. Will's release has sold about 1.5 million.
Bradford teenager Gareth will also be up against his musical hero, George Michael, who was releasing a comeback single, Freeek!, today.
Bookies William Hill are offering odds of 1/9 that Unchained Melody will be number one and 10/1 that it will stay at the top of the chart for eight weeks or more.
Gareth narrowly lost out on the Pop Idol crown to Will, but he was immediately offered a recording contract with BMG.
He has already signed a six-figure deal with drinks giant Pepsi.
Updated: 11:22 Monday, March 18, 2002
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