SAM Ryder is rocketing towards his first number one album following the release of debut record There’s Nothing But Space, Man!

The singer rose to fame after coming second in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, giving the UK its best result for more than 20 years.

He missed out on the top spot to Ukraine’s Kalush Orchestra and peaked at number two in the Official Singles Chart with uplifting pop song Space Man, but may now hit the top spot in the albums chart.

His album, released on December 9, is currently outselling his nearest competition by US singer SZA by almost two to one at the midweek stage, according to the Official Charts Company.

If the record holds on to the top spot until Friday, it will be the first debut album by a solo artist to become number one in the UK since Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour in 2021.

This would help round off a mammoth year of success for the 33-year-old singer, who went on to perform at a string of high-profile events including the Queen’s platinum jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace and the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

However, SZA’s long-awaited second studio album SOS could still pose a challenge as the singer seeks to claim her first UK top 10 after her debut record Ctrl peaked at number 45 in 2017.

Taylor Swift’s critically acclaimed 10th album Midnights, which broke a string of records including becoming Spotify’s most streamed album in a single day, currently sits in third place.

As the days to Christmas count down and snow falls across the UK, Michael Buble’s festive classic, titled Christmas, rises one spot to fourth.

Meanwhile, Harry Styles’ award-winning Harry’s House is currently sitting in fifth place in the midweek update.

North Shields singer Sam Fender could potentially land two albums in the top 10 this week following the release of his new offering, Live From Finsbury Park – a recording of his headline set at the venue on July 15, which could debut at number seven.

His former chart-topper, Seventeen Going Under, is also looking like it could rise 34 places to come in at number nine, according to the Official Charts Company.