Gates (r) with Pop Idol winner Will Young

Gates's debut single, a version of the Righteous Brothers' classic Unchained Melody, is the fastest selling disc by a teenage artist in the 50-year history of the pop charts.

Will Young, who beat Gareth to the TV Pop Idol crown, slipped to number eight with his debut single and former number one, Anything is Possible/Evergreen.

In an interview on Sunday, Gates revealed his ambition to outlast his Pop Idol rival's stay at the number one spot.

I've got to get my own back

Gareth Gates

He told DJ Foxy - formerly known as Dr Fox - the presenter of Channel 5's Pepsi Chart Show: "I have to make it to four weeks at number one.

"I have to beat Will. I have to. I have to. I've got to get my own back," he told Foxy, who was one of the judges on the ITV Pop Idol programme.

The week's highest new entry, apart from Spears's song, was It's Goin' Down, from X-Ecutioners, at number seven.

Revelations of the Queen Mother's impressions of Ali G failed to boost sales for the spoof gangsta rapper.

His debut single, Me Julie, slipped two places in this week's chart to number four, behind Shakira, in third place, with Whenever Wherever.

New top 20 entries

2. I'm Not a Girl Not Yet a Woman: Britney Spears 7. It's Goin' Down: X-Ecutioners 16. Soak Up the Sun: Sheryl Crow 18. Everywhere: Michelle Branch 19. I Can't Wait: Ladies First

In the album chart, Celine Dion held on to the top spot with A New Day Has Come, despite the poor performance of the title track, which slipped five places, to number 20, in the singles chart.

Darren Hayes, lead singer for Australian pop band Savage Garden, had the highest new entry in this week's top 40 albums.

His debut album, Spin, pushed Nickelback down to third place with Silver Side Up.

There was also bad news for Boyzone singer Ronan Keating, whose new album, Ronan, entered the charts at a lowly number 33.