X Factor winner's reign continues

Alexandra Burke took this year's Christmas number one

X Factor winner Alexandra Burke's cover of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah has held on at number one for a third week.

The 20-year-old Londoner saw off the challenge of hotly-tipped New Yorker Lady Gaga, who went straight in at three with her song Just Dance.

Burke's talent show-winning predecessor Leona Lewis stayed at number two with her cover of Snow Patrol's Run.

Take That retained command of the album chart with The Circus, ahead of US rock band Kings of Leon.

Slump

While there were no new entries inside the album top 20, Girls Aloud's greatest hits package shot up the chart from 45 to number six.

Other acts to enjoy a post-Christmas sales surge included Elbow, MGMT and Michael Jackson with his King of Pop compilation.

Duffy's album Rockferry - the best-selling collection of 2008 - also crept back up the rundown to number three.

Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah, however, slumped from seven to 22 in the singles countdown.

It was the number two single at Christmas behind Burke's rendition of the song.

The Sugababes registered a climb of 60 places to 23 with their single No Can Do, while former chart-topper Dance Wiv Me by rapper Dizzee Rascal moved back into the top 40.

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