The Pop Idol finalists may not get the clear path to the Christmas number one as many had expected.

Monday sales figures show that the Idols track 'Merry Christmas (War Is Over)' is currently at number three, marginally behind Gary Jules at two and the Darkness at one.

“It’s been a fantastic first day for The Darkness," a Woolworths spokesman told The Sun today. “The Pop Idol finalists are surprisingly only in third, but not by much. And with more than five days of sales still to go it’s all to play for in the fight for the top spot.???