McElderry storms album pre-order chart

Joe McElderry is on course to be the most successful male X Factor winner, according to music retailers.

The singer's debut album Wide Awake is expected to outsell previous male winners of the show based on pre-orders of the record.

Amazon reports that pre-orders for the LP are 49% higher than his nearest competitor, Shayne Ward's self-titled debut from 2006.

They are are also 232% higher than Leon Jackson's 2008 album Right Now and 407% more than Steve Brookstein's Heart and Soul in 2005.

"The worry for any male X Factor winner is that they have only a limited shelf life like we have seen with Steve Brookstein and Leon Jackson," said Julian Monaghan, head of music buying at Amazon.

"Joe McElderry has drummed up significantly more demand than previous male winners and could be the first in a new era of male X Factor successes.

"With last year’s runner-up Olly Murs already having a number one under his belt and Matt Cardle installed as firm favourite this year, it could be that we are going see much greater success from the male soloists than we have seen in years gone by."

Wide Awake is released on October 25.