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Robbie Williams makes UK chart history as he achieves record Number 1 after film biopic Better Man flops at box office

Robbie Williams makes UK chart history as he achieves record Number 1 after film biopic Better Man flops at box office

Robbie Williams has made UK chart history after securing his 15th chart-topping album with Better Man. 

The Angels hitmaker now equals The Beatles’ record for most UK Number 1 albums as he gushed: ‘What a huge honour this is!’

The semi-biographical movie directed by Michael Gracey follows the 50-year-old star’s meteoric rise to fame as a member of Take That and subsequent dramatic fall, as he battled with his personal demons and the challenges that success can bring. 

But in a twist on the genre, the pop star is portrayed as a chimpanzee in the film, while everyone else is human, with Jonno Davies acting the movements via motion capture technology and Robbie doing most of the voice work. 

Speaking to Official Charts about his Number 1, Robbie said: ‘Thank you to everyone who has supported the album and the movie.

‘What a huge honour it is to get my 15th UK Number 1 album. A special thank you to all my fans, whose support I never take for granted. 

Robbie Williams has made UK chart history as he achieved record Number 1 for his Better Man album despite its flop at the box office

Robbie Williams has made UK chart history as he achieved record Number 1 for his Better Man album despite its flop at the box office

The Angels hitmaker now equals The Beatles¿ record for most UK Number 1 albums as he gushed: ' What a huge honour this is!'

The Angels hitmaker now equals The Beatles’ record for most UK Number 1 albums as he gushed: ‘ What a huge honour this is!’

‘I’m so proud of the film Better Man, so to have the soundtrack album reach Number 1 makes it even more special.’

The soundtrack for the film includes updated versions of his hits Rock DJ, Angels, Let Me Entertain You, and Better Man, as well as new versions of the Take That track Relight My Fire and his new song Forbidden Road. 

Across his illustrious career, all but one of the Stoke pop icon’s studio albums have reached number one. 

He also boasts a further 14 solo chart-toppers including  Life Thru A Lens (1997), I’ve Been Expecting You (1998) and The Heavy Entertainment Show (2016). 

However, despite the chart success and positive reviews from critics, international audiences haven’t been convinced by the new film. 

After its release, the film was considered a box office bomb in the US as it made $1.1 million despite a budget of $110 million. The film did however perform better in the UK, but still not as well as predicted. 

On Monday, the official Charts Company publishes the update to the charts which shows how sales and streams have gone over the weekend. 

And as of Friday, Robbie’s Better Man official soundtrack is sitting pretty atop the Monday Albums Chart Update, ahead of Gracie Abrams and Sabrina Carpenter. 

Speaking to Official Charts about his Number 1, Robbie said: 'Thank you to everyone who has supported the album and the movie

Speaking to Official Charts about his Number 1, Robbie said: ‘Thank you to everyone who has supported the album and the movie  

The semi-biographical movie follows the 50-year-old star's meteoric rise to fame as a member of Take That and subsequent dramatic fall as he battled with his personal demons

The semi-biographical movie follows the 50-year-old star’s meteoric rise to fame as a member of Take That and subsequent dramatic fall as he battled with his personal demons 

As of now, Robbie's Better Man official soundtrack is sitting pretty atop the Monday Albums Chart Update, ahead of Gracie Abrams and Sabrina Carpenter (pictured 2003)

As of now, Robbie’s Better Man official soundtrack is sitting pretty atop the Monday Albums Chart Update, ahead of Gracie Abrams and Sabrina Carpenter (pictured 2003)

Read More Robbie Williams opens up about his heroin use at the height of his drug addiction article image

Despite Better Man flopping in the US, Robbie has revealed that he is already working on releasing a sequel, which will pick up from around 2007 onwards. 

Speaking to Australian DJ Sean Brown, Robbie said: ‘There is so much that didn’t make the movie, only because we couldn’t fit it in.’

‘[It’s not like] I was too embarrᴀssed or ashamed to put it – there are many stories. It would have had to be a five-hour film to fit everything in.’

He optimistically added: ‘And hopefully it does good and there is a Better Man 2.’ 

Meanwhile, this summer Robbie is also set to perform his biggest UK tour in years.

The singer has announced two huge stadium gigs in London and will perform a slew of shows in Manchester as well. 

He will also reportedly perform a new track at this year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States later this year, according to The Sun. 

Adding another string to his bow, Robbie is also reportedly working on building a luxury H๏τel in Dubai. 

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