Take That 'to pass million mark'

Take That's The Circus is currently the second biggest seller of 2008

Take That's latest album The Circus will have sold more than a million copies by the end of Friday, according to the Official Charts Company.

The album had sold just over 990,000 copies by the end of Thursday, putting it well on course to pass the million mark on its 19th day in UK shops.

Only Oasis's Be Here Now reached that point quicker, taking 11 days to shift a million copies in 1997.

The Circus is now 2008's second biggest seller, behind Duffy's Rockferry.

The Welsh singer's debut album has sold 1.5m copies since its original release in March.

Retailers

"Take That will have to go some to overtake Rockferry and establish The Circus as the biggest-selling album of 2008, but it is not impossible," said the Official Charts Company's Martin Talbot.

Take That released their second album since reforming on 1 December - the same day Britney Spears released her similarly-named record Circus.

The foursome's previous album, Beautiful World, is currently the third fastest record to sell a million copies, having taken 27 days to do so in 2006.

The Official Charts Company compiles its charts from sales information from over 6,200 retailers, including all major high street chains.