Robbie Williams comeback beaten in British charts

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Robbie Williams' comeback single "Bodies" was beaten to number one in the British charts Sunday by talent show winner Alexandra Burke.

Both appeared last weekend on "The X Factor" -- the programme which Burke won in 2008 -- but former Take That star Williams' much-anticipated return sold less than half the copies of Burke's "Bad Boys".

"I'm blown away by the success of the single," Burke said.

The 21-year-old's track features US rapper Flo Rida. Her debut album, "Overcome", is released Monday.

"Alexandra Burke's success in having the fastest selling single of the year, and, in the process, fending off the mighty challenge of Robbie on his return, shows that her fan base has not only stayed with her, but is growing as she connects with a wider audience, said Gennaro Castaldo of music retailer HMV.

In almost any other week, "Bodies", with sales of around 90,000, would have comfortably given Williams the number one, said a spokeswoman for The Official UK Charts Company.

With Williams at number two, last week's number one, "Oopsy Daisy" by teenage London rapper Chipmunk, fell to number three, said the charts company.

British indie rock group Editors went straight into the album chart at number one with "In This Light and On This Evening", while Chipmunk's "I Am Chipmunk" entered the chart in second place.

Madonna's greatest hits compilation "Celebration" slipped a place to number three, while Colombian star Shakira's album "She Wolf" went straight in at number four.