BBC to Launch New UK Midweek Chart Show

It looks like the days of huddling around the wireless at a quarter to seven on a Sunday evening, eager to discover the latest chart-topping sounds for the first time, may be over. The good news for Top 40 junkies is, while the excitement of that Sunday ritual will soon be diminished, the weekly opportunities for radio-based singles chart consumption are increasing by 100%.

It used to be that, while regular folks had to wait till the weekend for their first inkling of the Top 40 movers and shakers, industry insiders were able to get a pretty solid grasp on the likely running order thanks to the internal, midweek sales rundown. That privilege is now being extended, with BBC Radio 1 set to air a 30-minute Wednesday update, the same day the Official Charts Company reveals its halfway-stage figures.

The new slot will broadcast at 3.30pm, as part of Greg James's regular afternoon show, beginning on March 10th. According to George Ergatoudis, Radio 1's head of music, the new countdown will "encourage fans to go out and support their favourite acts, because for the first time they'll really be able to really see the difference they make in the weekly chart battle and then tune in on Sundays to find out who has won."

Others aren't so sure. Dizzee Rascal (pictured) is worried that the update "might kill the anticipation a bit or it might add to it -- we'll see."

One thing is for certain, whether you're tuning in cold on a Sunday or coming at the countdown fore-armed with a midweek form guide, when you do finally hear that official best-selling single of the week, it'll probably still be something rubbish.