Cilla Black has made it into the Top 40 for the first time since 1974, as fans rush to snap up copies of her hit Anyone Who Had a Heart.
The single, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, has soared to No 39 in the Official Chart, according to a snapshot of sales figures for the period to midnight on Tuesday.
The track has climbed more than 50 places in just 48 hours, as fans rush to buy, stream and download copies as a tribute following the death of the 72-year old on Sunday.
“The British public has a track record of demonstrating its love for its favourite artists by returning to their music – and Cilla Black is no exception,” said Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts Company. “Cilla has been a true legend of the British entertainment scene over the past 50 years and it is fantastic to see her heading back into the Official Charts again.”
Sales are likely to receive a further boost following ITV’s repeat on Tuesday night of documentary The One and Only Cilla Black and acclaimed drama Cilla, starring Sheridan Smith, which drew a combined average audience of just under 5 million viewers.
The One and Only Cilla Black pulled in 3.6 million viewers on Tuesday – and will be repeated on Wednesday and Thursday night – and Cilla drew 1.3 million, well down on the 4.26 million that tuned in when it was first aired in 2013.
If Anyone Who Had a Heart manages to stay in the Top 40 it will be Black’s first UK top 40 entry in 41 years, since 1974’s Baby We Can’t Go Wrong peaked at No 36.
Meanwhile, in the album chart, Black’s Very Best Of retrospective leapt a further nine places overnight to No 16, and could become her highest-charting album since 1968’s Sher-oo.
The album had already jumped 43 places up the chart on Monday.
It is likely that Black’s single and album will rise further up the chart as sales are counted up until midnight on Thursday.
The Official Chart Top 100 will be revealed on Friday at 6pm, with the Top 40 counted down on BBC Radio 1 from 4pm.
