MICHAEL JACKSON - JACKSON'S NUMBER ONES TO TOP UK CHART?

Troubled singer MICHAEL JACKSON's new NUMBER ONES album is on course to top the British album chart this weekend (23NOV03), although it's unclear whether allegations of child abuse against him will now affect sales.

The THRILLER star's new compilation album heads the midweek chart predictions, but that's based on sales for the first two days of its release - before news broke that California police have issued a warrant for his arrest over "multiple" allegations of child molestation.

Record shop chain HMV's GENNARO CASTALDO says, "His album has been selling very well and we would expect it to sell well over 100,000 by the end of the week.

"It will be interesting to see what effect the investigation has, but I suspect that the album will carry on selling.

"I think the public can separate Michael Jackson the recording artist from Michael Jackson the man. Of course it will depend on how serious the allegations prove to be.

"But we won't be withdrawing his products from our stores. We're not here to judge him or act as a censor - it is up to customers to make their own informed choice."