Sunday's official UK charts countdown brought the somewhat predictable news that boyband One Direction had yet again scored a number one record with their newly released Midnight Memories. Their third and latest studio album was announced as the fastest-selling UK album of all time last week as the boys claimed the midweek number one with 145,000 copies.

One Direction
One Direction's Double AMAs Win Was Followed By A Chart-Topping Album.

Sunday saw 1D retain their No.1 notch with 237,000 copies sold, beating the 109,000 album sales that saw Robbie Williams' Swings Both Ways take number one last week. Midnight Memories pushed Williams' record down to third as well as Gary Barlow's Since I Saw You Last which was forced to resign itself to second.

One Direction Huddle
The 1D Boys Have Stormed The Charts With 'Midnight Memories.'

Midnight Memories has proved more popular than both of One Direction's previous albums, Up All Night and Take Me Home which sold 139,000 and 155,000 respectively in their first weeks. Though One Direction are a phenomenal British pop success story, their new album's success is likely to have been influenced by the festive season and gift buying in the run up to Christmas. Indeed, Midnight Memories is the fastest selling album since Michael Buble's Christmas in 2011; another seasonal success.

Watch One Direction's 'Story Of My Life':

Official Charts Company chief executive Martin Talbot said: "The success really does send a signal that the festive season is almost with us - and means 1D are now real contenders to claim the biggest album of the year," via BBC News.

An early indicator of Midnight Memories startling success was the global iTunes chart placements which saw the album ranked as the most downloaded in every single iTunes top 10 list, despite middling critical reception.

One Direction MTV
It's Party Time.

To add to the band's current glory, every single released from Midnight Memories so far - 'Midnight Memories,' 'Best Song Ever,' 'Story of My Life,' 'Diana,' 'Midnight Memories' and 'Strong' - has reached No.1 in multiple countries. It's going to be a good Christmas in the Styles, Horan, Malik, Payne, and Tomlinson households!