James Arthur’s 'Impossible' becomes fastest-selling X Factor single

The single has been downloaded more than 187,000 times in 24 hours

James Arthur's new single 'Impossible'

X Factor winner James Arthur’s cover of Shontelle’s ‘Impossible’ has become the fastest-selling song released by an X Factor winner.

In the first 24 hours since its immediate release after Arthur was named the winner on Sunday night, ‘Impossible’ has sold over 187,000 downloads according to The Official Charts Company.

In the same time period Alexandra Burke’s ‘Hallelujah’ was the previous fasted-selling winner’s track, after it sold 147,000 copies in 2008. James also beat Matt Cardle’s 112,000 downloads for ‘When We Collide’ and Leona Lewis’ ‘A Moment Like This’ which sold 101,000.

On finding out the news, Arthur tweeted: “Wow just seen the figures for the single sales and it’s blowing my mind! Thank you all for buying it on iTunes.”

At the time of writing #GetJamesToNumber1 was trending worldwide on Twitter.

The figures were released ahead of Wednesday when the physical single goes on sale in shops.

Arthur still has to beat 2005 winner Shane Ward’s ‘That’s My Goal’, which retains the record for the best-selling opening week for an X Factor single at 742,000. Burke’s ‘Hallelujah’ follows with 576,000 in first week sales.

X Factor bosses will no doubt be pleased with the figures as the show continued to lose viewers this year, plummeting by seven million since 2010.