Matt Pagan’s journey to the top hasn’t been your typical one; the former kitchen salesman from Carlisle now fronts the Britain’s Got Talent-winning band Collabro, and their debut album, Stars, just beat Ed Sheeran to the top of the charts. 

CollabroThe Collabro boys

Stars knocked Ed Sheeran off the number one spot in the album charts, which he had held with album X for eight weeks, and that, according to Pagan, is unbelievable stuff. 

“It’s unbelievable. We have worked so hard and come so far to reach this point... it is a dream come true,” he explained having just completed a gig when heard the news. “We were all sat round the radio in the car listening. It was amazing to hear,” he admitted to The News & Star.

More: Collabro Have Won 'Britain's Got Talent' 2014

“The first person I rang was my mum. But she already knew. She had been listening too – but she seems to know about everything Collabro. Sometimes almost before we do,” added Pagan, whose mum – a resident of the St Ann’s area of Carlisle - said: “It’s fantastic. I’m absolutely over the moon. I’m overwhelmed and extremely proud. I just want to say a big thank you for all the support the lads have had from the local community and the region, just so grateful.”

Elsewhere in the charts, Courteneers’ Concrete Love at placed a No 3, which is The Manchester band’s highest chart result ever. Sam Smith and George Ezra, came No 4 and No 5 respectively. 

Meanwhile, in the singles charts, Cliff Richard’s 1992 single I Still Believe In You has returned to the chart at No 57 following a sympathy campaign by his fans. “We showed Cliff and the world we aren’t going anywhere,” the organisers wrote on Facebook.