The 18-year-old confessed he's “not a rocker” and claims the stiff competition for the Christmas number one is “nothing new”.

Asked by the BBC what he thought of the track, McElderry responded: “I haven't heard it. I need to listen to it, I have not heard it yet... No, I'm not a rocker but I'll have to have a listen I think.”

On Rage being ahead in the chart race, McElderry said: “It's the same as any other chart battle, it happens all the time and I just hope that people go out and buy the single and if I can get a number one it would be amazing but I'm just going to wait and try my best.”

Despite the prospect of being number two, McElderry says the Facebook campaign isn't spoiling his fun.

“Obviously I would love love love a number one but it's out of my hands I can only only go out and promote the single, that's all I can do,” he added.

Sales figures released this morning show that 'Killing In The Name' is 65,000 sales ahead of 'The Climb'. The gap is likely to close, however, with the physical format going on sale today.

(by Scott Colothan)