Burke to beat Robbie in UK charts

Williams and Burke were both criticised for their X Factor performances

X Factor winner Alexandra Burke is on course to beat Robbie Williams to the top of the UK singles charts, according to midweek figures.

Both acts appeared on Sunday's ITV1 show to perform their songs.

Burke's track Bad Boys, which features rapper Flo Rida, has sold almost double Williams' comeback single Bodies and is expected to shift over 100,000 copies.

The singer's version of Hallelujah, released after her X Factor win, became the best-selling single of 2008.

On Tuesday, Williams revealed his first live TV performance in three years did not go to plan, after a door that was supposed to open and lead him on stage became stuck.

Writing on his blog, he said: "That's enough to throw you right off your stride. I don't know if you saw but I had to wedge it open myself. That wasn't part of the show."

Some fans used the X Factor forums to accuse Williams of not singing in tune.

Meanwhile, critics slammed Burke claiming she had not performed live on the show that launched her singing career.

But speaking on BBC Radio 1's Chris Moyles Breakfast Show, judge Cheryl Cole said she did not know if Burke's mic had been live.

"Was she miming? I didn't think she was miming. I was so caught up in the production and performance," she said.

"I was having a whale of a time that I wasn't even thinking about was she miming was she not."