Rick Astley has been pipped to the top spot in the UK album charts by a Welsh singer-songwriter.

Astley had been in a tussle with Ren all week for number one.

Ren, whose full name is Ren Gill, was born in Bangor, Gwynedd, and raised on the isle of Anglesey in North Wales.

He is currently undergoing treatment in Canada for chronic illnesses including lyme disease and brain damage.

Sick Boi is his second album, but his first in the UK top 10 and his first to even make it into the official album charts.

In his independently-released album, Ren explores his physical and mental health.

All week Ren had been neck and neck with Rick Astley’s latest album Are We There Yet?

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In the end, Ren won the battle for number one by around 6,000 units.

In a post on Facebook ahead of his win, Ren said he was in “one of the most surreal situations”.

“I always had very tempered expectations releasing a record while going through medical treatment,” he said.

“I never expected to be in the charts let alone contending for a number one spot in the UK.

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“The support for this has been incredibly overwhelming and has been a source of constant strength for me in a very weird time in my life.”

Martin Talbot, chief executive of the Official Charts said Ren’s number one album was “fantastic news, both for Welsh music and for the independent music scene”.

He follows in the footsteps of other Welsh artists to have secured a number one album, including Sir Tom Jones, Bonnie Tyler, Shakin’ Stevens and Duffy.

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