The star, criticised for his sexist and homophobic lyrics, knocked the Popstars rejects Liberty X off the top spot with his single Without Me from the forthcoming album, The Eminem Show.

His album is being released on Monday, ahead of schedule to combat the growing numbers of pirate copies already in circulation.

Eminem's second album, The Marshall Mathers LP, has sold 16 million copies since its release in 2000.

Crooner

Meanwhile Westlife's new track, Bop Bop Baby, charted at number five, while girl band Atomic Kitten scored a new entry at number three in the BBC singles chart with It's OK.

Liberty X are now at number two 2 with Just a Little while Irish singer Ronan Keating has slipped two places to number four with Garth Brooks cover with If Tomorrow Never Comes.

In the album charts, Keating has gone straight to the top with his new album, Destination.

Latino crooner Enrique Iglesias is at number two with Escape, while last week's chart-topper, Moby, drops to number five with his new offering, 18.