Former postie turned TikTok star takes number one spot

A former postman who became a viral TikTok star has landed the number one spot in The Official Big Top 40 music chart.

Nathan Evans, 26, from Airdrie, quit his job as a postman after kick-starting a new viral craze of sea-shantying on TikTok and signing a record deal with Polydor Records.

His song Wellerman is the new number one in the chart, with a remix of the song by 220 KID and Billen Ted taking number three.

It beat Olivia Rodrigo’s Drivers License, Ed Sheeran’s Afterglow and Riton & Nightcrawlers’ Friday to take the top spot.

Speaking to STV News he said: “Last Friday I just couldn’t concentrate on my post run because my phone kept ringing.

“And when Lorraine Kelly rang I thought I have to take this opportunity, it’s now or never, but I left on good terms in case it all goes wrong!”

Mr Evans previously told the PA news agency: “Back in the day when the shanties were sung, it was to bring everybody together, to keep them all in time, to keep the morale high.

“Especially in this time when everybody’s stuck at home, they’re doing their remote working – they can join in, and it kind of brings everybody together.

“So I think it’s just kind of brought it into this day and age. It makes it feel like you’re all united. Especially seeing how creative everybody can be with it.”

Wellerman is a cover of a 2018 song by Bristol group The Longest Johns