Cheryl (singer) first contestant to qualify for the girl group, and was joined by Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh to form Girls Aloud, following the final public vote. The group's debut single "Sound of the Underground" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the 2002 Christmas number one over boy band One True Voice's "Sacred Trust / After You're Gone". Girls Aloud hold the record for the shortest time between being formed as a band and achieving a number one single. Girls Aloud released their debut album "Sound of the Underground" in May 2003, which
The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits on the UK Singles Chart. "The Sound of Girls Aloud" received positive reviews from critics, who praised it as a reflection of the group's success. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number one, making it Girls Aloud's first album to do so. It also peaked at number nine on the Irish Albums Chart. In 2009, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) recognised "The Sound of Girls Aloud" as one of the nine albums that year to sell at least 1 million units in Europe. On 6 October 2006, Girls Aloud announced that they would release their