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UK singles chart records and statistics - wikipedia UK singles chart records and statistics Jump to : navigation , search ( hide ) This article has multiple issues . Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . ( Learn how and when to remove these template messages ) This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . ( July 2007 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message ) This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia 's quality standards . No cleanup reason has been specified . Please help improve this article if you can . ( December 2009 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message ) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message ) The UK Singles Chart was first compiled in 1969 . However the records and statistics listed here date back to 1952 because the Official Charts Company counts a selected period of the New Musical Express chart ( only from 1952 to 1960 ) and the Record Retailer chart from 1960 to 1969 as predecessors for the period prior to 11 February 1969 , where multiples of competing charts coexisted side by side . For example , the BBC compiled its own chart based on an average of the music papers of the time ; many songs announced as having reached number one on BBC Radio and Top of the Pops prior to 1969 may not be listed here as chart - toppers since they do not meet the legacy criteria of the Charts Company . Contents ( hide ) 1 Most number ones 1.1 Progression of the record 2 Most combined weeks at number one on the UK singles charts 3 Most weeks at number one 4 Number ones by different artists 5 Most number ones from chart debut 6 Biggest - selling singles 7 Posthumous number ones 8 Lowest selling number one 9 Self replacement at number one 10 Fastest selling single 11 Biggest selling single not to top the chart 12 Downloads 13 Non-English language number - ones 14 Most weeks on UK Singles Chart by decade 14.1 1950s 14.2 1960s 14.3 1970s 14.4 1980s 14.5 1990s 14.6 2000 's 14.7 2010 's ( up to and including week ending 17 November 2016 ) 14.8 Top chart acts per year by total weeks on the singles chart 15 Age records 15.1 Youngest 15.2 Oldest 16 Other records 16.1 General 16.2 Most hits without reaching ... 16.3 Weeks on chart by individual singles 16.4 Most singles in a year 16.5 Simultaneously charting song 16.6 Longest time between number one hit singles for an artist 16.7 Album with most original number - one hits 16.8 Biggest drop out of the Top 10 16.9 Singles to have stalled at Number 2 twice 16.10 Longest playing singles to reach Number 1 16.11 Shortest playing single to reach Number 1 16.12 First to ... 17 See also 18 References Most number ones ( edit ) See also : List of artists by number of UK Singles Chart number ones The following is a list of all the acts who are on five or more UK number one songs with an individual credit ( meaning , the main artist or named separately as a featured artist -- being part of a group does not count towards an individual 's total ) . Simply playing or singing on a single without credit will not count , or the top positions would almost certainly belong to session musicians such as Clem Cattini who is reported to have played drums on over 40 number ones . Total Artist 21 Elvis Presley 17 The Beatles 14 Cliff Richard Westlife 13 Madonna 12 The Shadows Take That 9 ABBA Rihanna Spice Girls 8 Eminem Calvin Harris Oasis The Rolling Stones 7 Michael Jackson Elton John McFly George Michael Kylie Minogue Tinie Tempah U2 Robbie Williams 6 Justin Bieber Blondie Boyzone David Guetta Queen Slade Sam Smith Britney Spears Rod Stewart Sugababes 5 All Saints Bee Gees Beyoncé The Black Eyed Peas David Bowie Cheryl Jess Glynne JLS Bruno Mars Ne - Yo Katy Perry The Police Dizzee Rascal Flo Rida will.i.am Progression of the record ( edit ) Al Martino was the first act to have a number one single , with `` Here in My Heart '' in November 1952 . Seven months later Eddie Fisher became the first act to have two number one singles , with `` I 'm Walking Behind You '' following `` Outside of Heaven '' . In November 1953 Frankie Laine scored a third number one single with `` Answer Me '' and a fourth with `` A Woman in Love '' in October 1956 . In 1960 `` It 's Now or Never '' gave Elvis Presley his fifth number - one single . He increased the record ten times until June 1965 when `` Crying in the Chapel '' became his 15th number one . The Beatles then took the record with a 16th , `` Get Back '' , and 17th , `` The Ballad of John and Yoko '' , their last number one to date . After his death in August 1977 , Elvis scored a 17th chart topper with `` Way Down '' to tie . In 2002 , having been used in a Nike World Cup advertisement , a 1968 Elvis song `` A Little Less Conversation '' was remixed as Elvis vs JXL and went straight to the top for 4 weeks , giving Elvis his 18th number one single . Celebrating the 70th anniversary of his birthday , all of Elvis ' 18 number ones were re-issued in 2005 . Despite being re-issues , they were given different catalogue numbers and therefore count as separate singles , giving Elvis 21 number one singles . ^ Note : The Shadows , or The Drifters as they were originally called , are credited on twelve # 1 singles . Seven of these share credit with Cliff Richard and some lists recognise only their 5 chart - topping singles without Richard . Most combined weeks at number one on the UK singles charts ( edit ) Rank Artist Weeks at # 1 Elvis Presley 80 The Beatles 69 Cliff Richard 46 The Shadows 44 5 Frankie Laine 32 6 ABBA 31 7 Justin Bieber 30 8 Madonna 29 Take That 10 Rihanna 25 11 Elton John 23 Wet Wet Wet Most weeks at number one ( edit ) The record for most non-consecutive weeks at number one is 18 by Frankie Laine 's `` I Believe '' in 1953 . It spent nine weeks at number one , dropped down for a week , returned to number one for six weeks , dropped down for a further week and returned to number one for a third time for three weeks . It is one of five singles to return to number one more than once , the others being `` Singing the Blues '' by Guy Mitchell in 1957 , `` Happy '' by Pharrell Williams in 2014 , `` What Do You Mean ? '' by Justin Bieber in 2015 and `` Despacito '' by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber in 2017 . The longest unbroken run at number one is `` ( Everything I Do ) I Do It for You '' by Bryan Adams , which spent 16 consecutive weeks in 1991 . Below is a table of all singles that have spent 10 or more weeks at the top of the charts : Position Artist Single Year Weeks Frankie Laine `` I Believe '' * 1953 18 weeks Bryan Adams `` ( Everything I Do ) I Do It for You '' 1991 16 weeks Wet Wet Wet `` Love Is All Around '' 1994 15 weeks Drake ( feat . Wizkid and Kyla ) `` One Dance '' 2016 5 Queen `` Bohemian Rhapsody '' * 1975 / 76 & 1991 / 92 14 weeks Ed Sheeran `` Shape of You '' * 2017 7 Slim Whitman `` Rose Marie '' 1955 11 weeks Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ( feat . Justin Bieber ) `` Despacito '' * 2017 9 David Whitfield `` Cara Mia '' 1954 10 weeks Whitney Houston `` I Will Always Love You '' 1992 Rihanna ( feat . Jay - Z ) `` Umbrella '' 2007 * not consecutive weeks at the top of the charts Number ones by different artists ( edit ) Currently two songs have reached number one four times by different artists : `` Unchained Melody '' and `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' . Three of the versions of `` Unchained Melody '' sold over a million copies , while two of the versions of `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' achieved this . The lyrics of the Band Aid 30 version were changed to give it relevance to the 2014 Ebola crisis . Numerous artists appear on more than one version of `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' . Four artists `` Unchained Melody '' -- Jimmy Young ( 1955 ) , The Righteous Brothers ( 1990 ) , Robson & Jerome ( 1995 ) and Gareth Gates ( 2002 ) `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' -- Band Aid ( 1984 ) , Band Aid II ( 1989 ) , Band Aid 20 ( 2004 ) and Band Aid 30 ( 2014 ) Three artists `` Spirit in the Sky '' -- Norman Greenbaum ( 1971 ) , Doctor and the Medics ( 1986 ) and Gareth Gates and The Kumars ( 2003 ) `` You 'll Never Walk Alone '' -- Gerry & The Pacemakers ( 1963 ) , The Crowd ( 1985 ) and Robson & Jerome ( 1996 ) `` With a Little Help from My Friends '' -- Joe Cocker ( 1968 ) , Wet Wet Wet ( 1988 ) and Sam & Mark ( 2004 ) Two artists `` Answer Me '' -- David Whitfield and Frankie Laine ( 1953 ) `` Cherry Pink ( and Apple Blossom White ) '' -- Perez Prado and Eddie Calvert ( 1955 ) `` Singing the Blues '' -- Guy Mitchell and Tommy Steele ( 1957 ) `` Young Love '' -- Tab Hunter ( 1957 ) and Donny Osmond ( 1973 ) `` Mary 's Boy Child '' -- Harry Belafonte ( 1957 ) and Boney M. ( 1978 ) `` Living Doll '' -- Cliff Richard and The Drifters ( 1959 ) and Cliff Richard and The Young Ones feat . Hank Marvin ( 1986 ) `` Ca n't Help Falling in Love '' -- Elvis Presley ( 1962 ) and UB40 ( 1993 ) `` I Got You Babe '' -- Sonny & Cher ( 1965 ) and UB40 and Chrissie Hynde ( 1985 ) `` Somethin ' Stupid '' -- Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra ( 1967 ) and Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman ( 2001 ) `` Baby Come Back '' -- The Equals ( 1967 ) and Pato Banton feat . UB40 ( 1994 ) `` What a Wonderful World '' -- Louis Armstrong ( 1968 ) and Katie Melua and Eva Cassidy ( 2007 ) `` Dizzy '' -- Tommy Roe ( 1969 ) and Vic Reeves and The Wonder Stuff ( 1991 ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' -- Simon and Garfunkel ( 1970 ) and Artists for Grenfell ( 2017 ) `` Without You '' -- Harry Nilsson ( 1972 ) and Mariah Carey ( 1994 ) `` Seasons in the Sun '' -- Terry Jacks ( 1974 ) and Westlife ( 1999 ) `` Everything I Own '' -- Ken Boothe ( 1974 ) and Boy George ( 1987 ) `` Tragedy '' -- Bee Gees ( 1979 ) and Steps ( 1999 ) `` The Tide Is High '' -- Blondie ( 1980 ) and Atomic Kitten ( 2002 ) `` Uptown Girl '' -- Billy Joel ( 1983 ) and Westlife ( 2001 ) `` The Power of Love '' -- Frankie Goes to Hollywood ( 1984 ) and Gabrielle Aplin ( 2012 ) `` He Ai n't Heavy He 's My Brother '' - The Hollies ( 1988 ) and The Justice Collective ( 2012 ) `` Eternal Flame '' -- The Bangles ( 1989 ) and Atomic Kitten ( 2001 ) `` You Are Not Alone '' -- Michael Jackson ( 1995 ) and The X Factor finalists 2009 ( 2009 ) `` Lady Marmalade '' -- All Saints ( 1998 ) and Christina Aguilera , Lil ' Kim , Mýa and Pink ( 2001 ) `` Mambo No. 5 '' -- Lou Bega ( 1999 ) and Bob the Builder ( 2001 ) `` Against All Odds ( Take a Look at Me Now ) '' -- Mariah Carey feat . Westlife ( 2000 ) and Steve Brookstein ( 2005 ) `` Wake Me Up '' -- Avicii ( 2013 ) and Gareth Malone 's All Star Choir ( 2014 ) Most number ones from chart debut ( edit ) In 1963 , Gerry & the Pacemakers became the first act to have their first three singles reach number one when `` How Do You Do It ? '' , `` I Like It '' & `` You 'll Never Walk Alone '' all hit the top spot . The record was equalled by Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1984 and five years later by Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers . During 1996 and 1997 , the Spice Girls took their first six singles to number one from `` Wannabe '' to `` Too Much '' . Westlife became the first act to have their first seven singles ( `` Swear It Again '' , `` If I Let You Go '' , `` Flying Without Wings '' , `` I Have a Dream / Seasons in the Sun '' , `` Fool Again '' , `` Against All Odds '' & `` My Love '' ) reach number one in 2000 . Biggest - selling singles ( edit ) See also : List of best - selling singles in the United Kingdom Best - selling singles in the UK No . Single Artist Record label Released Chart peak Sales `` Candle in the Wind 1997 '' / `` Something About the Way You Look Tonight '' Elton John Rocket 000000001997 - 09 - 01 - 0000 September 1997 4,920,000 `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' Band Aid Mercury 000000001984 - 11 - 01 - 0000 November 1984 3,750,000 `` Bohemian Rhapsody '' Queen EMI 000000001975 - 10 - 01 - 0000 October 1975 2,440,000 `` Mull of Kintyre '' / `` Girls ' School '' Wings Parlophone 000000001977 - 11 - 01 - 0000 November 1977 2,080,000 5 `` You 're the One That I Want '' John Travolta and Olivia Newton - John RSO 000000001978 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1978 2,050,000 6 `` Relax '' Frankie Goes to Hollywood ZTT 000000001984 - 01 - 01 - 0000 January 1984 2,030,000 7 `` Rivers of Babylon '' / `` Brown Girl in the Ring '' Boney M . Atlantic / Hansa 000000001978 - 04 - 01 - 0000 April 1978 2,020,000 8 `` She Loves You '' The Beatles Parlophone 000000001963 - 08 - 01 - 0000 August 1963 1,930,000 9 `` Love Is All Around '' Wet Wet Wet PolyGram 000000001994 - 05 - 01 - 0000 May 1994 1,860,000 10 `` Mary 's Boy Child -- Oh My Lord '' Boney M . Atlantic / Hansa 000000001978 - 11 - 01 - 0000 November 1978 1,860,000 ^ Jump up to : The record labels , dates and chart peaks are those given by the OCC . Jump up ^ The sales are those given by the OCC as of 27 June 2013 , except where a more recent OCC figure is available . Posthumous number ones ( edit ) The first artist to score a number one single after their death was Buddy Holly in April 1959 with `` It Does n't Matter Anymore '' . Singer Eddie Cochran later made no . 1 after being killed in a taxi crash with `` Three Steps to Heaven '' in June 1960 . Jim Reeves scored a no . 1 single with `` Distant Drums '' in September 1966 , two years after his death in a plane crash . Dying in 1970 , Jimi Hendrix scored his only chart - topping single with `` Voodoo Child '' two months after his death , in November . After this the only other artists to receive one posthumous number one single were : Jackie Wilson , who died of pneumonia in 1984 and hit the top with `` Reet Petite ( The Sweetest Girl in Town ) '' Freddie Mercury , with `` Living on My Own '' in 1993 ( also Queen topped the chart a few weeks after Mercury 's death in 1991 with `` Bohemian Rhapsody '' / `` These Are the Days of Our Lives '' ) Aaliyah , who died aged 22 in a plane crash and hit the top with `` More Than a Woman '' in 2002 George Harrison , who died of lung cancer in 2001 and hit the top in 2002 with `` My Sweet Lord '' , which had previously been a no . 1 single for him in 1971 Tupac Shakur , with `` Ghetto Gospel '' in 2005 The Notorious B.I.G. , with `` Nasty Girl '' in 2006 Eva Cassidy featuring Katie Melua , with `` What a Wonderful World '' in 2007 Harrison took over from Aaliyah at the top , marking the only time in UK chart history one posthumous act has replaced a different posthumous act at number one . Elvis Presley and John Lennon have both accumulated three or more posthumous chart toppers . John Lennon did not have any solo no . 1 singles during his lifetime , but after his death `` ( Just Like ) Starting Over '' and 1975 song `` Imagine '' went to number one . Lennon became the second act to replace themselves at the top of the UK charts when `` Woman '' took over for a two - week spell at the top . Shortly after this Roxy Music 's version of `` Jealous Guy '' also reached no . 1 , meaning that from December 1980 to March 1981 four out of six chart toppers were written by Lennon . Presley holds the record for the most posthumous chart toppers . Following his death in August 1977 , `` Way Down '' instantly shot to the top for five weeks . Twenty - five years later , an old song called `` A Little Less Conversation '' was remixed by JXL and used in a Nike World Cup advert . It became so popular that it shot straight to the top of the charts and remained there for four weeks . Then in 2005 , RCA decided to re-issue all 18 of his no . 1 singles for his 70th birthday anniversary . `` Jailhouse Rock '' , `` One Night / I Got Stung '' and `` It 's Now or Never '' became three more chart toppers for the superstar , giving him 21 in total of which five were posthumous . In 2007 , the 30th anniversary of his death , one of Presley 's albums reached the top spot . American rapper Tupac Shakur died in September 1996 . His rival , the Notorious B.I.G. , was killed a few months later in 1997 . Neither reached the top of the UK charts during their lifetimes , but in 2005 , Tupac reached number one with `` Ghetto Gospel '' sharing the credit with Elton John . A few months later , in 2006 the Notorious B.I.G. matched this feat with `` Nasty Girl '' ( sharing the credit with Diddy , Nelly , Jagged Edge & Avery Storm ) . Lowest selling number one ( edit ) The lowest weekly sale for a number one single is 17,694 copies held by Orson 's `` No Tomorrow '' in 2006 . The addition of downloads to the UK charts meant that singles could reach number one with no physical copy being released . The first single to achieve this was Gnarls Barkley 's `` Crazy '' in early 2006 . Since 2014 , audio streaming has been included in the calculation of chart position , so it is now possible for a single to reach number one without selling any copies ( if it were only available on streaming services ) . In the week ending 24 September 2015 , `` What Do You Mean ? '' by Justin Bieber became the first number one with over half of its chart sales made up of streaming points , with sales of 30,000 and 36,000 points from 3.6 million streams . Since the incorporation of streaming into the singles chart , the Official Charts Company have continued to compile a sales only chart . In week ending 27 April 2017 `` Sign of the Times '' became the first number one in the sales only chart to sell less than `` No Tomorrow '' by Orson , with 16,686 copies . Self replacement at number one ( edit ) Since the inception of the UK Singles Chart in 1952 only four acts have replaced themselves at the top of the UK charts with exactly the same billing ( as opposed to any named artist , for example ' Cliff Richard and the Shadows ' and ' The Shadows ' have had back to back number ones on four occasions ) : The Beatles -- `` I Want to Hold Your Hand '' replaced `` She Loves You '' in 1963 John Lennon -- `` Woman '' replaced `` Imagine '' in 1981 Elvis Presley -- `` One Night / I Got Stung '' replaced `` Jailhouse Rock '' in 2005 Justin Bieber -- `` Love Yourself '' replaced `` Sorry '' in 2015 ; `` Despacito '' replaced `` I 'm the One '' in 2017 Fastest selling single ( edit ) The fastest selling single in chart history is `` Candle in the Wind 1997 '' by Elton John which sold 1.55 million copies in its first week ( it sold 658,000 on the first day of release , 13 September 1997 ) . The fastest selling debut single is `` Anything Is Possible / Evergreen '' by Will Young , which sold 1.11 million copies in its first week on sale . Publicity had built up due to the televised talent contest Pop Idol with 8.7 million people phoning in to vote for the finalists . Biggest selling single not to top the chart ( edit ) The record is held by Wham ! with their 1984 Christmas release , `` Last Christmas '' / `` Everything She Wants '' , which peaked at number two , being kept off the top by Band Aid 's `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' . It has sold 1.77 million copies following first week sales of half a million . The biggest selling single to peak at number three is New Order 's `` Blue Monday '' , which has sold over a million copies . However , it garnered its total sales via two further remixes of the track , meaning its one million sales are attributed over all three releases . The biggest selling single to peak at number three without re-issues is Ed Sheeran 's `` The A Team '' , which has sold over 1,067,000 copies since its 2011 release . The biggest selling single to never make the top 5 is `` Chasing Cars '' by Snow Patrol , which peaked at number 6 and has sold more copies than `` The A Team '' . Downloads ( edit ) Downloads grew steadily in popularity after first being integrated into the chart in 2005 . Although Gnarls Barkley 's `` Crazy '' gained considerable attention for being the first song to enter at number one on downloads alone in 2006 , this eventually received a physical CD release . The first number one to chart without ever receiving a UK physical release was Coldplay 's `` Viva la Vida '' in June 2008 . As of 2012 , very few songs are given a physical release , and almost the entire chart is released solely on digital download . On 22 June 2008 , both songs in the top two were there on downloads alone : `` Viva la Vida '' by Coldplay `` Closer '' by Ne - Yo On 31 August 2008 , the top three were download - only at the time : `` I Kissed a Girl '' by Katy Perry `` Pjanoo '' by Eric Prydz `` Disturbia '' by Rihanna On 1 March 2009 , the top four were all download - only : `` My Life Would Suck Without You '' by Kelly Clarkson `` Love Story '' by Taylor Swift `` Poker Face '' by Lady Gaga `` Dead and Gone '' by T.I. ( feat . Justin Timberlake ) By 13 February 2010 , the whole top 9 consisted of download - only songs : `` Fireflies '' by Owl City `` Under Pressure ( Ice Ice Baby ) '' by Jedward ( feat . Vanilla Ice ) `` If We Ever Meet Again '' by Timbaland ( feat . Katy Perry ) `` Do n't Stop Believin ' '' by Glee Cast `` Empire State of Mind ( Part II ) Broken Down '' by Alicia Keys `` Replay '' by Iyaz `` Starstrukk '' by 3OH ! 3 ( feat . Katy Perry ) `` One Shot '' by JLS `` Do n't Stop Believin ' '' by Journey Non-english language number - ones ( edit ) `` Je t'aime ... moi non plus '' -- Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin ( French -- 11 October 1969 for one week ) `` Chanson D'Amour '' -- The Manhattan Transfer ( French / English -- 12 March 1977 for three weeks ) `` Begin the Beguine '' -- Julio Iglesias ( Spanish / English -- 5 December 1981 for one week ) `` Rock Me Amadeus '' -- Falco ( German / English -- 10 May 1986 for one week ) `` La Bamba '' -- Los Lobos ( Spanish -- 1 August 1987 for two weeks ) `` Sadeness ( Part I ) '' -- Enigma ( French / Latin / English -- 19 January 1991 for one week ) `` The Ketchup Song ( Aserejé ) '' -- Las Ketchup ( Spanish / English -- 19 October 2002 for one week ) `` We No Speak Americano '' -- Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP ( Neapolitan / English -- 31 July 2010 for one week ) `` Gangnam Style '' -- Psy ( Korean / English -- 6 October 2012 for one week ) `` Despacito '' -- Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber ( Spanish / English -- 18 May 2017 for eleven non-consecutive weeks ) Source : Most weeks on UK Singles Chart by decade ( edit ) 1950s ( edit ) 1 . Elvis Presley 298 weeks 2 . Frankie Laine 268 weeks 3 . Pat Boone 239 weeks 4 . Lonnie Donegan 213 weeks 5 . Perry Como 191 weeks 6 . David Whitfield 189 weeks 7 . Bill Haley & his Comets 173 weeks 8 . Johnnie Ray 163 weeks 9 . Guy Mitchell 153 weeks 10 . Nat `` King '' Cole 147 weeks 1960s ( edit ) 1 . The Shadows 631 weeks 2 . Cliff Richard 537 weeks 3 . Elvis Presley 444 weeks 4 . The Beatles 333 weeks 5 . Roy Orbison 309 weeks 6 . Jim Reeves 292 weeks 7 . Billy Fury 258 weeks 8 . Adam Faith 246 weeks 9 . The Hollies 231 weeks 10 . The Everly Brothers 222 weeks 1970s ( edit ) 1 . Elvis Presley 331 weeks 2 . Elton John 223 weeks 3 . Diana Ross 220 weeks 4 . Paul McCartney / Wings 216 weeks 5 . Rod Stewart 209 weeks 6 . Marc Bolan / T. Rex 196 weeks 7 . David Bowie 196 weeks 8 . Cliff Richard 185 weeks 9 . Hot Chocolate 176 weeks 10 . Abba 173 weeks 1980s ( edit ) Shakin ' Stevens 254 weeks Madonna 252 weeks Michael Jackson 241 weeks Cliff Richard 234 weeks UB40 222 weeks Madness 217 weeks Kool & the Gang 196 weeks 8 . David Bowie 190 weeks 9 . Elton John 190 weeks 10 . Adam Ant ( & the Ants ) 185 weeks 1990s ( edit ) Oasis 282 weeks Madonna 258 weeks Mariah Carey 219 weeks Celine Dion 215 weeks Boyzone 201 weeks Janet Jackson 177 weeks Michael Jackson 175 weeks East 17 / E17 170 weeks Whitney Houston 169 weeks Bryan Adams 163 weeks 2000 's ( edit ) Kanye West 320 weeks Rihanna 300 weeks Justin Timberlake 289 weeks Beyoncé 287 weeks Akon 280 weeks Britney Spears 278 weeks Pink 268 weeks Sugababes 265 weeks Girls Aloud 255 weeks Eminem 250 weeks 2010 's ( up to and including week ending 17 November 2016 ) ( edit ) Rihanna 782 weeks Ed Sheeran 526 weeks David Guetta 507 weeks Justin Bieber 481 weeks Drake 414 weeks Tinie Tempah 406 weeks Calvin Harris 397 weeks Bruno Mars 385 weeks Nicki Minaj 365 weeks Chris Brown 361 weeks Top chart acts per year by total weeks on the singles chart ( edit ) Year Artist Weeks on chart 1952 Frankie Laine 13 1953 84 1954 66 1955 Ruby Murray 85 1956 Bill Haley & His Comets 110 1957 Elvis Presley 118 1958 Pat Boone 76 1959 Russ Conway 81 1960 The Shadows 107 1961 118 1962 92 1963 116 1964 75 1965 54 1966 Dave Dee , Dozy , Beaky , Mick & Tich 51 1967 Engelbert Humperdinck 97 1968 Tom Jones 58 1969 Marvin Gaye 60 1970 Elvis Presley 59 1971 66 1972 T. Rex 58 1973 David Bowie 55 The Wombles 65 Mud 45 1976 Rod Stewart 48 1977 Elvis Presley 49 1978 John Travolta 60 1979 Donna Summer 46 1980 Madness 46 1981 Adam & The Ants 91 1982 Soft Cell 49 Michael Jackson 60 1984 Frankie Goes to Hollywood 68 1985 Madonna 84 1986 59 41 Kylie Minogue 54 Bobby Brown 52 New Kids on the Block 56 1991 R.E.M 36 1992 Michael Jackson 38 Whitney Houston 50 1994 Mariah Carey 45 1995 Oasis 64 134 Spice Girls 57 1998 Aqua 52 1999 Steps 76 2000 Craig David 58 Shaggy 54 2002 Gareth Gates / Ja Rule 57 2003 Sean Paul 58 Kelis 47 2005 Elvis Presley 81 2006 The Pussycat Dolls 71 2007 Amy Winehouse 119 2008 Rihanna 129 2009 Lady Gaga 150 123 2011 Rihanna 224 2012 151 2013 will.i.am 100 2014 Ed Sheeran 159 2015 173 Totals include all instances where an artist is actually credited as part of the act . Therefore , for example , The Shadows score for their own hits as well as those where they backed Cliff Richard , and Diana Ross scores for both her solo hits and those as Diana Ross & the Supremes . However , Paul McCartney , for example , is not credited for any of The Beatles ' hits as he does not have a separate credit , ( although his hits with Wings do count towards his total as they are classed together in the Guinness Book of Hit Singles ) . Age records ( edit ) Youngest ( edit ) The youngest artist to have a number 1 single is Jimmy Osmond , who was nine years old in 1972 , with `` Long Haired Lover from Liverpool '' . The youngest artist to have a number 1 single in three decades is Britney Spears who was 31 years old when `` Scream & Shout '' became her sixth number one single in 2012 . She had scored one number one in the 1990s and four in the 2000s . The youngest artist to enter at number 1 is Billie Piper who was 15 with `` Because We Want To '' . Oldest ( edit ) The oldest artist to have a number 1 single is Tom Jones , who was 68 when `` ( Barry ) Islands in the Stream '' reached the top in 2009 . The oldest female solo artist to have a number 1 single is Cher , who was 52 when her single `` Believe '' reached number 1 . It spent 7 weeks at the top and became the best selling single by a female artist in the UK . The oldest artist to achieve their first number 1 is TV actor Clive Dunn with `` Grandad '' in 1971 on the week of his 51st birthday . Other records ( edit ) General ( edit ) NB : In the following statistics , Elvis Presley 's 17 re-issues in 2005 , which all made the Top 5 , count as separate hits . Most Top 75 hits : Elvis Presley ( 152 ) . Runner - up : Cliff Richard ( 131 ) Most Top 40 hits : Elvis Presley ( 128 ) . Runner - up : Cliff Richard ( 120 ) Most Top 20 hits : Elvis Presley ( 100 ) . Runner - up : Cliff Richard ( 95 ) Most Top 10 hits : Elvis Presley ( 77 ) . Runner - up : Cliff Richard ( 66 ) Most Top 5 hits : Elvis Presley ( 54 ) . Runner - up : Madonna ( 44 ) Most Consecutive Top 5 hits : Westlife ( 22 ) . Runner - up : Elvis Presley ( 20 ) Most Consecutive Top 10 hits : Madonna ( 35 ) . Runner - up : Ronan Keating ( 30 ) Most Consecutive Top 10 hits by a female group : Girls Aloud ( 20 ) . Runner - up : Destiny 's Child ( 11 ) Most Consecutive Top 10 hits including debut single by male solo : Rick Astley ( 8 ) Most Top 40 hits by a female group : The Supremes ( 30 ) . Runner - up : Bananarama ( 25 ) and Sugababes ( 25 ) Most successful songwriter : Paul McCartney 1695 weeks . Runner - up : John Lennon 1424 weeks Most number ones written ; Paul McCartney and John Lennon ( 33 ) . Runner - up : Madonna ( 13 ) Most weeks on singles chart : Elvis Presley ( 1277 wks ) . Runner - up : Cliff Richard ( 1166 weeks ) Most hits without reaching ... ( edit ) Most Top 75 hits without reaching No 1 : Glee Cast ( 100 ) Most Top 40 hits without reaching No 1 : Depeche Mode ( 40 ) Most Top 10 hits without reaching No 1 : Bon Jovi ( 18 ) Most No 2 hits without a No 1 : Sash ! ( 5 ) Most Top 75 hits without reaching Top 5 : Chris Rea ( 32 ) Most Top 40 hits without reaching Top 5 : Gloria Estefan ( 27 ) Most Top 10 hits without reaching Top 5 : Gloria Estefan ( 5 ) Most Top 75 hits without reaching Top 10 : Super Furry Animals ( 21 ) Most Top 40 hits without reaching Top 10 : Super Furry Animals ( 19 ) Most Top 20 hits without reaching Top 10 : The Levellers and Super Furry Animals ( 8 ) Most Top 75 hits without reaching Top 20 : PJ Harvey ( 15 ) Most Top 40 hits without reaching Top 20 : The Almighty ( 8 ) Most Top 75 hits without reaching Top 40 : Gorky 's Zygotic Mynci ( 8 ) Weeks on chart by individual singles ( edit ) Most weeks in the chart by a single : Top 100 : `` Chasing Cars '' by Snow Patrol and `` Mr Brightside '' by The Killers ( 180 weeks ) Top 75 : `` My Way '' by Frank Sinatra ( 124 weeks ) ( 122 weeks when only a top 50 was compiled followed by two more in the top 75 ) Top 40 : `` My Way '' ( 75 weeks ) Longest consecutive run in the chart by a single * Top 100 : `` Thinking Out Loud '' by Ed Sheeran ( 95 weeks ) Top 75 : `` Rather Be '' by Clean Bandit and `` Thinking Out Loud '' by Ed Sheeran ( 73 weeks ) Top 40 : `` Thinking Out Loud '' by Ed Sheeran ( 54 weeks ) Fewest weeks in Top 40 by a No. 1 single ( 2 weeks ) : `` Wake Me Up '' by Gareth Malone 's All Star Choir Fewest weeks in Top 75 by a Top 10 single ( 1 week ) `` Weightless '' by Wet Wet Wet `` Leeds Leeds Leeds ( Marching On Together ) '' by Leeds United Team `` Forever Yours '' by Alex Day `` Payphone '' by Precision Tunes Fewest weeks in Top 75 by a Top 20 single : 1 week . Notable acts to have achieved this include The Wedding Present 6 times , Garbage , The Chemical Brothers , Elvis Presley and Red ' N ' White Machines . Most singles in a year ( edit ) Most Top 75 singles in a year : 51 by Glee Cast ( 2011 ) Most singles simultaneously in Top 75 : 27 by Michael Jackson ( 21 solo , 1 with Janet Jackson , 3 as part of The Jackson 5 and 2 as part of The Jacksons ) ( July 2009 ) . Most weeks spent on the Top 75 in a calendar year by solo artist : 224 by Rihanna ( includes 26 with David Guetta , 18 with Eminem , 18 with Kanye West & Drake , 12 with Nicki Minaj and 2 with Coldplay ( 2011 ) ) . Most weeks spent on the Top 75 in a calendar year by a group : 134 by Oasis ( 1996 ) . Simultaneously charting song ( edit ) `` Unchained Melody '' is the only song to have four versions by different artists charting in the Top 20 at the same time ( Al Hibbler , Les Baxter , Jimmy Young and Liberace in June 1955 ) . `` Hallelujah '' charted in the same week in December 2008 with three artists ( Alexandra Burke at No. 1 , Jeff Buckley at No. 2 , Leonard Cohen at No. 36 ) . It is also the second time in UK single chart where different versions hold the top two spots ( the first being Singing the Blues ) . Longest time between number one hit singles for an artist ( edit ) The Hollies went 23 years between their first top hit `` I 'm Alive '' in 1965 and their next top hit , the re-release of `` He Ai n't Heavy , He 's My Brother '' in 1988 . They had eleven other singles in the top 10 in that interim time , including three singles to reach the number 2 spot . Album with most original number - one hits ( edit ) There are two albums which have produced four number - one original hits : Spice by Spice Girls ( `` Wannabe '' , `` Say You 'll Be There '' , `` 2 Become 1 '' and `` Mama '' / `` Who Do You Think You Are '' ) and B * Witched by B * Witched ( `` C'est la Vie '' , `` Rollercoaster '' , `` To You I Belong '' and `` Blame It on the Weatherman '' ) . Biggest drop out of the top 10 ( edit ) Ten biggest drops out of the Top 10 No . Artist Single Top 10 position Chart position the following week Total drop in places Week - ending date Carey , Mariah Mariah Carey `` All I Want For Christmas Is You '' 5 Outside the Top 200 195 000000002017 - 01 - 12 - 0000 12 January 2017 Wham ! `` Last Christmas '' 7 Outside the Top 200 193 000000002017 - 01 - 12 - 0000 12 January 2017 Day , Alex Alex Day `` Forever Yours '' 112 108 000000002012 - 01 - 07 - 0000 7 January 2012 Leeds United Team & Supporters `` Leeds Leeds Leeds ( Marching On Together ) '' 10 112 102 000000002010 - 05 - 30 - 0000 30 May 2010 5 Pogues , The The Pogues `` Fairytale of New York '' 9 107 98 000000002008 - 01 - 12 - 0000 12 January 2008 6 Wet Wet Wet `` Weightless '' 10 96 86 000000002008 - 02 - 23 - 0000 23 February 2008 7 Captain SKA `` Liar Liar GE2017 '' 88 84 000000002017 - 06 - 09 - 0000 9 June 2017 8 Prince `` Purple Rain '' 6 88 82 000000002016 - 05 - 06 - 0000 6 May 2016 9 AC / DC `` Highway to Hell '' 81 77 000000002014 - 01 - 04 - 0000 4 January 2014 10 Precision Tunes `` Payphone '' 9 85 76 000000002012 - 06 - 23 - 0000 23 June 2012 Some singles have been deleted from the charts due to technicalities , and have thus `` dropped '' out of the Top 10 and the singles chart entirely . Such singles include : `` Mrs. Robinson '' by Simon & Garfunkel ( 1969 ) , `` Crazy '' by Gnarls Barkley ( 2006 ) and `` Maneater '' by Nelly Furtado ( 2006 ) . Singles to have stalled at Number 2 twice ( edit ) This unlucky feat has only been achieved three times in chart history : `` Honey '' by Bobby Goldsboro on 1 June 1968 then , on reissue , on 26 April 1975 `` Crazy for You '' by Madonna on 29 June 1985 then , on reissue on 2 / 9 March 1991 `` One for Sorrow '' by Steps on 5 September 1998 then , on reissue on 6 October 2001 Longest playing singles to reach Number 1 ( edit ) 11 songs have reached number 1 with a longer playing time than `` Bohemian Rhapsody '' ( 5 : 55 ) : `` All Around the World '' by Oasis 9 : 38 `` Mirrors '' by Justin Timberlake 8 : 05 `` I 'd Do Anything For Love ( But I Wo n't Do That ) '' by Meat Loaf 7 : 48 `` D'You Know What I Mean ? '' by Oasis 7 : 21 `` Hey Jude '' by The Beatles 7 : 11 `` We Are the World '' by USA for Africa 7 : 05 `` Jesus to a Child '' by George Michael 6 : 51 `` Belfast Child '' by Simple Minds 6 : 39 `` Innuendo '' by Queen 6 : 30 `` Frozen '' by Madonna 6 : 12 `` I 'm Not in Love '' by 10cc 6 : 04 Shortest playing single to reach Number 1 ( edit ) `` What Do You Want ? '' by Adam Faith 1 : 35 ( 1959 ) First to ... ( edit ) Eden Kane ( real name Richard Sarstedt ) and Peter Sarstedt are the first pair of siblings to score no. 1s as solo artists . Eden Kane scored a no . 1 with `` Well I Ask You '' in 1961 and Peter Sarstedt got a no . 1 with `` Where Do You Go To ( My Lovely ) '' in 1969 . A third brother Robin Sarstedt ( real name Clive Sarstedt ) made the Top 3 in 1976 with `` My Resistance Is Low '' making them the only set of three brothers to have separate solo Top Three singles . The first song recorded completely in a foreign language to reach number - one on the UK Singles Charts is `` Je t'aime ... moi non plus '' by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin in 1969 ( French ) . There are only five other foreign language number - one songs which are `` Rock Me Amadeus '' by Falco released in 1986 ( German ) , `` La Bamba '' by Los Lobos released in 1987 ( Spanish ) , `` Sadeness ( Part I ) '' , by Enigma released in 1990 ( Latin / French ) , `` We No Speak Americano '' , by Yolanda Be Cool Vs DCUP , released in 2010 ( Italian / Neapolitan ) and `` Gangnam Style '' by Psy released in 2012 ( Korean ) . ( Yolanda Be Cool and DCUP , both being Australian , both spoke English as their first languages , and `` We No Speak Americano '' even had a title largely in English , but the song was based entirely on a sample of the Italian language `` Tu vuò fà l'americano '' by Renato Carasone and as a result was completely Neapolitan . ) The first artist to reach No. 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart based on both sales and streaming figures was Ariana Grande with `` Problem '' on 6 July 2014 . The first artist to have singles debut at numbers 1 and 2 simultaneously was Ed Sheeran on 13 January 2017 with Shape of You and Castle on the Hill . The first artist to have every song from their album enter the top 20 on the singles chart was Ed Sheeran with ÷ See also ( edit ) List of songs which have spent the most weeks on the UK Singles Chart References ( edit ) ^ Jump up to : `` Record - Breakers and Trivia '' . EveryHit.com . Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 23 . Jump up ^ Wilson , John . `` Clem Cattini , Britain 's record chart topper , keeps that backbeat going strong at 72 '' . The Guardian . Retrieved 2015 - 05 - 21 . Jump up ^ `` Elvis Presley full Official Chart History Official Charts Company '' . Officialcharts.com . Retrieved 2016 - 07 - 23 . Jump up ^ White , Jack ( 28 July 2017 ) . `` Despacito enters the history books as it returns to the top of the Official Singles Chart '' . Official Charts Company . ^ Jump up to : British Hit Singles . Virgin Books . 4 November 2010 . Jump up ^ `` Artist Chart History '' . Official Charts Company . 2010 . Retrieved 10 April 2012 . Jump up ^ `` Daft Punk 's Get Lucky becomes one of the UK 's biggest selling singles of all - time ! '' . Official Charts Company . 27 June 2013 . Jump up ^ Lane , Dan ( 10 June 2014 ) . `` Naughty Boy and Sam Smith smash 1 million UK sales with La La La '' . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 10 June 2014 . Jump up ^ Masterton , James ( 13 April 2013 ) . `` Hey , What Does It Take '' . Jump up ^ Jones , Alan ( 21 April 2017 ) . `` Official Charts Analysis : Ed Sheeran topples Harry Styles to reclaim singles top spot '' . Music Week . Jump up ^ Walker - Arnott , Ellie ( 14 November 2012 ) . `` 60 years of singles charts ... in numbers '' . Radio Times . Immediate Media Company . Retrieved 13 October 2015 . Jump up ^ Wells , Matt ( 4 March 2002 ) . `` Pop Idol Will faces Top of the Pops ban '' . The Guardian . Guardian Media Group . Retrieved 13 October 2015 . Jump up ^ `` Pop Idol 's career hots up '' . BBC News . BBC . 11 February 2002 . Retrieved 13 October 2015 . ^ Jump up to : `` The million - selling songs that never made it to Number 1 '' . Official Charts Company . 24 August 2014 . Retrieved 12 December 2014 . Jump up ^ Myers , Justin ( 17 October 2015 ) . `` Ask Official Charts : Your questions on Demi , Selena , Britney and more answered '' . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 17 October 2015 . Jump up ^ Jones , Alan ( 2 January 2015 ) . `` Official Charts Analysis : Sheeran 's x scores 12th week at No. 1 with sales of 211,168 '' . Music Week . Intent Media . Retrieved 13 October 2015 . ( Subscription required ( help ) ) . Jump up ^ Moss , Liv ( 19 June 2015 ) . `` Official Biggest Selling Singles of the decade so far revealed '' . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 13 October 2015 . Jump up ^ `` Official Chart for the 22nd June 2008 '' . Official Charts Company . Jump up ^ `` Official Chart for the 31st August 2008 '' . Official Charts Company . Jump up ^ `` Official Chart for the 1st March 2009 '' . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 8 March 2016 . Jump up ^ `` Official Chart for the 13th of Feb 2010 '' . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 8 March 2016 . Jump up ^ Myers , Justin ( 2017 - 05 - 13 ) . `` Foreign language songs that got to Number 1 '' . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 2017 - 06 - 04 . Jump up ^ `` Ed Sheeran 's Thinking Out Loud sets chart record '' . BBC News . 22 June 2015 . Jump up ^ Copsey , Rob ( 22 June 2015 ) . `` Ed Sheeran 's Thinking Out Loud becomes first single ever to spend one year inside the Top 40 '' . Official Charts Company . Retrieved 22 June 2015 . Jump up ^ Philip Dodd , Paul Du Noyer ( 1999 ) . The encyclopedia of singles . p. 222 . ISBN 0752533371 . CS1 maint : Uses authors parameter ( link ) Jump up ^ Adam Bychawski ( 21 December 2008 ) . `` Alexandra Burke , Jeff Buckley storm Christmas charts with ' Hallelujah ' '' . Nme.com . Jump up ^ `` Adam Faith - What do You want ? ( 78rpm - 1959 ) '' . YouTube . 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