UK singles chart records and statistics - wikipedia UK singles chart records and statistics 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 ) 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 ) 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 1 Most number ones 1.1 Most Number One appearances by an individual ( solo or as part of a group ) 1.2 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 Biggest - selling singles artists 8 Posthumous number ones 9 Lowest selling number one 10 Acts to occupy number one and number two 11 Self - replacement at number one 12 Fastest selling single 13 Non-English language number - ones 14 Most Number One appearances by a non-British act or band 15 Biggest selling single not to top the chart 16 Most number two peaks 17 Most weeks at number two 18 Downloads 19 Most weeks on UK Singles Chart by decade 19.1 1950s 19.2 1960s 19.3 1970s 19.4 1980s 19.5 1990s 19.6 2000s 19.7 2010s ( up to and including week ending 17 November 2016 ) 19.8 Top chart acts per year by total weeks on the singles chart 20 Age records 20.1 Youngest 20.2 Oldest 21 Other records 21.1 General 21.2 Most hits without reaching... 21.3 Weeks on chart by individual singles 21.4 Most singles in a year 21.5 Simultaneously charting song 21.6 Longest time between number one hit singles for an artist 21.7 Album with most original number - one hits 21.8 Biggest jump to number one 21.9 Biggest drop out of the Top 10 into elsewhere in the top 200 21.10 Singles to have stalled at Number 2 twice 21.11 Longest playing singles to reach Number 1 21.12 Shortest playing single to reach Number 1 21.13 First to... 22 See also 23 References Most number ones 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 Eminem Calvin Harris Rihanna Spice Girls 8 Oasis The Rolling Stones 7 Jess Glynne Michael Jackson Elton John McFly George Michael Kylie Minogue Tinie Tempah U2 Robbie Williams 6 Justin Bieber Blondie Boyzone David Guetta Queen Slade Beyoncé Sam Smith Britney Spears Rod Stewart Sugababes 5 All Saints Bee Gees The Black Eyed Peas David Bowie Cheryl JLS Bruno Mars Ne - Yo Katy Perry The Police Dizzee Rascal Flo Rida Ed Sheeran will.i.am Most Number One appearances by an individual ( solo or as part of a group ) Paul McCartney - 25 Elvis Presley - 21 John Lennon - 20 Robbie Williams - 20 George Harrison - 19 Ringo Starr - 17 Shane Filan - 16 Gary Barlow - 16 Mark Feehily - 15 Cliff Richard - 15 Kian Egan - 15 Nicky Byrne - 15 Geri Halliwell - 14 Madonna - 13 Brian McFadden - 13 Progression of the record 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. Westlife hold the record for getting into double - figures in the shortest time ( 2 years and 10 months ( ie. 149 weeks ) - more than 3 months quicker than The Beatles ( who took 165 weeks ). Unlike Westlife, however, The Beatles tended to spend several weeks at the summit, slowing down their release rate. ) 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. Paul McCartney ( 25 ) is the highest charting male and British performer, Geri Halliwell ( 14 ) is the highest charting British female performer, Mark Feehily of Westlife ( 15 ) is the highest charting male performer from the LGBT group, Elvis Presley ( 21 ) is the highest charting solo, male, non-British and American performer, Madonna ( 13 ) is the highest charting female non-British performer, Spice Girls ( 9 ) is the highest charting girl group, Beatles ( 17 ) is the highest charting group, male group and British group, ABBA ( 9 ) is the highest charting Swedish and mixed group, Shane Filan of Westlife ( 16 ) is the highest charting solo Irish act, Westlife ( 15 ) is the highest charting non-British group, pop group and Irish group with most number one appearances in the UK Singles Chart. Most combined weeks at number one on the UK singles charts 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 9 Drake 26 10 Rihanna 25 11 Ed Sheeran 24 12 Elton John 23 Wet Wet Wet 13 Spice Girls 22 Most weeks at number one 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 reach UK 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 Note : Songs denoted with an asterisk ( * ) spent non-consecutive weeks at number one. Number ones by different artists 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 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 music act, group, male group and pop band 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 '' ) to reach number one from 1999 to 2000. Biggest - selling singles 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 September 1997 4,920,000 `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' Band Aid Mercury November 1984 3,750,000 `` Bohemian Rhapsody '' Queen EMI October 1975 2,440,000 `` Mull of Kintyre '' / `` Girls ' School '' Wings Parlophone November 1977 2,080,000 5 `` You 're the One That I Want '' John Travolta and Olivia Newton - John RSO May 1978 2,050,000 6 `` Relax '' Frankie Goes to Hollywood ZTT January 1984 2,030,000 7 `` Rivers of Babylon '' / `` Brown Girl in the Ring '' Boney M. Atlantic / Hansa April 1978 2,020,000 8 `` She Loves You '' The Beatles Parlophone August 1963 1,930,000 9 `` Love Is All Around '' Wet Wet Wet PolyGram May 1994 1,860,000 10 `` Mary 's Boy Child -- Oh My Lord '' Boney M. Atlantic / Hansa 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. Biggest - selling singles artists Artists with references have been updated as the original list was published by the Official Charts Company during 2012. This means that positions on this list may not be 100 % accurately reflected as most of the artists are still active and releasing new singles. This includes all singles ( solo, duets and as featuring artists ) and in all formats ( vinyl, cassette, CD, digital ). All singles with collaborations are counted multiple times on the list. Collaborations are important especially for artists of the 21 century. For instance, Rihanna is number 2 on the list but if only solo singles were counted or her shared sales were splitted she would not even be among the TOP 10 best selling artists as around 70 % of her sales are from collaborations. Madonna ( 28,345,000 ) Rihanna ( 27,100,000 ) Michael Jackson ( 26,995,000 ) The Beatles ( 22,100,000 ) Elton John ( 21,635,000 ) Cliff Richard ( 21,500,000 ) Queen ( 12,800,000 ) Elvis Presley ( 12,205,000 ) David Bowie ( 12,000,000 ) ABBA ( 11,300,000 ) Paul McCartney ( 10,200,000 ) Kylie Minogue ( 10,100,000 ) The Rolling Stones ( 10,100,000 ) Rod Stewart Take That Stevie Wonder Oasis ( 9,079,000 ) Eminem Whitney Houston Spice Girls ( 8,500,000 ) George Michael Robbie Williams Bee Gees ( 7,600,000 ) U2 ( 7,500,000 ) Shakin ' Stevens Britney Spears Lady Gaga ( 7,357,000 ) Status Quo ( 7,200,000 ) Boyzone ( 7,100,000 ) Blondie ( 7,037,000 ) The Black Eyed Peas ( 7,034,000 ) Boney M ( 6,859,000 ) Slade ( 6,856,000 ) Westlife ( 6,830,000 ) Celine Dion Beyoncé UB40 ( 6,600,000 ) Olivia Newton - John Mariah Carey Tom Jones Posthumous number ones Buddy Holly ( d. 3 February 1959 ) - `` It Does n't Matter Anymore '' ( 24 April 1959 ) Eddie Cochran ( d. 17 April 1960 ) - `` Three Steps to Heaven '' ( 23 June 1960 ) Jim Reeves ( d. 31 July 1964 ) - `` Distant Drums '' ( 22 September 1966 ) The Jimi Hendrix Experience ( group member Jimi Hendrix died on 18 September 1970 ) - `` Voodoo Chile '' ( 21 November 1970 ) Elvis Presley ( d. 16 August 1977 ) - `` Way Down '' ( 3 September 1977 ) John Lennon ( d. 8 December 1980 ) - `` ( Just Like ) Starting Over '' ( 20 December 1980 ) John Lennon - `` Imagine '' ( 10 January 1981 ) John Lennon - `` Woman '' ( 7 February 1981 ) Jackie Wilson ( d. 21 January 1984 ) - `` Reet Petite '' ( 27 December 1986 ) Queen ( group member Freddie Mercury died on 24 November 1991 ) - `` Bohemian Rhapsody '' / `` These Are the Days of Our Lives '' ( 21 December 1991 ) Freddie Mercury - `` Living on My Own '' ( 14 August 1993 ) Aaliyah ( d. 25 August 2001 ) - `` More Than a Woman '' ( 19 January 2002 ) George Harrison ( d. 29 November 2001 ) - `` My Sweet Lord '' ( 26 January 2002 ) Elvis Presley - `` A Little Less Conversation '' ( with JXL ) ( 22 June 2002 ) Elvis Presley - `` Jailhouse Rock '' ( 15 January 2005 ) Elvis Presley - `` One Night '' / `` I Got Stung '' ( 22 January 2005 ) Elvis Presley - `` It 's Now or Never '' ( 5 February 2005 ) Tupac Shakur ( d. 13 September 1996 ) - `` Ghetto Gospel '' ( with Elton John ) ( 2 July 2005 ) The Notorious B.I.G. ( d. 9 March 1997 ) - `` Nasty Girl '' ( with Diddy, Nelly, Jagged Edge and Avery Storm ) ( 4 February 2006 ) Eva Cassidy ( d. 2 November 1996 ) - `` What a Wonderful World '' ( with Katie Melua ) ( 22 December 2007 ) Lowest selling number one 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 '' by Harry Styles became the first number one in the sales only chart to sell less than `` No Tomorrow '' by Orson, with 16,686 copies. Acts to occupy number one and number two The Beatles `` I Want to Hold Your Hand '' and `` She Loves You '' ( three weeks in December 1963 ) `` Hello Goodbye '' and `` Magical Mystery Tour '' ( three weeks in December 1967 ) John Travolta -- `` Summer Nights '' ( with Olivia Newton - John ) and `` Sandy '' ( one week in November 1978 ) John Lennon -- `` Imagine '' and : `` Happy Xmas ( War Is Over ) '' ; `` Woman '' ( both January 1981 ) Frankie Goes to Hollywood -- `` Two Tribes '' and `` Relax '' ( two weeks in July 1984 ) Madonna -- `` Into the Groove '' and `` Holiday '' ( one week in August 1985 ) Justin Bieber `` Sorry '' and `` Love Yourself '' ( one week in November 2015 ) ; `` Love Yourself '' and `` Sorry '' ( five non-consecutive weeks in December 2015 and January 2016 ) `` Cold Water '' ( with MØ & Major Lazer ) and `` Let Me Love You '' ( three weeks in August 2016 ) `` Despacito '' ( with Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ) and `` I 'm the One ( song ) '' ( with DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Quavo & Chance the Rapper ) ( four weeks in May and June 2017 ) Ed Sheeran `` Shape of You '' and : `` Castle on the Hill '' ( five weeks in January and February 2018 ) ; `` How Would You Feel ( Paean ) '' ( one week in February 2017 ) ; `` Galway Girl '' ( five weeks in March and April 2017 ) `` Perfect '' and `` River '' ( with Eminem ) ( three non-consecutive weeks in December 2017 and January 2018 ) In addition, in the final week that Justin Bieber was at # 1 and # 2 with `` Love Yourself '' and `` Sorry '', `` What Do You Mean '' was at # 3. For the first three weeks that Ed Sheeran was at # 1 and # 2 with `` Shape of You '' and `` Galway Girl '', `` Castle on the Hill '' was at # 3, and for the first of these three weeks Sheeran 's `` Perfect '', `` New Man '' and `` Happier '' were at # 4, # 5 and # 6 respectively. Self - replacement at number one Since the inception of the UK Singles Chart in 1952 only five 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 '' ( 12 December 1963 ) John Lennon -- `` Woman '' replaced `` Imagine '' ( 7 February 1981 ) Elvis Presley -- `` One Night / I Got Stung '' replaced `` Jailhouse Rock '' ( 22 January 2005 ) Justin Bieber -- `` Love Yourself '' replaced `` Sorry '' ( 10 December 2015 ) ; `` Despacito '' ( Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber ) replaced `` I 'm the One '' ( DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne ) ( 18 May 2017 ) Ed Sheeran -- `` River '' ( Eminem featuring Ed Sheeran ) replaced `` Perfect '' ( 25 January 2018 ) Fastest selling single 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. The fastest selling single by a British group is the Spice Girls `` 2 Become 1 '' which sold over 462,000 copies during its first week on sale and over 763,000 copies in a fortnight. In total, the single sold over 1.1 million copies to date. The fastest number one single music act and band is Westlife with its first seven consecutive number one singles and fourteen number one singles in total. They are also the second music act to have the longest string of number ones in UK history. Non-English language number - ones `` 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 ) Most Number One appearances by a non-British act or band Elvis Presley ( 21 ) - highest charting male, solo, American music act Shane Filan ( 16 ) - highest charting solo Irish act Westlife ( 15 ) - highest charting group, male group, pop group, Irish group Mark Feehily ( 15 ) - highest charting act from the LGBT group Madonna ( 13 ) - highest charting female solo act ABBA ( 9 ) - highest charting mixed group and Swedish act Rihanna ( 9 ) - highest charting Barbadian act Biggest selling single not to Top the chart 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. In December 2017, a year after George Michael 's death, fans tried to get `` Last Christmas '' to number one, but again it peaked at number two. 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 release to peak at number three 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 ''. The biggest selling single not to reach the top 10 is `` Numb '' by Linkin Park which never charted higher than # 14. Most number two peaks Artists with most songs peaked number two and missed the top spot : Madonna - 12 songs that peaked number two without reaching number one. Kylie Minogue and Cliff Richard - 11 songs that peaked number two without reaching number one. Elvis Presley - 9 songs that peaked number two without reaching number one ( yet another 8 singles of songs that were re-issues and previous number one hits also peaked at 2 ) Male Artist with most number 2 peak singles : Elvis Presley - 17 singles ( includes 8 posthumous re-issues that previously peaked number one ) ; runner up Cliff Richard - 11 singles Female Artist with most number 2 peak singles : Madonna - 12 singles ; runner up Kylie Minogue - 11 singles Group with most number 2 peak singles : Queen and Oasis are tied with 6 singles each. Sash ! holds the record as the artist to have the most number 2s without ever making it to number 1 ( 5 singles peaked number two and never had a number one single ). Most weeks at number two Johnnie Ray 's `` Such a Night '' spent eight consecutive weeks at number two behind Doris Day 's `` Secret Love '' having spent a single week at the top. `` Terry 's Theme from Limelight '' by Frank Chacksfield spent a total of eight weeks at number two ( in four separate spells ) without ever reaching number one. All - 4 - One 's `` I Swear '' and `` Moves like Jagger '' by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera both spent seven consecutive weeks at number two without reaching number one. `` These Days '' by Rudimental featuring Jess Glynne, Macklemore and Dan Caplen also spent seven consecutive weeks at number two behind Drake 's `` God 's Plan '' having spent a single week at the top. Downloads Downloads grew steadily in popularity after first being integrated into the chart in 2004. In early September the UK Official Download Chart was launched, and a new live recording of Westlife 's `` Flying Without Wings '' was the first number - one. 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 Most weeks on UK singles chart by decade 1950s 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 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 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 Shakin ' Stevens 254 weeks Madonna 252 weeks Michael Jackson 241 weeks Cliff Richard 234 weeks Madness 217 weeks UB40 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 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 2000s 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 2010s ( up to and including week ending 17 November 2016 ) 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 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 Youngest 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 2013. 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 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 General 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 Top 3 hits : Elvis Presley ( 43 ). Runner - up : Madonna ( 34 ) Most Consecutive Top 5 hits : Westlife ( 24 ). Runner - up : Elvis Presley ( 20 ) Most Consecutive Top 5 hits by a group : Westlife ( 24 ), Runner - up : Girls Aloud ( 20 ) Most Consecutive Top 5 hits by a male group : Westlife ( 24 ) Most Consecutive Top 5 hits by a female group : Girls Aloud ( 20 ) Most Consecutive Top 5 hits by a male artist : Elvis Presley ( 20 ) Most Consecutive Top 5 hits by a female artist : Madonna ( 17 ) Most Consecutive Top 10 hits : Madonna ( 35 ), Runner - up : Westlife ( 25 ), Cliff Richard ( 23 ) Most Consecutive Top 10 hits by a male artist : Cliff Richard ( 23 ), Elvis Presley ( 20 ) Most Consecutive Top 10 Hits by a female artist : Madonna ( 35 ), Runner - up : Kylie Minogue ( 13 ) Most Consecutive Top 10 hits by a group : Westlife ( 25 ), Runner - up : Oasis ( 23 ) and Girls Aloud ( 20 ) Most Consecutive Top 10 hits by a male group : Westlife ( 25 ) 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 Consecutive Top 10 hits including debut single by a group : Westlife ( 25 ) Most Consecutive Top 10 hits including debut single by male group : Westlife ( 25 ) Most Top 10 Hits by a group : U2 ( 33 ), Runners - up : The Beatles ( 28 ), Westlife ( 25 ) Most Top 10 Hits by a male group : U2 ( 33 ), Runners - up : The Beatles ( 28 ), Westlife ( 25 ) Most Top 40 Hits by a group : The Supremes ( 30 ), Runner - up : Take That ( 28 ) Most Top 40 Hits by a male group : Take That ( 28 ). Runner - up : Westlife ( 26 ) Most Top 40 hits by a female group : The Supremes ( 30 ). Runner - up : Bananarama ( 25 ) and Sugababes ( 25 ) Most Consecutive Number 1 hits by a group : Westlife ( 7 ) Most Consecutive Number 1 hits by a male group : Westlife ( 7 ) Most Consecutive Number 1 hits by a female group : Spice Girls ( 6 ) Most Consecutive Number 1 hits by a male artist : Elvis Presley ( 4 ) Most Consecutive Number 1 hits by a female artist : Geri Halliwell ( 4 ) 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... Most Top 75 hits without reaching No 1 : Glee Cast ( 100 ) Most Top 40 hits without reaching No 1 : Depeche Mode ( 43 ) Most Top 10 hits without reaching No 1 : Bon Jovi ( 18 ). Runner - up : Janet Jackson ( 17 ) 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 No 11 hits without reaching Top 10 : Lethal Bizzle ( 3 ) 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 ) Most weeks on Top 40 without reaching No 1 : Billy Fury ( 231 weeks ) Weeks on chart by individual singles Most weeks in the chart by a single : Top 100 : `` Mr Brightside '' by The Killers ( > 200 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 ) : `` A Bridge Over You '' by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir ( 2015 ) and `` 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 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 `` 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 Tom Jones went 43 years between his second number one `` Green Green Grass Of Home '' in 1966 and his next top hit, `` ( Barry ) Islands in the Stream ''. He had fourteen other singles in the top 10 in that interim time, including four singles to reach the number 2 spot. Album with most original number - one hits There are three albums which have produced four number - one original hits : Westlife by Westlife ( `` Swear It Again, `` If I Let You Go '', Flying Without Wings ``, and `` Fool Again '' ), 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 jump to number one 200 - 1 - Mandy by Westlife - 2003 194 - 1 - Unbreakable by Westlife - 2002 Biggest drop out of the Top 10 into elsewhere in the Top 200 This table does not include the six Christmas records in the top ten of the chart of the week ended 11 January 2018 which fell out of the top 200 the following week. These are Wham ! 's Last Christmas ( # 2 ), Mariah Carey 's All I Want For Christmas Is You ( # 4 ), Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl 's Fairytale of New York ( # 5 ), Band Aid 's Do They Know It 's Christmas ? ( # 7 ), Brenda Lee 's Rockin ' Around the Christmas Tree ( # 9 ) and Shakin ' Stevens ' Merry Christmas Everyone ( # 10 ). Additionally, Fairytale of New York fell 98 places from # 9 to # 107 on the chart in the week ending 12 January 2008. Ten biggest drops out of the Top 10, not counting Christmas songs No. Artist Single Top 10 position Chart position the following week Total drop in places Week - ending date Alex Day `` Forever Yours '' 112 108 7 January 2012 Leeds United Team & Supporters `` Leeds Leeds Leeds ( Marching On Together ) '' 10 112 102 30 May 2010 Wet Wet Wet `` Weightless '' 10 96 86 23 February 2008 Captain SKA `` Liar Liar GE2017 '' 88 84 9 June 2017 5 Prince `` Purple Rain '' 6 88 82 6 May 2016 6 AC / DC `` Highway to Hell '' 81 77 4 January 2014 7 Precision Tunes `` Payphone '' 9 85 76 23 June 2012 8 Union J `` Tonight ( We Live Forever ) '' 9 74 65 6 September 2014 9 The Wizard of Oz Film Cast `` Ding - Dong ! The Witch Is Dead '' 65 63 21 April 2013 10 Leona Lewis `` Hurt '' 8 68 60 31 December 2011 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 ). In addition, in the chart for the week ending 19 July 2018, Drake 's `` Emotionless '' fell out of the top ten from # 5 after falling foul of a rule that an act may only have three singles in any one chart. Singles to have stalled at number 2 twice This distinction has been achieved five 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 29 March 1991 `` One for Sorrow '' by Steps on 5 September 1998 then, on reissue, on 6 October 2001 `` All I Want For Christmas Is You '' by Mariah Carey on 17 December 1994 then, on 15 December 2017 `` Last Christmas '' by Wham ! on 15 December 1984 then, on 4 January 2018 Additionally, `` When You Tell Me That You Love Me '' has been a Christmas number two twice, 1st in 1991 for Diana Ross, and then in 2005 for Westlife featuring Diana Ross. Longest playing singles to reach Number 1 11 songs have reached No. 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 `` What Do You Want ? '' by Adam Faith 1 : 35 ( 1959 ) First to... 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 ÷ The first female artist to have a top ten single in five consecutive decades is Cher ( 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s ). Kylie Minogue follows with a top ten single in four consecutive decades ( 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s ). Melanie C is the first female performer to top the charts as a solo artist, as part of a duo, quartet and quintet. See also List of songs which have spent the most weeks on the UK Singles Chart References Jump up ^ `` 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 ^ `` The songs that spent the longest at Number 1 ''. Official Charts Company. 2017 - 08 - 04. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 11. Jump up ^ 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 ^ `` Certified Awards Search ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 13, 2013. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Official Charts Analysis : David Bowie 's UK chart life ''. Music Week. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 16. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` The Official Top 20 Biggest selling groups of all time revealed ''. Official Charts Company. 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 ^ `` Acts that have held number 1 and 2 on the Official Singles Chart ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` The acts who outperformed themselves, knocking their own hit off Number 1 ''. Official Charts Company. 2018 - 01 - 19. Retrieved 2018 - 01 - 19. 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 ^ Myers, Justin ( 14 December 2017 ). `` Classic Christmas Number Ones ''. Official Charts. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 December 2017. Jump up ^ https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=0BAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA124&lpg=PA124&dq=billboard+books+westlife&source=bl&ots=mgFAFwLtO2&sig=mKn0SwaHYPOdOt_RZVya3LOeFls&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjphe3IvqjbAhVHNJQKHTzVC5sQ6AEIgwEwBw#v=onepage&q=billboard%20books%20westlife&f=false Jump up ^ Myers, Justin ( 2017 - 05 - 13 ). `` Foreign language songs that got to Number 1 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2017 - 06 - 04. ^ 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 ^ Copsey, Rob ( 29 December 2017 ). `` Ed Sheeran caps off a hugely successful 2017 by claiming a new Official Charts record ''. Official Charts. Retrieved 5 March 2018. 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 ^ `` Download chart waits for youth : while its beginnings may be modest, the new rundown has an important future ahead ''. Music Week. 11 September 2004. ISSN 0265 - 1548. 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 ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-curse-of-number-11-big-songs-that-missed-the-top-10__16375/ 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 ^ http://www.everyhit.com/record5.html Jump up ^ http://www.jorgenelofsson.com/biography/billboard-no-1-with-kelly-clarkson/ Jump up ^ `` Adam Faith - What do You want ? ( 78rpm - 1959 ) ''. YouTube. Retrieved 2016 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Melanie C ''. Peermusic.com. Retrieved 24 April 2018. UK Music Charts UK Singles Number ones 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s Number one artists Most number ones Christmas Posthumous Scottish Instrumental Simultaneous UK and US Top 10 singles ( By artist ) Best - selling 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s ( decade ) 2010s 1900s 2000s ( century ) All time Yearly Most downloaded Most streamed Million - sellers Platinum singles ( pre-2000 ) Platinum singles ( post-2000 ) Most weeks on chart One - hit wonders Records and statistics UK Albums Number ones 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s Most number ones Christmas Posthumous Simultaneous UK and US Top 10 albums Best - selling 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s ( decade ) 2010s 2000s ( century ) All time Yearly Most weeks on chart One - hit wonders Genre charts Number ones Christian & Gospel Classical ( albums / compilations ) Dance ( singles / albums ) Indie ( singles / albums ) Indie Breakers ( singles / albums ) R&B ( singles / albums ) Rock & Metal ( singles / albums ) Specialist Classical Other charts Current Album Downloads Albums Streaming Audio Streaming Compilations Midweeks Record Store Singles Downloads UKHot40 Vinyl Albums Vinyl Singles The Vodafone Big Top 40 Former 1952 -- 1969 1Xtra Classical Singles EPs Fab 40 Fresh 40 Hit40UK Mersey Beat The Net 40 The Network Chart Show NME Pepsi Chart Pick of the Pops Progressive Record Mirror Subscription Plays Top Pops Related Music Week Official Charts Company The Official Chart UK Video Charts The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles Music of the United Kingdom Art music Early music ( England Ireland Scotland ) Baroque Classical History of popular music Early popular music 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s & 2010s Traditional genres British folk revival Ballad Carol Children 's song Hornpipe Jig Morris dance Protest song Reel Sea shanty Strathspey War song Work song Contemporary popular genres Folk England Scotland Wales Hip Hop Jazz Pop Popular Rock Soul Schlager Ethnic music Caribbean England Ireland Scotland Wales Media and performance Music awards Brit Awards Classic Brit Awards Gramophone Classical Music Awards Ivor Novello Awards Kerrang ! 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Question: who has had the most uk number one singles
Answer: Elvis Presley