List of artists by number of UK Singles Chart number ones
The UK singles chart was first published in 1952. It is currently compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC). To qualify for entry on this list of artists who have reached number one in the chart since its inception, the artist in question must have been individually credited as an artist on four or more number one singles. Simply playing or singing on a single is not counted (for example as part of a group or supergroup), so, for example Clem Cattini, a prolific session musician who has played on over 40 number ones, is not included.[1] Also not included are The Jordanaires, who were credited on 11 number ones with Elvis Presley between 1957 and 1963 by The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles (who based their data on the record's label info and the catalogue numbers of the chart hit) but not currently by the OCC.[2][3] Unlike The Shadows, who had 7 number ones backing Cliff Richard (including one using their original name, the Drifters), The Jordanaires never charted in their own right and so did not get their own entry in the OCC database. In addition, the OCC's database fails to credit JLS and One Direction as featured artists on The X Factor contestants' cover of "Wishing on a Star", giving the former act 5 number ones and the latter 4 number ones according to their information (though this featured credit is on the single's cover and CD's label).[4][5][6][7]
Elvis Presley has 21 number ones on the UK Singles Chart, including three re-releases which are counted as separate chart entries/chart hits due to the records' catalogue numbers changing in 2005.[2][3] With or without the releases, Presley's total is still more than any other artist in history. The Beatles hold the record for the most number-ones singles by a group (with 17), while Madonna holds the record for a female artist (with 13).[8]
Artists by number of UK Singles Chart number ones[edit]
Twenty one[edit]
| Total | Artist | Singles | Year reached number one |
Weeks at number one |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Elvis Presley | "All Shook Up" | 1957 | 7 | |
| "Jailhouse Rock" | 1958 | 3 | |||
| "One Night"/"I Got Stung" | 1959 | 3 | |||
| "(Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I"/"I Need Your Love Tonight" | 5 | ||||
| "It's Now or Never" | 1960 | 8 | First artist to have five number-ones | ||
| "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" | 4 | First artist to have six number-ones | |||
| "Wooden Heart" | 1961 | 6 | First artist to have seven number-ones | ||
| "Surrender" | 4 | First artist to have eight number-ones | |||
| "Little Sister"/"(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" | 4 | First artist to have nine number-ones | |||
| "Rock-A-Hula Baby"/"Can't Help Falling in Love" | 1962 | 4 | First artist to have 10 number-ones | ||
| "Good Luck Charm" | 5 | First artist to have 11 number-ones | |||
| "She's Not You" | 3 | First artist to have 12 number-ones | |||
| "Return to Sender" | 3 | First artist to have 13 number-ones | |||
| "(You're the) Devil in Disguise" | 1963 | 1 | First artist to have 14 number-ones | ||
| "Crying in the Chapel" | 1965 | 2 | First artist to have 15 number-ones | ||
| "The Wonder of You" | 1970 | 6 | |||
| "Way Down" | 1977 | 5 | |||
| "A Little Less Conversation" | 2002 | 4 | First artist to have 18 number-ones.
Credited as Elvis vs JXL | ||
| "Jailhouse Rock" | 2005 | 1 | First artist to have 19 number-ones | ||
| "One Night"/"I Got Stung" | 1 | First artist to have 20 number-ones | |||
| "It's Now or Never" | 1 | First artist to have 21 number-ones |
Seventeen[edit]
| Total | Artist | Singles | Year reached number one |
Weeks at number one |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | The Beatles | "From Me to You" | 1963 | 7 | |
| "She Loves You" | 6 | ||||
| "I Want to Hold Your Hand" | 5 | ||||
| "Can't Buy Me Love" | 1964 | 3 | |||
| "A Hard Day's Night" | 3 | ||||
| "I Feel Fine" | 5 | ||||
| "Ticket to Ride" | 1965 | 3 | |||
| "Help!" | 3 | ||||
| "Day Tripper"/"We Can Work It Out" | 5 | ||||
| "Paperback Writer" | 1966 | 2 | |||
| "Yellow Submarine"/"Eleanor Rigby" | 4 | First artist to have seven consecutive UK number ones | |||
| "All You Need Is Love" | 1967 | 3 | |||
| "Hello, Goodbye" | 7 | ||||
| "Lady Madonna" | 1968 | 2 | |||
| "Hey Jude" | 2 | ||||
| "Get Back" | 1969 | 6 | The Beatles with Billy Preston. First artist to have 16 number ones | ||
| "The Ballad of John and Yoko" | 3 | First artist to have 17 number ones |
Fourteen[edit]
| Total | Artist | Singles | Year reached number one |
Weeks at number one |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Cliff Richard[nb 1] | "Living Doll" | 1959 | 6 | Cliff Richard and the Drifters |
| "Travellin' Light" | 5 | Cliff Richard and the Shadows | |||
| "Please Don't Tease" | 1960 | 3 | |||
| "I Love You" | 2 | ||||
| "The Young Ones" | 1962 | 6 | |||
| "The Next Time"/"Bachelor Boy" | 3[nb 2] | ||||
| "Summer Holiday" | 1963 | 3 | |||
| "The Minute You're Gone" | 1965 | 1 | |||
| "Congratulations" | 1968 | 2 | |||
| "We Don't Talk Anymore" | 1979 | 4 | |||
| "Living Doll" | 1986 | 3 | Cliff Richard & the Young Ones, featuring Hank Marvin | ||
| "Mistletoe and Wine" | 1988 | 4 | |||
| "Saviour's Day" | 1990 | 1 | |||
| "The Millennium Prayer" | 1999 | 3 | |||
| 14 | Westlife[nb 3] | "Swear It Again" | 1999 | 2 | |
| "If I Let You Go" | 1 | ||||
| "Flying Without Wings" | 1 | ||||
| "I Have a Dream"/"Seasons in the Sun" | 4 | ||||
| "Fool Again" | 2000 | 1 | |||
| "Against All Odds" | 2 | Mariah Carey featuring Westlife | |||
| "My Love" | 1 | First artist to have their first seven singles enter the chart at #1 | |||
| "Uptown Girl" | 2001 | 1 | |||
| "Queen of My Heart" | 1 | ||||
| "World of Our Own" | 2002 | 1 | |||
| "Unbreakable" | 1 | ||||
| "Mandy" | 2003 | 1 | |||
| "You Raise Me Up" | 2005 | 2 | |||
| "The Rose" | 2006 | 1 |
Thirteen[edit]
| Total | Artist | Singles | Year reached number one |
Weeks at number one |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Madonna | "Into the Groove" | 1985 | 4 | |
| "Papa Don't Preach" | 1986 | 3 | |||
| "True Blue" | 1 | ||||
| "La Isla Bonita" | 1987 | 2 | |||
| "Who's That Girl" | 1 | ||||
| "Like a Prayer" | 1989 | 3 | |||
| "Vogue" | 1990 | 4 | |||
| "Frozen" | 1998 | 1 | |||
| "American Pie" | 2000 | 1 | |||
| "Music" | 1 | ||||
| "Hung Up" | 2005 | 3 | |||
| "Sorry" | 2006 | 1 | |||
| "4 Minutes" | 2008 | 4 | Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake | ||
| 13 | Ed Sheeran[nb 4] | "Sing" | 2014 | 1 | |
| "Thinking Out Loud" | 2 | ||||
| "Shape of You" | 2017 | 14 | |||
| "Perfect" | 6 | ||||
| "River" | 2018 | 1 | Eminem featuring Ed Sheeran | ||
| "I Don't Care" | 2019 | 8 | Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber | ||
| "Beautiful People" | 1 | Ed Sheeran featuring Khalid | |||
| "Take Me Back to London" | 5 | Ed Sheeran featuring Stormzy | |||
| "Own It" | 2020 | 3 | Stormzy featuring Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy | ||
| "Bad Habits" | 2021 | 11 | |||
| "Shivers" | 4 | ||||
| "Merry Christmas" | 3 | Ed Sheeran and Elton John | |||
| "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" | 1 | LadBaby featuring Ed Sheeran and Elton John |
Twelve[edit]
| Total | Artist | Singles | Year reached number one |
Weeks at number one |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Take That | "Pray" | 1993 | 4 | |
| "Relight My Fire" | 2 | Take That featuring Lulu | |||
| "Babe" | 1 | ||||
| "Everything Changes" | 1994 | 2 | |||
| "Sure" | 2 | ||||
| "Back for Good" | 1995 | 4 | |||
| "Never Forget" | 3 | ||||
| "How Deep Is Your Love" | 1996 | 3 | |||
| "Patience" | 2006 | 4 | |||
| "Shine" | 2007 | 2 | |||
| "Greatest Day" | 2008 | 1 | |||
| "These Days" | 2014 | 1 |
Ten[edit]
| Total | Artist | Singles | Year reached number one |
Weeks at number one |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Calvin Harris | "Dance wiv Me" | 2008 | 4 | Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris & Chrome |
| "I'm Not Alone" | 2009 | 2 | |||
| "We Found Love" | 2011 | 6 | Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris | ||
| "Sweet Nothing" | 2012 | 1 | Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch | ||
| "Under Control" | 2013 | 1 | Calvin Harris & Alesso featuring Hurts | ||
| "Summer" | 2014 | 1 | |||
| "Blame" | 1 | Calvin Harris featuring John Newman | |||
| "Feels" | 2017 | 1 | Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean | ||
| "One Kiss" | 2018 | 8 | Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa | ||
| "Promises" | 6 | Calvin Harris and Sam Smith | |||
| 10 | Eminem | "The Real Slim Shady" | 2000 | 1 | |
| "Stan" | 1 | ||||
| "Without Me" | 2002 | 1 | |||
| "Lose Yourself" | 1 | ||||
| "Just Lose It" | 2004 | 1 | |||
| "Like Toy Soldiers" | 2005 | 1 | |||
| "Smack That" | 2006 | 1 | Akon featuring Eminem | ||
| "The Monster" | 2013 | 1 | Eminem featuring Rihanna | ||
| "River" | 2018 | 1 | Eminem featuring Ed Sheeran | ||
| "Godzilla" | 2020 | 1 | Eminem featuring Juice Wrld | ||
| 10 | Elton John | "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" | 1976 | 6 | Elton John & Kiki Dee |
| "Sacrifice"/"Healing Hands" | 1990 | 5 | |||
| "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" | 1991 | 2 | George Michael & Elton John | ||
| "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"/"Candle in the Wind '97" | 1997 | 5 | |||
| "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" | 2002 | 1 | Blue featuring Elton John | ||
| "Are You Ready for Love" | 2003 | 1 | |||
| "Ghetto Gospel" | 2005 | 3 | 2Pac featuring Elton John | ||
| "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" | 2021 | 1 | Elton John & Dua Lipa | ||
| "Merry Christmas" | 3 | Ed Sheeran and Elton John | |||
| "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" | 1 | LadBaby featuring Ed Sheeran and Elton John |
Nine[edit]
| Total | Artist | Singles | Year reached number one |
Weeks at number one |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | ABBA | "Waterloo" | 1974 | 2 | |
| "Mamma Mia" | 1976 | 2 | |||
| "Fernando" | 4 | ||||
| "Dancing Queen" | 6 | ||||
| "Knowing Me, Knowing You" | 1977 | 5 | |||
| "The Name of the Game" | 4 | ||||
| "Take a Chance on Me" | 1978 | 3 | |||
| "The Winner Takes It All" | 1980 | 2 | |||
| "Super Trouper" | 3 | ||||
| 9 | Spice Girls | "Wannabe" | 1996 | 7 | |
| "Say You'll Be There" | 2 | ||||
| "2 Become 1" | 3 | ||||
| "Mama"/"Who Do You Think You Are" | 1997 | 3 | |||
| "Spice Up Your Life" | 1 | ||||
| "Too Much" | 2 | ||||
| "Viva Forever" | 1998 | 2 | |||
| "Goodbye" | 1 | ||||
| "Holler"/"Let Love Lead the Way" | 2000 | 1 | |||
| 9 | Rihanna | "Umbrella" | 2007 | 10 | Rihanna featuring Jay-Z |
| "Take a Bow" | 2008 | 2 | |||
| "Run This Town" | 2009 | 1 | Jay-Z featuring Rihanna & Kanye West | ||
| "Only Girl (In the World)" | 2010 | 2 | |||
| "What's My Name?" | 2011 | 1 | Rihanna featuring Drake | ||
| "We Found Love" | 6 | Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris | |||
| "Diamonds" | 2012 | 1 | |||
| "The Monster" | 2013 | 1 | Eminem featuring Rihanna | ||
| "Wild Thoughts" | 2017 | 1 | DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna & Bryson Tiller |
Eight[edit]
| Total | Artist | Singles | Year reached number one |
Weeks at number one |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | The Rolling Stones | "It's All Over Now" | 1964 | 1 | |
| "Little Red Rooster" | 1 | ||||
| "The Last Time" | 1965 | 3 | |||
| "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" | 2 | ||||
| "Get Off of My Cloud" | 3 | ||||
| "Paint It Black" | 1966 | 1 | |||
| "Jumpin' Jack Flash | 1968 | 2 | |||
| "Honky Tonk Women" | 1969 | 5 | |||
| 8 | Oasis | "Some Might Say" | 1995 | 1 | |
| "Don't Look Back in Anger" | 1996 | 1 | |||
| "D'You Know What I Mean?" | 1997 | 1 | |||
| "All Around the World" | 1998 | 1 | |||
| "Go Let It Out" | 2000 | 1 | |||
| "The Hindu Times" | 2002 | 1 | |||
| "Lyla" | 2005 | 1 | |||
| "The Importance of Being Idle" | 1 | ||||
| 8 | Sam Smith[nb 4] | "La La La" | 2013 | 1 | Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith |
| "Money on My Mind" | 2014 | 1 | |||
| "Stay with Me" | 1 | ||||
| "Lay Me Down" | 2015 | 2 | Sam Smith featuring John Legend | ||
| "Writing's on the Wall" | 1 | ||||
| "Too Good at Goodbyes" | 2017 | 3 | |||
| "Promises" | 2018 | 6 | Calvin Harris and Sam Smith | ||
| "Unholy" | 2022 | 4 | Sam Smith and Kim Petras |
Seven[edit]
Six[edit]
Five[edit]
Four[edit]
See also[edit]
- List of artists by number of UK Albums Chart number ones
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
Notes[edit]
Asterisks indicate chains of consecutive hits following a debut number one.
- ^ a b c Artist also performed on Band Aid II
- ^ For its first week, the single was "The Next Time". For the other two weeks, it became the double A-side "The Next Time"/"Bachelor Boy".
- ^ a b c d e Artist performed in Helping Haiti
- ^ a b c d Artist also performed in Band Aid 30
- ^ a b Artist also performed in Band Aid
- ^ Artist performed in USA for Africa
- ^ a b c d e Artist also performed in Band Aid 20
- ^ a b c Artist performed in Artists for Grenfell
- ^ Artist performed in The Justice Collective
- ^ a b Artist also performed in Live Lounge Allstars
- ^ Artist also performed in The X Factor Finalists 2008
- ^ Artist also performed in The X Factor Finalists 2010
- ^ Artist also performed in The X Factor Finalists 2011
- ^ Artist also performed in The X Factor Finalists 2009
- ^ Featured artists uncredited in the OCC archive
References[edit]
- ^ Wilson, John. "Clem Cattini, Britain's record chart topper, keeps that backbeat going strong at 72". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
- ^ a b The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles, Volume 2. London: Virgin Books/Ebury Publishing/Random House/Official UK Charts Company. 2010. p. 505. ISBN 9780753522455.
- ^ a b "Elvis Presley | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2021-03-22. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- ^ "One Direction | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2021-02-17. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- ^ "JLS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- ^ "Clean Bandit | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- ^ "CLEAN BANDIT/SEAN PAUL/ANNE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- ^ "Artists with the most Number 1 singles on the UK chart". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-22. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
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