The UK singles chart is a weekly record chart which for most of its history was based on single sales from Sunday to Saturday in the United Kingdom. The chart was founded in 1952 by Percy Dickins of New Musical Express (NME), who telephoned 20 record stores to ask what their top 10 highest-selling singles were. Dickins aggregated the results into a top 12 hit parade. NMEs chart was published each week in its eponymous magazine. From 2003, music downloads became included in the chart, and rules were altered in 2006 so that singles could chart before physical formats were released. Since July 2014, it has incorporated music streaming service data, with music video views counted towards the chart from July 2018. From 10 July 2015, the chart has been based on a Friday to Thursday week.
This list shows the twenty artists with the most number ones on the UK singles chart. American singer-actor Elvis Presley has most number one singles with twenty-one. English band The Beatles have the most number one singles for a band, with eighteen. American singer Madonna has the most number ones for a female solo artist with thirteen. English girl group the Spice Girls have the most number one singles for a girl group with nine.
Tally + Artists with the most number one singles in the UK singles chart Number ones Artist Number one singles First year reached number one 21 Elvis Presley "All Shook Up" 1957 "Jailhouse Rock" 1958 "One Night" / "I Got Stung" 1959 "A Fool Such as I" / "I Need Your Love Tonight" "It's Now or Never" 1960 "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" "Wooden Heart" 1961 "Surrender" "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" / "Little Sister" "Can't Help Falling in Love" / "Rock-A-Hula Baby" 1962 "Good Luck Charm" "She's Not You" "Return to Sender" "(You're the) Devil in Disguise" 1963 "Crying in the Chapel" 1965 "The Wonder of You" 1970 "Way Down" 1977 "A Little Less Conversation" 2002 "Jailhouse Rock" 2005 "One Night" / "I Got Stung" "It's Now or Never" 18 The Beatles "From Me to You" 1963 "She Loves You" "I Want to Hold Your Hand" "Can't Buy Me Love" 1964 "A Hard Day's Night" "I Feel Fine" "Ticket to Ride" 1965 "Help!" "Day Tripper" / "We Can Work It Out" "Paperback Writer" 1966 "Yellow Submarine" / "Eleanor Rigby" "All You Need Is Love" 1967 "Hello, Goodbye" "Lady Madonna" 1968 "Hey Jude" "Get Back" 1969 "The Ballad of John and Yoko" "Now and Then" 2023 14 Cliff Richard "Living Doll" 1959 "Travellin' Light" "Please Don't Tease" 1960 "I Love You" "The Young Ones" 1962 "The Next Time" / "Bachelor Boy" "Summer Holiday" 1963 "The Minute You're Gone" 1965 "Congratulations" 1968 "We Don't Talk Anymore" 1979 "Living Doll" 1986 "Mistletoe and Wine" 1988 "Saviour's Day" 1990 "The Millennium Prayer" 1999 14 Ed Sheeran "Sing" 2014 "Thinking Out Loud" "Shape of You" 2017 "Perfect" "River" 2018 "I Don't Care" 2019 "Beautiful People" "Take Me Back to London" "Own It" 2020 "Bad Habits" 2021 "Shivers" "Merry Christmas" "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" "Eyes Closed" 2023 14 Westlife "Swear It Again" 1999 "If I Let You Go" "Flying Without Wings" "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" "Fool Again" 2000 "Against All Odds" "My Love" "Uptown Girl" 2001 "Queen of My Heart" "World of Our Own" 2002 "Unbreakable" "Mandy" 2003 "You Raise Me Up" 2005 "The Rose" 2006 13 Madonna "Into the Groove" 1985 "Papa Don't Preach" 1986 "True Blue" "La Isla Bonita" 1987 "Who's That Girl" "Like a Prayer" 1989 "Vogue" 1990 "Frozen" 1998 "American Pie" 2000 "Music" "Hung Up" 2005 "Sorry" 2006 "4 Minutes" 2008 12 Take That "Pray" 1993 "Relight My Fire" "Babe" "Everything Changes" 1994 "Sure" "Back for Good" 1995 "Never Forget" "How Deep Is Your Love" 1996 "Patience" 2006 "Shine" 2007 "Greatest Day" 2008 "These Days" 2014 11 Eminem "The Real Slim Shady" 2000 "Stan" "Without Me" 2002 "Lose Yourself" "Just Lose It" 2004 "Like Toy Soldiers" 2005 "Smack That" 2006 "The Monster" 2013 "River" 2018 "Godzilla" 2020 "Houdini" 2024 11 Calvin Harris "Dance wiv Me" 2008 "I'm Not Alone" 2009 "We Found Love" 2011 "Sweet Nothing" 2012 "Under Control" 2013 "Summer" 2014 "Blame" "Feels" 2017 "One Kiss" 2018 "Promises" "Miracle" 2023 10 Elton John "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" 1976 "Sacrifice" / "Healing Hands" 1990 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" 1991 "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" / "Candle in the Wind 1997" 1997 "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" 2002 "Are You Ready for Love" 2003 "Ghetto Gospel" 2005 "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" 2021 "Merry Christmas" "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" 9 ABBA "Waterloo" 1974 "Mamma Mia" 1976 "Fernando" "Dancing Queen" "Knowing Me, Knowing You" 1977 "The Name of the Game" "Take a Chance on Me" 1978 "The Winner Takes It All" 1980 "Super Trouper" 9 Rihanna "Umbrella" 2007 "Take a Bow" 2008 "Run This Town" 2009 "Only Girl (In the World)" 2010 "What's My Name?" 2011 "We Found Love" "Diamonds" 2012 "The Monster" 2013 "Wild Thoughts" 2017 9 Spice Girls "Wannabe" 1996 "Say You'll Be There" "2 Become 1" "Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are" 1997 "Spice Up Your Life" "Too Much" "Viva Forever" 1998 "Goodbye" "Holler" / "Let Love Lead the Way" 2000 8 Justin Bieber "What Do You Mean?" 2015 "Sorry" "Love Yourself" "Cold Water" 2016 "I'm the One" 2017 "Despacito" "I Don't Care" 2019 "Daisies" 2025 8 Ariana Grande "Problem" 2014 "Bang Bang" "Thank U, Next" 2018 "7 Rings" 2019 "Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored" "Rain on Me" 2020 "Positions" "Hate That I Made You Love Me" 2026 8 Kylie Minogue "I Should Be So Lucky" 1988 "Especially for You" 1989 "Hand on Your Heart" "Tears on My Pillow" 1990 "Spinning Around" 2000 "Can't Get You Out of My Head" 2001 "Slow" 2003 "XMAS" 2025 8 Oasis "Some Might Say" 1995 "Don't Look Back in Anger" 1996 "D'You Know What I Mean?" 1997 "All Around the World" 1998 "Go Let It Out" 2000 "The Hindu Times" 2002 "Lyla" 2005 "The Importance of Being Idle" 8 The Rolling Stones "It's All Over Now" 1964 "Little Red Rooster" "The Last Time" 1965 "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" "Get Off of My Cloud" "Paint It Black" 1966 "Jumpin' Jack Flash 1968 "Honky Tonk Women" 1969 8 Sam Smith "La La La" 2013 "Money on My Mind" 2014 "Stay with Me" "Lay Me Down" 2015 "Writing's on the Wall" "Too Good at Goodbyes" 2017 "Promises" 2018 "Unholy" 2022 8 Taylor Swift "Look What You Made Me Do" 2017 "Anti-Hero" 2022 "Is It Over Now?" 2023 "Fortnight" 2024 "The Fate of Ophelia" 2025 "Opalite" 2026 "I Knew It, I Knew You" "Patient Zero"
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