UK Chart Shattered: Sam Fender & Olivia Dean Make History with Longest-Running No. 1
Sam Fender and Olivia Dean's "Rein Me In" has made history by spending 16 weeks at No. 1, becoming the longest-running British single to do so on the U.K. charts. This monumental achievement overtakes Wet Wet Wet's decades-old record and positions the duet as one of the longest-reigning No. 1s of all time.
Sam Fender and Olivia Dean have achieved a monumental feat in U.K. chart history with their collaboration “Rein Me In,” which has now spent an impressive 16th week at the No. 1 position, as of July 10. This makes it the longest-running No. 1 single by a British act ever recorded on the Official U.K. Singles Chart, surpassing a record held for over three decades by Wet Wet Wet’s “Love Is All Around,” which topped the charts for 15 weeks in 1994.
Furthermore, “Rein Me In” has now equaled Bryan Adams’ 1991 hit “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” as the joint second longest-running No. 1 single of all time on the Official U.K. Singles Chart. The only song to have spent more weeks at the summit is Frankie Laine’s “I Believe,” which held the top spot for 18 weeks back in 1953, placing Fender and Dean’s track in an elite category.
The journey to this historic achievement has been remarkable for “Rein Me In.” Despite being released more than a year ago, the duet made a record-breaking climb to the No. 1 spot, taking 35 weeks from its chart debut to finally reach the pinnacle in February. The song originally featured on Sam Fender’s Mercury Prize-winning 2025 album, “People Watching,” and was later re-released last summer with a new verse from Olivia Dean, which significantly broadened its appeal. Its success was further cemented when it triumphed in the public-voted Song of the Year category at the 2026 BRIT Awards.
Sam Fender expressed his excitement about the achievement to the Official Charts Company, stating, “It’s been ridiculous! Every Friday, it’s been an excuse to party. Take that, Marti Pellow! Olivia putting the alternative narrative on it made the song really universal – that opened the floodgates. There’s two sides to the story. And, it’s a toe tapper! It’s officially a banger!” Ben Mortimer, president of Polydor Label Group, Fender’s label, praised the song’s unique quality and the sustained effort behind its success, noting, “From the beginning, we knew that ‘Rein Me In’ had a rare quality, so it was important to give it the space and support needed to grow. Watching it build has been incredibly rewarding – that kind of sustained success doesn’t happen by accident, it takes brilliant artists and a dedicated team. Breaking a record that has stood for more than 30 years is a remarkable achievement for Sam and Olivia and we are incredibly proud to have played a part.” Jo Charrington, president of Capitol U.K., Dean’s label, called it “the duet of the decade,” highlighting the special connection Olivia’s artistry made with listeners alongside Sam.
In other chart news for the week, Olivia Rodrigo’s “Stupid Song” held steady at No. 2, followed by Ariana Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me” at No. 3. Michael Jackson’s timeless hit “Billie Jean” secured the No. 4 position, while Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” climbed four spots to land at No. 5.