The Official Charts Company in England has published a list of every number 1 song since their charts began in 1952.
The biggest is 1991’s (Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams which was at the top of the chart from July until November that year, a total of 16 weeks. Wet Wet Wet’s cover of the Troggs’ Love is All Around is the second longest at 12 weeks.
Like the U.S., there are extended periods where records were number 1 for only one to four weeks with an occasional breakout for a couple of extra weeks, including the years when the Beatles were together. In England their first single, From Me to You, stayed at the top for seven weeks as did 1967’s Hello Goodbye. Get Back was number 1 for six weeks while I Want to Hold Your Hand, I Feel Fine, Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out all spent five weeks at the top. The Beatles’ biggest chart hit in the U.S., Hey Jude, which was number 1 for nine weeks, only spent two weeks at the top in the U.K.
Because of the small number of number ones at 10+ weeks, we’ve extended the U.K. chart to include those that were at the top for eight weeks or more.
16 Weeks
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You – Bryan Adams (1991)
12 Weeks
Love is All Around – Wet Wet Wet (1994)
11 Weeks
Rose Marie – Slim Whitman (1955)
10 Weeks
Cara Mia – David Whitfield, With Chorus and Mantovani and His Orchestra (1954)
I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston (1992)
Umbrella – Rihanna Featuring Jay Z (2007)
9 Weeks
Here in My Heart – Al Martino (1952)
I Believe – Frankie Laine (1953)
Oh Mein Papa – Eddie Calvert (1954)
Diana – Paul Anka (1957)
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen (1975)
Mull of Kintyre/Girls’ School – Wings (1977)
You’re the One That I Want – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (1978)
Two Tribes – Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1984)
Crazy – Gnarls Barkley (2006)
8 Weeks
Answer Me – Frankie Laine (1953)
Secret Love – Doris Day (1954)
Magic Moments – Perry Como (1958)
It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley With the Jordanaires (1960)
Wonderful Land – Shadows (1962)
Sugar Sugar – Archies (1969)
Stay – Shakespear’s Sister (1992)
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