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Wham! had the first 2021 number-one single with "Last Christmas", 36 years after its original release. The song returned to number-one in December 2022, January 2023 and December 2023. -
Kate Bush broke three chart-topping records in June 2022 with "Running Up That Hill". The song holds the longest gap between two of an artist's number one singles, the previous 44 years earlier with "Wuthering Heights" in 1978). It also holds the record for the longest time for a song to reach number one after its initial release and the oldest female artist to have a number one single. -
The Beatles had their 18th number-one single with "Now and Then" in November 2023, making it the longest gap (60 years) between an artist's first and last number one in UK chart history.
Number-one singles
| No. | nth single to top the UK Singles Chart |
|---|---|
| re | Return of a single to number one |
| † | Best-selling single of the year |
Timeline
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Artists with the most number ones
Some returning artists from the 2010s with multiple hits
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Ellie Goulding had the first number-one single of the decade with "River", a cover of the 1971 song by Joni Mitchell. She topped the charts again in April 2023 with "Miracle", her fourth overall.
Ed Sheeran replaced his own number one single twice with ("Bad Habits" in July 2021 by "Shivers" in September 2021 and "Merry Christmas" in December 2021 by "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" in the same month.
Adele released her October 2021 number-one single "Easy on Me", a third number-one for the artist. The song went on to have the highest first week sales of 2021 and the highest for any single since 2017.
Eleven artists have at least two number-one singles during the 2020s.
| Artist | Number ones | Songs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ed Sheeran | 6 | List
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| Lewis Capaldi | 4 | List
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| Olivia Rodrigo | 3 | List
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| Elton John | List
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| LadBaby | List
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| Ariana Grande | 2 | List
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| Ellie Goulding | |||
| Dave | |||
| Billie Eilish | List
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| Dua Lipa | List
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| Taylor Swift | List
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Songs with the most weeks at number one
The following songs spent at least six weeks at number one during the 2020s.
| Artist | Song | Weeks at number one |
|---|---|---|
| Ed Sheeran | "Bad Habits" | 11 |
| Harry Styles | "As It Was | 10 |
| Miley Cyrus | "Flowers" | |
| Dave and Central Cee | "Sprinter" | |
| Olivia Rodrigo | "Drivers License" | 9 |
| The Weeknd | "Blinding Lights" | 8 |
| Adele | "Easy on Me" | |
| LF System | "Afraid to Feel" | |
| Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding | "Miracle" | |
| Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero and Stephanie Beatriz | "We Don't Talk About Bruno" | 7 |
| Wham! | "Last Christmas" | |
| Noah Kahan | "Stick Season" | |
| DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch | "Rockstar" | 6 |
| Joel Corry and MNEK | "Head & Heart" | |
| Ariana Grande | "Positions" | |
| Taylor Swift | "Anti-Hero" |
Artists with the most weeks at number one
The following artists have all spent a total of six or more weeks at the number-one spot during the 2020s.
Record labels with the most weeks at number one
Eight record labels have spent ten or more weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart during the 2020s.
| Record label | Number ones |
Weeks at number one |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Records | 9 | 40 |
| Republic Records | 5 | 24 |
| Asylum Records[e] | 4 | 22 |
| Interscope Records | 5 | 18 |
| Geffen Records | 3 | 15 |
| Warner Music UK | 6 | 14 |
| Atlantic Records | 5 | 13 |
| Neighbourhood | 2 | 13 |
