RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Sam Fender and Olivia Dean ’s “Rein Me In” is now the longest-running No. 1 single in U.K. Chart history.
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With its 19th week at the summit on the chart dated July 31, the collaborative track surpasses previous record-holder Frankie Laine, whose song “I Believe” ruled for 18 non-consecutive weeks back in 1953.
The triumph of “Rein Me In” came after a tight battle over the past seven days with Shakira and Burna Boy ’s “Dai Dai” which was leading the Official Singles Charts midweek and ends the week at No. 2.
“Rein Me In” was first issued on Fender’s People Watching LP in February 2025, with Dean joining on a new version in June of that year. The track enjoyed a 35-week climb to the summit, eventually hitting the top spot in February and won song of the year at the 2026 BRIT Awards.
Since “Rein Me In” hit the summit, only tracks by Harry Styles (“American Girls,” one week), Olivia Rodrigo (“Drop Dead,” one week); Ariana Grande (“Hate That I Made You Love Me,” one week) and Taylor Swift (“I Knew It, I Knew You,” one week) have dislodged it from the top spot.
Speaking on the triumph, Fender told the Official Charts Company that he was “completely lost for words; thank you so much to Olivia Dean and the fans for making this song the juggernaut that it is. Can’t believe we broke the U.K. record!”
On its way to the record, “Rein Me In” conquered a number of long-standing records. It became the longest-running No. 1 of the 2020s after 14 weeks, surpassing Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” (2025) and leapfrogged Drake’s “One Dance” (2016) as the longest-running of the 21st century after 16. The track also became the longest running for a British act in its 16th week, conquering Wet Wet Wet’s stint for “Love Is All Around” (1995).
The song is Fender’s first No. 1 single and Dean’s second (“Man I Need”); it peaked at No. 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 , and is currently placed at No. 69.
Following “Dai Dai” at No. 2 comes Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas,” which is up to a new peak at No. 3. Rodrigo’s “Stupid Song” holds its position at No. 4, followed by “Talk to You” by ANORT/54 Ultra at No. 5.
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