Sam Fender and Olivia Dean set UK record with 19-week No. 1

Sam Fender and Olivia Dean have broken the longest-standing record in British music history, with their collaborative single "Rein Me In" securing its 19th week at number one on the UK Official Singles Chart. The achievement, confirmed on the chart dated July 31, 2026, surpasses the 18-week record set by Frankie Laine's "I Believe" in 1953.

The duet, a reworking of a track from Fender's 2025 album "People Watching," features a new verse from Dean offering a female perspective on a relationship's breakdown. It was first released as a collaboration in June 2025 but took 35 weeks to reach the top spot, finally hitting number one in February 2026. Since then, it has been displaced only briefly by singles from Harry Styles, Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift, consistently reclaiming the summit.

Fender, who earned his first number one single with the track, expressed being speechless and lost for words upon learning of the record. He credited Dean for her contribution, stating that her touch made the song universal and beautiful, and thanked fans for their support. Dean had previously called the original version her favorite song on Fender's album and said it was a...