The calendar year that has featured the most UK number ones is 2000, with 42; the year with the fewest number ones is 2016, with 10. 1952 had only one number one, although the chart started in November. The act that has achieved the most number ones is American entertainer
Elvis Presley, who has topped the chart 21 times (including 3 re-releases of songs that had previously been number ones) – Presley's second number one, "
Jailhouse Rock", was the first single ever to debut at the top of the chart. The most successful band (and equal with Elvis based on unique songs) are
The Beatles, who have achieved 18 number ones. The Beatles' first chart-topper, "
From Me to You", reached number one in May 1963, and their last in November 2023 – the longest span of number ones for any artist. In the 1970s, the required number of sales needed to top the chart was roughly 150,000. During 1992, when few releases were reaching number one, sales of CD singles were low: songs needed to sell only 60–70,000 each week to remain at the top. Sales figures improved in 2008 and continued into the early 2010s, peaking in 2013, before declining over the next few years as
audio streaming became popular. Eventually, streaming was incorporated into the sales chart. 's track "
Here in My Heart" was the first single ever to top the UK Singles Chart, and the only single to reach number one during 1952.|alt= ==Number ones in each year==