Sam Fender and Olivia Dean Break British Chart Record with Rein Me In

Sam Fender and Olivia Dean have broken the longest-running number one record for a British artist after their duet Rein Me In spent 16 weeks at the top of the UK singles chart. The achievement surpasses Wet Wet Wet's 1994 benchmark of 15 consecutive weeks and equals Canadian artist Bryan Adams' record from 1991. The pair still trail American legend Frankie Laine's all-time mark of 18 weeks, set in 1953.

The Record-Breaking Chart Run

Originally released as a solo track on Fender's third studio album, Rein Me In was reimagined as a duet with Grammy-winning vocalist Dean and launched as a single in June 2025. The mid-tempo ballad explores the aftermath of a relationship through dual perspectives, with Fender delivering introspective lyrics about self-sabotage alongside Dean's alternative narrative. Fender credited Dean's contribution with transforming the song's universal appeal, describing her addition as instrumental in opening the commercial floodgates.

The collaboration achieved additional milestones beyond its number one tenure. The track holds the longest consecutive run in the UK top 40 with 55 weeks, eclipsing Ed Sheeran's previous record with Thinking Out Loud. Rein Me In also claimed the most weeks in the UK top 10 for any non-Christmas single. The pair performed the track together at stadium shows in Newcastle and London, with footage from their June debut generating widespread social engagement.

Chart History and Remaining Records

Fender, aged 32, has secured his first number one with the duet, while Dean, 27, achieved her second chart-topper following the success of her single Man I Need. The song's chart performance differs from historical precedent: unlike Wet Wet Wet's 1994 run, which maintained consecutive weeks at the summit, Rein Me In rose and fell from the top spot throughout its 16-week tenure. Fender responded to the milestone with characteristic humour, directing a quip toward Wet Wet Wet vocalist Marti Pellow while noting that each weekly chart announcement has served as occasion for celebration.

To claim the all-time record, the pair would require 19 consecutive weeks at number one. Frankie Laine's 1953 achievement arrived during an era when the UK chart comprised just 12 songs, creating a structural difference from the modern chart format. Bryan Adams' 1991 record was buoyed by the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves soundtrack placement, similarly demonstrating the historical influence of film promotion on chart longevity.