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First act to replace themselves at No.1 on the UK Official Singles Chart

First act to replace themselves at No.1 on the UK Official Singles Chart
Who
The Beatles
What
First
Where
United Kingdom
When
18 December 1963

On 18 December 1963, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” replaced “She Loves You” at No.1 on the UK Official Singles Chart for The Beatles (UK). “I Want to Hold Your Hand” climbed to the top from No.10 the previous week and would spend five consecutive weeks at No.1. “She Loves You”, which had enjoyed six non-consecutive weeks at No.1, would log three weeks in the runner-up spot behind “I Want to Hold Your Hand” as Beatlemania ruled the UK singles chart.

On 7 February 1981, in the weeks following his death, The Beatles’ John Lennon became the first solo artist to replace themselves at No.1, when “Woman” took over from “Imagine”.

Elvis Presley (2005), Justin Bieber (2015), Ariana Grande (twice in 2019), Ed Sheeran (twice in 2021 – solo and with LadBaby and Elton John), Elton John (2021 – with LadBaby and Ed Sheeran) and Sabrina Carpenter (twice in 2024) have since repeated the trick on the UK singles chart.