How Sam Fender & Olivia Dean’s ‘Rein Me In’ Became the U.K.’s Longest-Running No. 1 Single Ever

Sam Fender’s show at the London Stadium in June 2025 remains momentous for many reasons. It was the midway point of the rollout of his Mercury Prize-winning LP People Watching, and also his largest ever headline show. But perhaps the most consequential moment from it came midway through the set, album deep cut “Rein Me In” got an airing, with the show’s support act Olivia Dean, then a rising star, joining on vocals for a new verse. Now their careers — and that song — appear unstoppable.

“Rein Me In” is in record-breaking territory on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart. The track has earned 20 weeks at No. 1, and became the longest-running No. 1 single of the 21st century after 16, surpassing Drake’s “Hotline Bling.”

It has now pulled clear of Frankie Laine’s “I Believe” in the all time rankings, which notched 18 weeks at the summit back in 1953, to become the longest-running U.K. No. 1 single ever.

In February, it earned the BRIT Awards’ publicly voted song of the year prize, with Dean and Fender on hand to collect the prize in Manchester. Amid chart dominance in early May, Dean returned the favor by inviting Fender to give the song a rare live outing at her headline performances at London’s O2 Arena. Both are now leading the way for British acts on the global stage, capping off a remarkable turnaround for the scene.

This is the story of how a fan favorite became the biggest U.K. chart success of all time.