Sam Fender and Olivia Dean reach number one after 35 weeks with Rein Me In
BBC World
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Sam Fender and Olivia Dean have made history with their collaboration "Rein Me In," which reached number one on the UK singles chart after an unprecedented 35 weeks, breaking the record previously held by Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud." This achievement marks a milestone for both artists: it is Fender's first solo number one single and Dean's second. The song, a soulful pop-rock track about the end of a relationship, has steadily climbed the charts since its release in June 2023, eventually dethroning Taylor Swift's "Opalite" last week.
The slow-burn success of "Rein Me In" can be attributed to its organic growth through word-of-mouth and
Verticals
worldpolitics
Originally published on BBC World on 2/20/2026