UK best selling singles artists of all time

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Part of a series of articles on British music

BPI • OCC

Charts Singles chart (#1s; Records) Albums chart (#1s) Download chart (#1s)

Awards BRIT Awards • Mercury Prize NME Awards

Periods Pre-1950 • 1950s & 60s 1970s • 1980s 1990s - Present

Origins and influences Overview England • Scotland • Wales Ireland • Caribbean

Genres Classical • Britpop • Brithop Opera • Rock • Jazz

Major music publications NME • Melody Maker Music Week • Record Collector Record Mirror • Record Retailer Smash Hits • Sounds Q • Kerrang! • fRoots

Other links Bands • Musicians Festivals • Venues

Timeline 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • (full list)

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The best selling singles artists in the UK were documented in a Channel 4 documentary in February 2004. Sir Cliff Richard was shown to have sold more singles than any other artist. The featured artists were surprised by this, including Sir Cliff. He was followed by The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Madonna, at number 4, was the top female artist, with Queen the leading group, and The Spice Girls the top female group.

Comedians Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse (as their characters Smashie and Nicey) presented the television show, which took its figures from The Official UK Charts Company.

These figures include sales to February 2004, and do not reflect subsequent sales.

1. Cliff Richard (20,969,006)
2. The Beatles (20,799,632)
3. Elvis Presley (19,293,118)
4. Madonna (14,562,856)
5. Elton John (13,475,063)
6. Michael Jackson (11,310,958)
7. Queen (10,334,713)
8. ABBA (10,004,039)
9. Paul McCartney (9,781,603)
10. David Bowie (9,392,410)
11. Rod Stewart (9,046,492)
12. The Rolling Stones (8,348,470)
13. Kylie Minogue (7,994,130)
14. Stevie Wonder (7,614,227)
15. Spice Girls (7,507,213)
16. Shakin' Stevens (7,108,330)
17. Whitney Houston (6,993,105)
18. Bee Gees (6,943,851)
19. George Michael (6,819,419)
20. Status Quo (6,727,822)
21. Boney M (6,587,018)
22. Slade (6,520,171)
23. Olivia Newton-John (6,493,006)
24. Blondie (6,456,881)
25. Boyzone (6,435,711)
26. Oasis (6,225,785)
27. UB40 (5,997,222)
28. Tom Jones (5,892,220)
29. Celine Dion (5,683,264)
30. The Police (5,617,175)
31. Madness (5,564,459)
32. Diana Ross (5,326,780)
33. Wham! (5,298,431)
34. Adam Ant (5,296,965)
35. The Jam (5,094,055)
36. Frankie Goes to Hollywood (5,008,067)
37. Robbie Williams (4,973,227)
38. Pet Shop Boys (4,913,655)
39. Phil Collins (4,889,059)
40. Wet Wet Wet (4,877,328)
41. Duran Duran (4,846,531)
42. The Everly Brothers (4,827,957)
43. The Shadows (4,793,537)
44. Westlife (4,726,116)
45. Gary Glitter (4,717,834)
46. Engelbert Humperdinck (4,710,328)
47. U2 (4,663,427)
48. Bryan Adams (4,614,135)
49. Frank Sinatra (4,597,630)
50. The Hollies (4,597,450)

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