Robbie Williams has secured his 16th UK number one album with Britpop, overtaking The Beatles to become the artist with the most chart-topping albums in Official Charts history. The achievement was confirmed by the Official Charts Company, marking a significant milestone in the singer’s solo career.
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The album is Williams’ latest chart success, following a run of number one releases including Better Man (2024), XXV (2022) and The Christmas Present (2019). His back catalogue includes a string of chart-toppers dating back to Life Thru A Lens in 1997, with his only studio album not to reach number one being 2009’s Reality Killed The Video Star, which peaked at number two.
Williams, who rose to fame as a member of Take That before launching his solo career in the mid-1990s, released Britpop three weeks earlier than planned. The decision followed concerns over a release clash with Taylor Swift, as the singer had previously spoken openly about his ambition to surpass The Beatles’ long-standing record.
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The Beatles, whose 15 UK albums all reached number one between 1963 and 2000, spent a combined 174 weeks at the top of the charts. Britpop, which has been positively received by critics, features collaborations with artists including Gary Barlow, Chris Martin and Tony Iommi, further underlining Williams’ enduring presence in British popular music.
