Football may not have come home this week, but at least something did. Three Lions is not only Number 1 on this week’s Official Chart, but it’s set a new all-time record too, the Official Charts Company can confirm.
The Baddiel, Skinner & Lightning Seeds track returns to the top spot 22 years after it first hit Number 1 with an impressive 80,000 combined sales this week, made up of 43,000 sales, 6.8m audio streams and 5.2m video streams.
Following a dramatic week of hope and heartbreak for English football fans, the welcome news was revealed on air today by new BBC Radio 1 Official Chart host Scott Mills. It’s the first time in the Official Chart’s 66-year history that a song has scored four spells at Number 1 with the same artist line-up; the original 1996 version had two one-week stints in 1996, while the 1998 re-work had one three-week spell at the top. England’s recent run of form in the 2018 World Cup has propelled it to a record-breaking fourth outing at the top.
David Baddiel said: “Well, this is awkward,” while Frank Skinner added: “I must say, as consolation prizes go…”
BBC Radio 1 Official Chart host Scott Mills concludes: “England gave us everything at this World Cup. The whole country got swept away with it, and Three Lions being the Official Number 1 shows how we really got behind our amazing team.”
New entries and high climbers
George Ezra’s Shotgun slips to Number 2 after two weeks at the top, and Drake’s In My Feelings from his new album Scorpion is new at Number 4.
Elsewhere in the Top 10, Years & Years’ If You’re Over Me climbs three places to hit a new peak at 6, and Jonas Blue claims his fourth Top 10 hit with Rise ft. Jack & Jack, up four spots to 7.
Further down, a Facebook campaign to get Green Day’s American Idiot back into the charts in time for President Trump’s UK visit lands at Number 25, and Cheat Codes x Little Mix’s Only You rebounds 12 places to 28.
Finally, two songs make their Top 40 debut this week: Fine Girl by South London newcomer Ziezie lifts eight spots to 38, and club hit Panic Room by Au/Ra & Camelphat hops five places to 39.