UK Chart History

The first UK Singles Chart began on 15/11/1952.

The first UK Albums Chart began in 1954.

From 1952-mid 1954 the charts allowed ties for positions.

From 1952-  the charts were 12 positions long.

In 1960 the Official Charts Company handled the charts as a business, rather than how it was.

From x-x the charts were 20 positions long.

From x-x the charts were 30 positions long.

From x-x the charts were 40 positions long.

From x-x the charts were 50 positions long.

From x-x the charts were 75 positions long.

From x-x the charts were 100 positions long.

From x-x the charts were 200 positions long, although the 101-200 data was only available through UK Charts Plus via a paid subscription service.

On x the BBC website created the Chart Update/Midweek Chart Top 40, which was a midweek preview of UK Singles and Albums.