Stuck at 2: the 2010s
The table below lists every song that reached #2 in the UK charts during the 2010s (i.e. from January 2010 up to December 2019), but did not make it to the top. When a single was kept off #1 by more than one song, each one is listed, along with how many weeks it kept its rival at #2.
When a song was kept off the top by the same #1 for non-consecutive weeks each separate run at #2 is listed separately.
For example, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Human had three separate spells at #2 between December 2016 and February 2017, without making it to #1. First of all, it was kept at #2 for 1 week by Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie, Rockabye. Rockabye then kept Zara Larsson, I Would Like at #2 for 1 week, and it was still at #1 when Human climbed back up to #2 in January 2017. Finally, Ed Sheeran, Shape of You kept Human off the top spot for 1 week in February 2017.
[Note: The following paragraph, which appeared when this piece was first published in early 2020, is no longer accurate. As you can read here, All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey reached #1 in the UK in December 2020.
All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey has the unique distinction of being Stuck at 2 on four separate occasions, first in 1994 (as you can see on this page, Stuck at 2: The 1990s) and then in December 2017, December 2018 and December 2019, as you can see below. It was also the last song to be Stuck at 2 in the 2010s.]
| Month | Act, Title | Weeks at #2 | Act and song that kept it at #2 |
| Jan-10 | Sidney Samson featuring Wizard Sleeve, Riverside (Let’s Go) | 1 | Iyaz, Replay |
| Feb-10 | Glee Cast, Don’t Stop Believin’ | 1 | Owl City, Fireflies |
| Feb-10 | Jedward featuring Vanilla Ice, Under Pressure (ice Ice Baby) | 1 | Owl City, Fireflies |
| Mar-10 | Florence & The Machine & Dizzee Rascal, You Got The Dirtee Love (Live At The BRIT Awards 2010) | 1 | Helping Haiti, Everybody Hurts |
| Mar-10 | Florence & The Machine & Dizzee Rascal, You Got The Dirtee Love (Live At The BRIT Awards 2010) | 1 | Jason Derulo, In My Head |
| Mar-10 | Rihanna, Rude Boy | 2 | Tinie Tempah, Pass Out |
| May-10 | Jason Derulo, Ridin’ Solo | 1 | Roll Deep, Good Times |
| Jun-10 | Jason Derulo, Ridin’ Solo | 1 | BoB featuring Bruno Mars, Nothin’ On You |
| Jun-10 | Tinie Tempah featuring Labrinth, Frisky | 1 | Shout For England featuring Dizzee Rascal & James Corden, Shout |
| Jul-10 | K’Naan, Wavin’ Flag | 1 | Shout For England featuring Dizzee Rascal & James Corden, Shout |
| Jul-10 | K’Naan, Wavin’ Flag | 1 | Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg, California Gurls |
| Aug-10 | Eminem featuring Rihanna, Love The Way You Lie | 1 | Yolanda Be Cool vs D Cup, We No Speak Americano |
| Aug-10 | Eminem featuring Rihanna, Love The Way You Lie | 1 | Flo Rida featuring David Guetta, Club Can’t Handle Me |
| Sep-10 | Eminem featuring Rihanna, Love The Way You Lie | 1 | Roll Deep, Green Light |
| Sep-10 | Eminem featuring Rihanna, Love The Way You Lie | 1 | Taio Cruz, Dynamite |
| Sep-10 | Katy Perry, Teenage Dream | 1 | Olly Murs, Please Don’t Let Me Go |
| Sep-10 | Katy Perry, Teenage Dream | 1 | Alexandra Burke featuring Laza Morgan, Start Without You |
| Oct-10 | Robbie Williams & Gary Barlow, Shame | 1 | Cee Lo Green, Forget You |
| Nov-10 | Wanted, Heart Vacancy | 1 | Bruno Mars, Just The Way You Are (Amazing) |
| Nov-10 | Take That, The Flood | 1 | Rihanna, Only Girl (In The World) |
| Dec-10 | Take That, The Flood | 1 | JLS, Love You More |
| Dec-10 | Ellie Goulding, Your Song | 2 | X Factor Finalists 2010, Heroes |
| Dec-10 | Willow Smith, Whip My Hair | 1 | Black Eyed Peas, The Time (Dirty Bit) |
| Jan-11 | Jessie J, Do It Like A Dude | 1 | Bruno Mars, Grenade |
| Feb-11 | Adele, Rolling in the Deep | 1 | Bruno Mars, Grenade |
| Feb-11 | Chipmunk featuring Chris Brown, Champion | 1 | Jessie J featuring BoB, Price Tag |
| Apr-11 | Wretch 32 ft Example, Unorthodox | 1 | LMFAO/ Lauren Bennett/ Goonrock, Party Rock Anthem |
| Jun-11 | Aloe Blacc, I Need A Dollar | 1 | Pitbull/ Ne-Yo/ Afrojack/ Nayer, Give Me Everything |
| Jun-11 | Calvin Harris ft Kelis, Bounce | 1 | Example, Changed The Way You Kissed Me |
| Jul-11 | Loick Essien ft Tanya Lacey, How We Roll | 1 | DJ Fresh ft Sian Evans, Louder |
| Aug-11 | Emeli Sande, Heaven | 1 | Wretch 32 ft Josh Kumra, Don’t Go |
| Sep-11 | Calvin Harris, Feel So Close | 1 | Olly Murs ft Rizzle Kicks, Heart Skips A Beat |
| Sep-11 | Maroon 5 ft Christina Aguilera, Moves Like Jagger | 1 | Example, Stay Awake |
| Sep-11 | Maroon 5 ft Christina Aguilera, Moves Like Jagger | 1 | Pixie Lott, All About Tonight |
| Sep-11 | Maroon 5 ft Christina Aguilera, Moves Like Jagger | 1 | One Direction, What Makes You Beautiful |
| Oct-11 | Maroon 5 ft Christina Aguilera, Moves Like Jagger | 1 | Dappy, No Regrets |
| Oct-11 | Maroon 5 ft Christina Aguilera, Moves Like Jagger | 1 | Sak Noel, Loca People |
| Oct-11 | Maroon 5 ft Christina Aguilera, Moves Like Jagger | 2 | Rihanna ft Calvin Harris, We Found Love |
| Oct-11 | Wanted, Lightning | 1 | Rihanna ft Calvin Harris, We Found Love |
| Nov-11 | Labrinth ft Tinie Tempah, Earthquake | 1 | Professor Green ft Emeli Sande, Read All About It |
| Nov-11 | JLS, Take A Chance On Me | 1 | Rihanna ft Calvin Harris, We Found Love |
| Jan-12 | Rizzle Kicks, Mama Do The Hump | 1 | Jessie J, Domino |
| Feb-12 | Alyssa Reid ft Jump Smokers, Alone Again | 1 | David Guetta ft Sia, Titanium |
| Feb-12 | Emeli Sande, Next To Me | 1 | DJ Fresh ft Rita Ora, Hot Right Now |
| Mar-12 | Emeli Sande, Next To Me | 2 | Gotye ft Kimbra, Somebody That I Used To Know |
| Mar-12 | Nicki Minaj, Starships | 1 | Gotye ft Kimbra, Somebody That I Used To Know |
| Mar-12 | Sean Paul, She Doesn’t Mind | 1 | Katy Perry, Part Of Me |
| Apr-12 | Sean Paul, She Doesn’t Mind | 1 | Chris Brown, Turn Up The Music |
| Apr-12 | Sean Paul, She Doesn’t Mind | 1 | Carly Rae Jepson, Call Me Maybe |
| Apr-12 | Justin Bieber, Boyfriend | 1 | Carly Rae Jepson, Call Me Maybe |
| Apr-12 | Conor Maynard, Can’t Say No | 1 | Carly Rae Jepson, Call Me Maybe |
| May-12 | Calvin Harris ft Ne-Yo, Let’s Go | 1 | Carly Rae Jepson, Call Me Maybe |
| Jun-12 | Wanted, Chasing The Sun | 1 | Fun ft Janelle Monae, We Are Young |
| Jun-12 | Flo Rida, Whistle | 1 | Gary Barlow / Commonwealth Band, Sing |
| Jun-12 | Flo Rida, Whistle | 1 | Cheryl, Call My Name |
| Jul-12 | Chris Brown, Don’t Wake Me Up | 1 | Maroon 5 ft Wiz Khalifa, Payphone |
| Aug-12 | Calvin Harris ft Example, We’ll Be Coming Back | 2 | Wiley ft Ms D, Heatwave |
| Sep-12 | Amelia Lily, You Bring Me Joy | 1 | Script ft Will I Am, Hall of Fame |
| Sep-12 | Example, Say Nothing | 1 | Script ft Will I Am, Hall of Fame |
| Oct-12 | Adele, Skyfall | 1 | Swedish House Mafia, Don’t You Worry Child |
| Nov-12 | Bruno Mars, Locked Out Of Heaven | 1 | One Direction, Little Things |
| Dec-12 | Girls Aloud, Something New | 1 | Olly Murs ft Flo Rida, Troublemaker |
| Dec-12 | Bruno Mars, Locked Out Of Heaven | 1 | Olly Murs ft Flo Rida, Troublemaker |
| Dec-12 | Bruno Mars, Locked Out Of Heaven | 1 | Gabrielle Aplin, The Power of Love |
| Jan-13 | Taylor Swift, I Knew You Were Trouble | 1 | Will I Am ft Britney Spears, Scream & Shout |
| Jan-13 | 50 Cent / Eminem / Adam Levine, My Life | 1 | Will I Am ft Britney Spears, Scream & Shout |
| Feb-13 | Disclosure / Alunageorge, White Noise | 1 | Macklemore / Ryan Lewis / Wanz, Thrift Shop |
| Mar-13 | Bastille, Pompeii | 1 | Justin Timberlake, Mirrors |
| Mar-13 | Bruno Mars, When I Was Your Man | 1 | Justin Timberlake, Mirrors |
| Apr-13 | Pink ft Nate Ruess, Just Give Me A Reason | 1 | PJ & Duncan, Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble |
| Apr-13 | Pink ft Nate Ruess, Just Give Me A Reason | 1 | Duke Dumont ft Ame, Need U (100 Percent) |
| Apr-13 | Wizard of Oz Film Cast, Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead | 1 | Duke Dumont ft Ame, Need U (100 Percent) |
| Apr-13 | Will I Am ft Justin Bieber, Thatpower | 1 | Rudimental ft Ella Eyre, Waiting All Night |
| May-13 | Chris Malinchak, So Good To Me | 1 | Daft Punk ft Pharrell Williams, Get Lucky |
| May-13 | Passenger, Let Her Go | 1 | Daft Punk ft Pharrell Williams, Get Lucky |
| Jun-13 | Jason Derulo, The Other Side | 1 | Robin Thicke / Ti / Pharrell, Blurred Lines |
| Aug-13 | One Direction, Best Song Ever | 1 | Avicii, Wake Me Up |
| Oct-13 | Vamps, Can We Dance | 1 | Onerepublic, Counting Stars |
| Oct-13 | Eminem, Berzerk | 1 | Miley Cyrus, Wrecking Ball |
| Nov-13 | James Arthur, You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You | 1 | Lorde, Royals |
| Nov-13 | Bastille, Of The Night | 1 | Lily Allen, Somewhere Only We Know |
| Dec-13 | Gary Barlow, Let Me Go | 1 | Calvin Harris / Alesso / Hurts, Under Control |
| Dec-13 | One Direction, Story Of My Life | 1 | Lily Allen, Somewhere Only We Know |
| Dec-13 | Avicii, Hey Brother | 1 | Lily Allen, Somewhere Only We Know |
| Feb-14 | Will I Am / Cyrus / Khalifa, Feelin’ Myself | 1 | Clean Bandit ft Jess Glynne, Rather Be |
| Feb-14 | Zedd ft Hayley Williams, Stay The Night | 1 | Clean Bandit ft Jess Glynne, Rather Be |
| Apr-14 | John Legend, All Of Me | 1 | Aloe Blacc, The Man |
| Apr-14 | Vamps, Last Night | 1 | Sigma, Nobody To Love |
| Jun-14 | 5 Seconds Of Summer, Don’t Stop | 1 | Ella Henderson, Ghost |
| Sep-14 | Maroon 5, Maps | 1 | Lilly Wood & Robin Schulz, Prayer In C |
| Sep-14 | Duke Dumon, Won’t Look Back | 1 | Lilly Wood & Robin Schulz, Prayer In C |
| Oct-14 | Taylor Swift, Shake It Off | 1 | Meghan Trainor, All About That Bass |
| Nov-14 | Clean Bandit ft Jess Glynne, Real Love | 1 | Band Aid 30, Do They Know It’s Christmas |
| Dec-14 | Union J, You Got It All | 1 | Ed Sheeran, Thinking Out Loud |
| Jan-15 | Philip George, Wish You Were Mine | 3 | Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars, Uptown Funk |
| Jan-15 | Meghan Trainor, Lips Are Movin | 1 | Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars, Uptown Funk |
| Feb-15 | Hozier, Take Me To Church | 1 | Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars, Uptown Funk |
| Feb-15 | Hozier, Take Me To Church | 3 | Ellie Goulding, Love Me like You Do |
| Apr-15 | James Bay, Hold Back The River | 1 | Jess Glynne, Hold My Hand |
| Apr-15 | Ed Sheeran, Bloodstream | 1 | Jess Glynne, Hold My Hand |
| Apr-15 | Nick Jonas, Jealous | 1 | Jess Glynne, Hold My Hand |
| May-15 | Lunchmoney Lewis, Bills | 1 | OMI, Cheerleader |
| Jun-15 | Natalie La Roze ft Jeremih, Somebody | 1 | Jason Derulo, Want to Want Me |
| Jun-15 | Major Lazer ft Mo & DJ Snake, Lean On | 1 | Jason Derulo, Want to Want Me |
| Jul-15 | Years & Years, Shine | 1 | David Zowie, House Every Weekend |
| Jul-15 | Years & Years, Shine | 2 | Little Mix, Black Magic |
| Aug-15 | Calvin Harris & Disciples, How Deep Is Your Love | 1 | One Direction, Drag Me Down |
| Aug-15 | Calvin Harris & Disciples, How Deep Is Your Love | 1 | Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor, Marvin Gaye |
| Sep-15 | Felix Jaehn ft J Thompson, Ain’t Nobody (Loves Me Better) | 1 | Rachel Platten, Fight Song |
| Oct-15 | R City ft Adam Levine, Locked Away | 2 | Justin Bieber, What Do You Mean? |
| Feb-16 | Jonas Blue & Dakota, Fast Car | 1 | ZAYN, Pillowtalk |
| Feb-16 | Rihanna ft Drake, Work | 2 | Lukas Graham, 7 Years |
| Apr-16 | Fifth Harmony ft Ty Dollar Sign, Work From Home | 1 | Mike Posner, I Took a Pill in Ibiza |
| Apr-16 | Sia, Cheap Thrills | 4 | Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla, One Dance |
| May-16 | Calvin Harris ft Rihanna, This Is What You Came For | 2 | Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla, One Dance |
| May-16 | Justin Timberlake, Can’t Stop The Feeling | 4 | Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla, One Dance |
| Jun-16 | Kungs Vs Cookin’ On 3 Burners, This Girl | 4 | Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla, One Dance |
| Jul-16 | Chainsmokers ft Daya, Don’t Let Me Down | 1 | Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla, One Dance |
| Jul-16 | Jonas Blue ft JP Cooper, Perfect Strangers | 1 | Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla, One Dance |
| Jul-16 | Jonas Blue ft JP Cooper, Perfect Strangers | 1 | Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ, Cold Water |
| Aug-16 | Calum Scott, Dancing On My Own | 1 | Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ, Cold Water |
| Aug-16 | DJ Snake ft Justin Bieber, Let Me Love You | 6 | Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and MØ, Cold Water |
| Oct-16 | Weeknd ft Daft Punk, Starboy | 1 | James Arthur, Say You Won’t Let Go |
| Nov-16 | Rae Sremmurd ft Gucci Man, Black Beatles | 3 | Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie, Rockabye |
| Dec-16 | Louis Tolminson & Steve Aoki, Just Hold On | 1 | Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie, Rockabye |
| Dec-16 | Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Human | 1 | Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie, Rockabye |
| Dec-16 | Zara Larsson, I Would Like | 1 | Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie, Rockabye |
| Jan-17 | Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Human | 1 | Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie, Rockabye |
| Jan-17 | Ed Sheeran, Castle On The Hill | 5 | Ed Sheeran, Shape of You |
| Feb-17 | Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Human | 1 | Ed Sheeran, Shape of You |
| Feb-17 | Ed Sheeran, How Would You Feel (Paean) | 1 | Ed Sheeran, Shape of You |
| Mar-17 | Chainsmokers & Coldplay, Something Just Like This | 1 | Ed Sheeran, Shape of You |
| Mar-17 | Ed Sheeran, Galway Girl | 5 | Ed Sheeran, Shape of You |
| Jun-17 | Ariana Grande, One Last Time | 2 | Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, Despacito (Remix) |
| Aug-17 | French Montana ft Swae Lee, Unforgettable | 1 | Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean, Feels |
| Aug-17 | Justin Bieber & Bloodpop, Friends | 1 | Dua Lipa, New Rules |
| Nov-17 | Rita Ora, Anywhere | 3 | Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug, Havana |
| Dec-17 | Rak-Su ft Wyclef / Naughty Boy, Dimelo | 1 | Ed Sheeran, Perfect |
| Dec-17 | Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas Is You | 1 | Ed Sheeran, Perfect |
| Dec-17 | Wham, Last Christmas | 1 | Ed Sheeran, Perfect |
| Jan-18 | Ramz, Barking | 1 | Eminem featuring Ed Sheeran, River |
| Jan-18 | Ramz, Barking | 2 | Drake, God’s Plan |
| Mar-18 | George Ezra, Paradise | 1 | Rudimental featuring Jess Glynne, Macklemore and Dan Caplen, These Days |
| Apr-18 | Ariana Grande, No Tears Left To Cry | 2 | Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa, One Kiss |
| Jul-18 | Drake ft Michael Jackson, Don’t Matter To Me | 1 | George Ezra, Shotgun |
| Oct-18 | Marshmello ft Bastille, Happier | 1 | Calvin Harris and Sam Smith, Promises |
| Nov-18 | Little Mix ft Nicki Minaj, Woman Like Me | 1 | Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, Shallow |
| Nov-18 | Little Mix ft Nicki Minaj, Woman Like Me | 2 | Ariana Grande, Thank U Next |
| Dec-18 | Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas Is You | 1 | Ava Max, Sweet But Psycho |
| Jan-19 | Mark Ronson ft Miley Cyrus, Nothing Breaks Like A Heart | 1 | Ava Max, Sweet But Psycho |
| Mar-19 | Calvin Harris & Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Giant | 5 | Lewis Capaldi, Someone You Loved |
| Apr-19 | Billy Eilish, Bad Guy | 1 | Lewis Capaldi, Someone You Loved |
| Apr-19 | Meduza ft Goodboys, Piece Of Your Heart | 1 | Lil Nas X, Old Town Road |
| Aug-19 | Kygo & Whitney Houston, Higher Love | 2 | Ed Sheeran ft Stormzy, Take Me Back To London |
| Sep-19 | Aitch, Taste (Make It Shake) | 1 | Ed Sheeran ft Stormzy, Take Me Back To London |
| Sep-19 | Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey, Don’t Call Me Angel (Charlie’s Angels) | 1 | Ed Sheeran ft Stormzy, Take Me Back To London |
| Sep-19 | Aitch, Taste (Make It Shake) | 1 | Ed Sheeran ft Stormzy, Take Me Back To London |
| Oct-19 | Regard, Ride It | 1 | Tones & I, Dance Monkey |
| Oct-19 | Travis Scott, Highest In The Room | 2 | Tones & I, Dance Monkey |
| Oct-19 | Regard, Ride It | 2 | Tones & I, Dance Monkey |
| Nov-19 | Dua Lipa, Don’t Start Now | 3 | Tones & I, Dance Monkey |
| Dec-19 | Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas Is You | 1 | Ellie Goulding, River |
| Month | Act, Title | Weeks at #2 | Act and song that kept it at #2 |
To return to the “Stuck at 2” page, with links to all the other lists and articles, please click here.
The Compartments 