The best-selling singles of the 2000s in the UK
Who were the biggest-selling singles act of the decade known as the noughties? Madonna? Coldplay? Nope... The answers may surprise - and in some cases - sadden you. Image credits: (Mercury/Rex Features/Sony BMG/MCA/BBC/Parlophone)
Bob The Builder – Can We Fix It?
Say what you like about Neil Morrissey, he sang one of the best-selling singles in a decade and beat Westlife to Christmas number one with Can We Fix It as Bob The Builder. It sold over one million copies in 2000.
Hear’Say – Pure and Simple
The lead single from 'Popstars' band Hear'Say, it was co-written by Betty Boo and sold 550,000 copies in a week, back in 2001. In all, it sold 1.08 million, and spent three weeks at number one.
Shayne Ward – That’s My Goal
Another single from the TV talent show crop, Shane's 'X Factor' winner's single, released in 2005, shifted a sterling 1,103,351 copies in all, the second biggest single of the year.
Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out Of My Head
Kyles broke the US with this 2001 single, the insanely infectious (and aptly named) Can't Get You Out Of My Head. It went to number one in over 20 countries, and sold 1,200,000 in the UK. That's double platinum.
Band Aid 20 – Do They Know It’s Christmas
Bob Geldof updated both the song and the line up for Band Aid 20's barn-storming charity single in 2004. Chris Martin was instrumental in the rebooting of the track, and it ended up selling 200,000 copies in a week, and over 1.2 million copies in all.
Alexandra Burke – Hallelujah
A deeply odd choice for a X Factor winner's single, but one expects that Leonard Cohen was not especially upset by the additional royalties a single which sold 1.28 million copies brings with it, the biggest-selling X Factor single ever. Alexandra, he owes you a fruit basket.
Tony Christie feat. Peter Kay – (Is This The Way To) Amarillo
Peter Kay was a big fan of the Tony Christie track, using it in his series 'Phoenix Nights'. Re-releasing it with a new video for Comic Relief, it brought home the bacon for charity, selling 1.32 million copies.
Gareth Gates – Unchained Melody
Another cover – all to the good for Righteous Brothers Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley – this version from the 'Pop Idol' runner-up Gareth Gates sold 1.34 million copies.
Shaggy – It Wasn’t Me
But it was you, wasn't it Shaggy. Poor advice aside, this 2000 single with vocals from Rikrok shifted a massive 1.37 million units in all. The flat denial of an accusation despite clear evidence to the contrary has since been called 'the Shaggy defence'.
Will Young – Evergreen
Beating Gareth Gates to the top, Will Young's 'Evergreen' became the fastest-selling debut in UK chart history, selling an insane 403,027 copies on its first day alone. In all, it sold 1.79 million copies, and was the biggest-selling single of the 21st century, until Pharrell's 'Happy' topped it in 2015.