Here is a list of 30 UK number one hits that were originally written for other acts, but for one reason or another, they turned them down
| Artist | Title | Year | Turned down by |
| Roy Orbison | Only The Lonely (Know How I Feel) | 1960 | Everly Brothers |
| Gerry And The Pacemakers | How Do You Do It? | 1963 | Adam Faith |
| Tom Jones | It’s Not Unusual | 1965 | Sandie Shaw |
| The Hollies | I’m Alive | 1965 | Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders |
| The Kinks | Sunny Afternoon | 1966 | Leapy Lee |
| Bee Gees | I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You | 1968 | Percy Sledge |
| Simon And Garfunkel | Bridge Over Troubled Water | 1970 | Aretha Franklin |
| Christie | Yellow River | 1970 | Tremeloes |
| Elvis Presley | The Wonder Of You | 1970 | Perry Como |
| George Harrison | My Sweet Lord | 1971 | Edwin Hawkins Singers |
| Anita Ward | Ring My Bell | 1979 | Stacy Lattisaw |
| Kelly Marie | Feels Like I’m In Love | 1980 | Elvis Presley |
| Madonna | La Isla Bonita | 1987 | Michael Jackson |
| Will Young & Gareth Gates | The Long And Winding Road | 2002 | Ray Charles |
| Britney Spears | Toxic | 2004 | Kylie Minogue |
| Lady Gaga And Beyonce | Telephone | 2009 | Britney Spears |
| B.O.B. Feat Bruno Mars | Nothin’ On You | 2010 | Lupe Fiasco |
| Rihanna Feat Calvin Harris | We Found Love | 2011 | Nicole Scherzinger |
| Rita Ora Feat Tinie Tempah | R.I.P. | 2012 | Rihanna |
| Pharrell Williams | Happy | 2013 | CeeLo Green |
| Meghan Trainor | All About That Bass | 2014 | Beyoncé |
| Peter And Gordon | A World Without Love | 1964 | Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas |
| Madonna | La Isla Bonita | 1987 | Michael Jackson |
| Britney Spears | …Baby One More Time | 1999 | TLC |
| Kylie Minogue | Can’t Get You Out Of My Head | 2001 | S Club 7 |
| Liberty X | Just A Little | 2002 | Anastacia |
| Pussycat Dolls Feat Busta Rhymes | Don’t Cha | 2005 | Paris Hilton |
| Rihanna Feat Jay-Z | Umbrella | 2007 | Britney Spears |
| David Guetta Feat Sia | Titanium | 2011 | Katy Perry |
| Miley Cyrus | Wrecking Ball | 2013 | Beyonce |