Kate Bush is number 1 for the first time in 44 years thanks to Stranger Things hit

Kate Bush broke chart records as Running Up That Hill landed the number 1 spot on the Official Singles Chart.

The iconic singer has broken the record for the longest time taken for a single to reach number one, as the new-wave track shot straight up the charts to take the top spot on Friday.

Running Up That Hill was first released in 1985, as the lead track on her album Hounds of Love, and has seen a huge surge in popularity after it was featured in an episode of the fourth season of Stranger Things.

Her song is played as Max (Sadie Sink) tries to escape the evil clutches of the villainous Vecna, and fans have been streaming the track since watching the thrilling scenes.

Kate Bush has broken three records with her track Running Up That Hill (Popperfoto via Getty Images)

After breaking the longest-running sleeper hit record, Kate has usurped previous holders Wham!, who saw Last Christmas top the Official Singles Chart in 2021, a whopping 36 years after it was originally released.

Running Up That Hill is also at number one in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland, and achieved its highest ever spot in the US charts, reaching number four.

The song reached number three in the UK when it was released in 1985, and charted in 12th spot in 2012.

The 63-year-old musician thanked The Duffer Brothers for featuring her hit (Getty Images)

It was first released in 1985 (ZIK Images/United Archives via Getty Images)

Singer-songwriter Kate, 63, has also won the coveted title of the longest gap between number one singles, as she landed the top spot 44 years ago with her debut single Wuthering Heights.

She’s also become the oldest ever female artist to have a number one in the UK charts, toppling previous record holder Cher, who was 52 when Believe hit the top spot in 1998.

Kate said she was “overwhelmed by the scale of affection and support” for her iconic song, and thanked Stranger Things creators The Duffer Brothers for “bringing the song into so many people’s lives”.

The track helps Sadie Sink's character Max escape the clutches of the show's villain (Courtesy of Netflix)

“By featuring Running Up That Hill in such a positive light, as a talisman for Max (one of the main female characters), the song has been brought into the emotional arena of her story,” she said in a statement.

“I have to admit I feel really moved by it all. Thank you so very much for making the song a No 1 in such an unexpected way,” Kate added.

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