1982
A royal birth and a royal intrusion, Channel 4 made an appearance along with Brookside, E.T. hit the box office and Italy won the World Cup.
News
- The Queen woke to find intruder Michael Fagan sitting on her bed.
- A letter bomb addressed to Margaret Thatcher exploded in Downing Street.
- The 20 pence coin when into circulation.
- The Queen went riding in Windsor Great Park with Ronald Reagan.
- Police find a pair of trousers which had been stolen from Sir Geoffrey Howe whilst he was asleep on a train.
What’s New?
- Ra-ra skirts became the latest fashion must-have.
- Barbican Arts Centre in London.
- Channel 4.
- The Kodak Disc 2000 – the first camera to use a disc-shaped film.
Entertainment
- Countdown and Brookside made their debut along-side Channel 4.
- The Young Ones and Knight Rider appeared on our screens.
Box Office
- Chariots of Fire, ET, Blade Runner, Gandhi, Rocky III, Herbie Goes Bananas, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, 48 Hours and Annie,
Music
- The Eurovision Song Contest winner was Nicole from West Germany with ‘Ein Bisschen Frieden (A Little Peace)’.
- Michael Jackson launched his ‘Thriller’ album. It was to become the biggest-selling album of all time.
- Boy George arrived on the music scene with Culture Club.
- The Jam split up.
- Blondie split up.
Top Hits of 1982
| No. | Artist | Title |
| #1 | Dexy’s Midnight Runners | Come On Eileen |
| #2 | Irene Cara | Fame |
| #3 | Survivor | Eye Of The Tiger |
| #4 | Culture Club | Do You Really Want To Hurt Me |
| #5 | Tight Fit | The Lion Sleeps Tonight |
| #6 | Musical Youth | Pass The Dutchie |
| #7 | Eddy Grant | I Don’t Wanna Dance |
| #8 | Goombay Dance Band | Seven Tears |
| #9 | Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder | Ebony And Ivory |
| #10 | The Jam | Town Called Malice |
Sport
- Italy won the football World Cup with a 3-1 win over West Germany.
- Liverpool won the First Division title.
- Grittar won the Grand National.
- Keke Rosberg was the Formula 1 World Champion.
