1983

Margaret Thatcher started a second term as PM, TV-AM appeared on our screens as did Match of the Day and we saw cordless phones.

News

• Margaret Thatcher was elected for a second term.
• The Walton sextuplets were born.
• The HIV Virus was identified.
• Seatbelts were made compulsory in the front seats of cars.
• The first non-American Disney theme park opened in Tokyo, Japan.

What’s New?

• Cordless phones, Swatch watches.
• The £1 pound coin.
• Wheel clamps.
• My Little Pony, Matey bubble bath and CD players.
• McDonald’s Chicken Nugget.

Entertainment

• The last episode of M*A*S*H was watched by 125 million viewers.
• TV AM began broadcasting.
• Blackadder and Blockbusters made their TV debut.
• Former American President, Gerald Ford, made his acting debut in ‘Dynasty’.

Box Office

• Octopussy, Superman III, An Officer and a Gentleman, Airplane II: The Sequel, Flashdance, Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life and War Games.

Music

• The Smiths released their first single ‘Hand In Glove’.
• American MTV aired the full 14-minute version of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ video for the first time.
• The Eurovision Song Contest was won by Corinne Hermes from Luxembourg with ‘Si La Vie est Cadeau’.
• Thin Lizzy split up.

Top Hits of 1983

No.	Artist	Title
#1	Culture Club	Karma Chameleon
#2	Billy Joel	Uptown Girl
#3	UB40	Red Red Wine
#4	David Bowie	Let’s Dance
#5	Bonnie Tyler	Total Eclipse Of The Heart
#6	Men At Work	Down Under
#7	Michael Jackson	Billie Jean
#8	Spandau Ballet	True
#9	Lionel Richie	All Night Long (All Night)
#10	Phil Collins	You Can’t Hurry Love

Sport

• The BBC broadcast the first-ever live Match Of The Day.
• Manchester United won the FA Cup Final.
• Corbiere won the Grand National.
• John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova won the Wimbledon singles’ titles.
• The racehorse, Shergar was kidnapped and a £2 million ransom demanded.