1986
A major accident at Chernobyl, the UK and France announce plans for the Channel Tunnel and Dyson launched their first vacuum cleaner.
News
- A major accident took place at Chernobyl nuclear power station. It was the world’s worst nuclear disaster.
- The space shuttle, Challenger, exploded shortly after take-off from Cape Canavral.
- British surgeons performed the first heart, lung and liver transplant.
- Corporal punishment was abolished in schools across the UK.
- The first PC virus, Brain, started to spread.
- The UK and France announced plans to build a Channel tunnel.
What’s New?
- Nicotine chewing gum.
- The Dyson Dual Cyclone vacuum cleaner.
- Laptop computers in America.
- The Mir space station.
- Panini football stickers.
- Disposable cameras.
- The first home keyboard with a sampler – the Casio SK1.
Entertainment
- Bob Geldof published his autobiography, ‘Is That It?’.
- Clint Eastwood became the Mayor of Carmel, California.
- Bread, Casualty and The Singing Detective made their debut on TV.
- Neighbours first appeared on UK television.
Box Office
- Back to the Future, Rocky IV, Top Gun, Aliens, Police Academy III: Back in Training, Clockwise, The Karate Kid Part II and Crocodile Dundee.
Music
- The Eurovision Song Contest winner was Sandra Kim from Belgium with ‘J’aime La Vie’.
- Janet Jackson divorced James DeBarge.
- Benny Goodman died.
- Spitting Image writers reached number one in the charts with ‘The Chicken Song’.
Top Hits of 1986
| No. | Artist | Title |
| #1 | The Communards | Don’t Leave Me This Way |
| #2 | Nick Berry | Every Loser Wins |
| #3 | Boris Gardiner | I Want To Wake Up With You |
| #4 | Cliff Richard & The Young Ones | Living Doll |
| #5 | Diana Ross | Chain Reaction |
| #6 | Chris De Burgh | Lady In Red |
| #7 | Billy Ocean | When The Going Gets Tough |
| #8 | Berlin | Take My Breath Away |
| #9 | Madonna | Papa Don’t Preach |
| #10 | Sinitta | So Macho |
Sport
- Mike Tyson became World Heavyweight Boxing Champion for the first time at the age of 20.
- 30 million people worldwide took part in Sport Aid’s ‘Race Against Time’.
- Everton won the 1st Division title.
- Liverpool won the FA Cup.
- West Tip won the Grand National.
