1987

An underground fire at King’s Cross station in London, Tom Cruise married Mimi Rogers and Going Live was new on TV.

News

• The Great Storm hit England and France, despite TV weatherman Michael Fish’s assurances that we wouldn’t see a hurricane.
• An underground fire killed 31 people at King’s Cross station in London. It was started by a cigarette and smoking was subsequently banned on the Tube.
• Margaret Thatcher was elected for a third term as Prime Minister.
• The first government anti-AIDS campaign was launched.
• Van Gogh’s Sunflowers sold for £24 million at Christie’s.

What’s New?

• ‘Don’t Die of Ignorance’ – the government’s first mass public awareness campaign on the risks of HIV.
• Cycling shorts as a fashion garment.
• Acid House music and its smiley face logo.
• Nike Air trainers, Sylvanian Families, Rubik’s Magic and Karaoke.

Entertainment

• BBC newsreader Jan Leeming was the victim of an ammonia attack by intruders at Television Centre.
• Tom Cruise married Mimi Rogers.
• Strike It Lucky and Going Live with Gordon the Gopher were new on TV.

Box Office

• Fatal Attraction, Three Men and a Baby, The Untouchables, Lethal Weapon, Dirty Dancing, Predator, La Bamba, RoboCop, The Living Daylights and Full Metal Jacket.

Music

• Stock, Aitken and Waterman organised a cover version of ‘Let It Be’, in air of the Zeebrugge Disaster Fund.
• Madonna became the only female artist to have four UK number ones, when ‘La Isla Bonita’ went in at the top.
• Tiffany began her ‘Tiffany Shopping Mall Tour ’87’, where she performed free to shoppers.
• Kylie Minogue released her first hit – a cover of ‘The Locomotion’.
• Aled Jones retired from singing to concentrate on his O Levels.

Top Hits of 1987

No.	Artist	Title
#1	Rick Astley	Never Gonna Give You Up
#2	Starship	Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
#3	Whitney Houston	I Wanna Dance With Somebody
#4	Bee Gees	You Win Again
#5	T’Pau	China In Your Hand
#6	Mel & Kim	Respectable
#7	Ben E. King	Stand By Me
#8	Pet Shop Boys	It’s A Sin
#9	M|A|R|R|S	Pump Up The Volume
#10	The Firm	Star Trekkin’

Sport

• Everton were 1st Division football champions.
• During a match against Southampton, Manchester United player, Liam O’Brien, was sent off after just 85 seconds.
• Nelson Piquet was Formula 1 World Champion.
• Maori Venture won the Grand National.