1983

**1983**

**MCMLXXXIII**

* UK Prime Minister: Margaret Thatcher (second term after June General Election)
* FA Cup Winners: Manchester United (beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0, after replay due to 2-2 draw)
* Christmas Number One: The Flying Pickets - Only You
* Eurovision Song Contest: Munich, West Germany, 23 April 1983
	+ Contest winner: Corinne Hermes - Si la vie est cadeau (Luxembourg)
	+ UK Eurovision Entry: Sweet Dreams - I'm Never Giving Up
* Blue Peter Team: Sarah Greene (until 27 June), Simon Groom, Peter Duncan, Janet Ellis (from 28 April)
* Doctor Who: Peter Davison (S20, plus 20th anniversary special, *The Five Doctors)*
* Radio 1 Breakfast Show DJ: Mike Read
* Big Christmas Day Film On BBC1: *Treasure Island* (Walt Disney)

## Main events

* General election (09 June) won by the Conservative Party led by Margaret Thatcher.

TV
--

### New shows

(first broadcast date in brackets)

* BBC 1: *Lyn Marshall's Everyday Yoga* (10 January), *Claire Rayner's Casebook*, *Breakfast Time* (17 January), *People and Power* (25 January), *Blackadder* (15 June), *No Place Like Home* (13 December)
* BBC 2: *Master Photographers, Leo, Doctors' Dilemmas* (11 January)
* ITV*: Good Morning Britain* (01 February), *Auf Wiedersehen, Pet* (11 November)
* C4: *Gastank* (15 January)

### Returning shows

* BBC 1: *Holiday*, *Animal Magic*, *Grange Hill*, *Jigsaw*, *Wogan*, *Nanny*, *Making The Most of The Micro, The Junior Superstars*
* BBC 2: *Pot Black,*

### Shows ending

* *The Professionals* (06 February)
* *Animal Magic* (08 March)

## Radio

### New shows

* BBC Radio 1: *What Next?* (Paul Gambaccini - from 03 January)
* BBC Radio 2: *Music While You Work* (12.00 midday weekdays), *Sounds of the 60s* (from 12 February)

### Other radio events

* Steve Wright begins Sunday afternoons (from 02 Oct.)

## Music

* Biggest selling singles: Culture Club - Karma Chameleon, David Bowie - Let's Dance, UB40 - Red Red Wine, New Order - Blue Monday, Spandau Ballet - True (*full list*)
	+ UK Top 40 debuts: Men At Work, China Crisis, Orange Juice, Big Country, Nick Heyward, Twisted Sister, The Creatures, New Edition, David Grant, Agnetha Faltskog, Paul Young, Roman Holliday, Howard Jones, Tracey Ullman, Robert Plant, Flying Pickets, The Smiths, Roland Rat Superstar
	+ One-hit wonders (Top 40): Rocksteady Crew, Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack, Ryan Paris, Monyaka, Hot Streak, Olympic Orchestra, Will Powers, Lydia Murdock, Central Line, F. R. David, Kissing The Pink, Sweet Dreams, Gary Byrd and the GB Experience, Bruce Foxton, Sylvian/Sakamoto (duo), The Assembly,

* Biggest selling albums: Michael Jackson - *Thriller*, Paul Young - *No Parlez*, David Bowie - *Let's Dance* (*full list*)
	+ Debut albums: Tears For Fears - *The Hurting*, Paul Young - *No Parlez*,
		- Eponymous debut albums: Madonna (European re-issue), David Grant

*scans worldradiohistory.com*

*Record Mirror*, Jan 1984

## Births

* Lee Ryan (17 June), Reggie Yates (31 May), Cheryl Cole (30 June), Amy Winehouse (14 September)

## Birthdays

* **20**: George Michael, Susan Ann Sulley, Lena Zavaroni
* **30:** Graeme Souness, Mike Oldfield, Gary Holton, Midge Ure
* **40:** George Harrison, Joni Mitchell, Tony Blackburn, Paul Burnett
* **50:** Frank Bough
* **60:**
* **70:**
* **80:**

## Deaths

* Dick Emery (02 January), Billy Fury (28 January), John Le Mesurier (15 November)

## See also

* 1983 Calendar
* 1983 Category page
* 1973 - 1993 - 2003 - 2013 - 2023