2003

**MMIII**

* UK Prime Minister: Tony Blair (second term, Iraq War)

* FA Cup Winners: Arsenal (beat Southampton 1-0), Millenium Stadium, 17 May

* Christmas Number One: Michael Andrews and Gary Jules - Mad World

* Eurovision Song Contest: Riga, Latvia, 24 May
	+ Contest Winner: Sertab Erener - Everyway That I Can (Turkey)
	+ UK Eurovision Entry:  Jemini - Cry Baby (26th - last with 0 points)

* Blue Peter Team: Konnie Huq, Simon Thomas, Matt Baker, Liz Barker

* Doctor Who: -

* Radio 1 Breakfast Show DJ: Sara Cox, until 19 December.

* Big Christmas Day Film On BBC1: afternoon - *Stuart Little*

## Main events

* Feb.: Anti-Iraq War demonstrations, London congestion charge introduced
* March: British troops enter Iraq
* Apr.: British take Basra, Saddam Hussein toppled
* May: Champions League final at Old Trafford
* June:  *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* book published
* July: Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich buys Chelsea FC, David Kelly found dead
* August: highest ever UK recorded temperature of 38.5°C (until July 2019)
* Oct.: final Concorde commercial flight
* Nov.: *Brookside* ends (after 21 years), George W. Bush on state visit to UK, England rugby world champions
* Dec.: first UK toll motorway (M6), Mick Jagger receives knighthood

TV
--

### Main events

* BBC Three launched (09 Feb.), BBC Choice shuts down (08 Feb.)

### New shows

* BBC: *Little Britain*,

* ITV: *Fortysomething*

### Shows ending

* *Tomorrow's World*, *Crossroads*, *Wish You Were Here...?*, *Only Fools and Horses* (final Christmas Special), *Blind Date* (revived 2017), *Smack the Pony*, *Pop Idol* (second and final season), *The Office*

## Radio

### Main events

* Mark Goodier presents chart on Classic FM, Jeremy Vine takes over Radio 2 lunchtime show, Wes Butters takes over BBC R1 Official Charts show, Radio 1 holds *One Big Weekend* in May and September, Sara Cox presents final breakfast show (19 Dec.) (replaced by Chris Moyles in 2004

## Music

UK Top 40 debuts: Evanescence,

* Biggest selling singles: Black Eyed Peas - Where Is the Love?, Gareth Gates with The Kumars - Spirit in the Sky, R. Kelly - Ignition, t.A.T.u.- All The Things She Said (*full list*)

* Biggest selling albums:  Dido - *Life for Rent*, Justin Timberlake - *Justified* (2002), Christina Aguilera - *Stripped* (2002), The Darkness - *Permission to Land* (full list)

* + Compilation albums: *Now 56, 55, 54*, *Love Actually (OST)*, *Clubland III: The Sound of the Summer*

* Debut albums: Amy Winehouse - *Frank*, Katie Melua - *Call off the Search*, Beyoncé - *Dangerously in Love*,

* + Eponymous debuts - *Album*

* Alternative/independent: Artist - Title

## Films

*UK release*

* *The Matrix Reloaded*, *21 Grams* (prem.), *Daredevil*,

## Births

* Greta Thunberg (03 Jan.), Olivia Rodrigo (20 February), Louise Windsor-Mountbatten (elder child of Prince Edward and Sophie) (08 Nov.) (*list*)

## Birthdays

* **20**: Lee Ryan, Cheryl Cole, Amy Winehouse,
* **30**: Peter Andre, Fran Healey, Kate Beckinsale, Scott Mills, Ryan Giggs
* **40**: Andrew Ridgeley, Seal, Julian Lennon, George Michael, Mark Kermode, Jarvis Cocker,
* **50**: Tony Blair, Mike Oldfield, Alfred Molina, Keith Allen, Andy Partridge, Griff Rhys Jones, Jim Davidson, Midge Ure
* **60**: Freddie Starr, Tony Blackburn, John Major, Michael Palin, Cilla Black, Colin Baker, Malcolm McDowell, Richard Wright, Keith Richards
* **70**: David Bellamy, Bobby Robson, Michael Caine, Joan Collins
* **80**: Dora Bryan, Patrick Moore, Eric Sykes, Richard Attenborough, Nicholas Parsons

## Deaths

* Maurice Gibb (12 Jan.), Adam Faith (08 Mar.), Thora Hird (15 Mar.), Bob Hope (27 July), Robert Palmer (26 Sep.), Alan Bates (27 Dec.), Bob Monkhouse (29 Dec.) (*list*)