1977
News
- The United Kingdom holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first time.
- The Ford Fiesta goes on sale in the UK.
- Income tax is slashed to 33p in the pound from 35p in the budget.
- A new, smaller, £1 note is introduced.
- Freddie Laker launches his new budget Skytrain airline, with the first single fare from Gatwick to New York City costing £59 compared to the normal price of £186.
- Undertakers go on strike in London, leaving more than 800 corpses unburied.
Entertainment
- The 22nd Eurovision Song Contest is held in London. With Angela Rippon as the presenter, the contest is won by Marie Myriam representing France, with her song “L’oiseau et l’enfant” (“The Bird and the Child”); the British entry, Lynsey de Paul and Michael Moran’s “Rock Bottom”, takes second place.
- The Morecambe & Wise Christmas Show on BBC 1 television attracts an audience of more than 28,000,000 viewers, one of the highest ever in UK television history.
- The first night of The Proms is broadcast by BBC Radio 3 for the first time in quadraphonic sound.
Music
- Fleetwood Mac’s Grammy-winning album Rumours is released, featuring songs that include “The Chain”, “Don’t Stop”, and “Go Your Own Way”.
- Punk band The Clash’s debut album The Clash is released in the UK through CBS Records.
- Rock band Queen’s power ballad “We Are the Champions” is released.
- After releasing only one single for the band, EMI Records terminates its contract with the Sex Pistols.
Number #1 Hits of 1977
| Artist | Title |
| David Soul | Don’t Give Up On Us |
| Julie Covington | Don’t Cry For Me Argentina |
| Leo Sayer | When I Need You |
| Manhattan Transfer | Chanson D’Amour |
| Abba | Knowing Me Knowing You |
| Deniece Williams | Free |
| Rod Stewart | I Don’t Want To Talk About It/First Cut Is The Deepest |
| Kenny Rogers | Lucille |
| The Jacksons | Show You The Way To Go |
| Hot Chocolate | So You Win Again |
| Donna Summer | I Feel Love |
| Brotherhood Of Man | Angelo |
| The Floaters | Float On |
| Elvis Presley | Way Down |
| David Soul | Silver Lady |
| Baccara | Yes Sir I Can Boogie |
| Abba | Name Of The Game |
| Wings | Mull Of Kintyre/Girls’ School |
Sport
- Red Rum wins the Grand National for the third time.
- Manchester United win the FA Cup for the fourth time by defeating Liverpool 2–1 at Wembley Stadium in the cup final. It is their first major trophy since they won the European Cup in 1968.
- Virginia Wade won the Women’s Singles title at Wimbledon.
- Within 24 hours of resigning as manager of the England national football team, Don Revie accepts an offer to become the highest-paid football manager in the world when he is appointed manager of the United Arab Emirates national football team on a four-year contract worth £340,000.
- Cricketer Geoff Boycott scores the 100th century of his career for England against Australia at Headingley, Leeds.
- The England football team fails to achieve World Cup qualification for the second tournament in succession.
