1983

News

• Margaret Thatcher was elected for a second term.
• The Walton sextuplets were born.
• The HIV Virus was identified.
• Seatbelts were made compulsory in the front seats of cars.
• The first non-American Disney theme park opened in Tokyo, Japan.

Entertainment

• The last episode of M*A*S*H was watched by 125 million viewers.
• TV AM began broadcasting.
• Blackadder and Blockbusters made their TV debut.
• Former American President, Gerald Ford, made his acting debut in ‘Dynasty’.

Music

• The Smiths released their first single ‘Hand In Glove’.
• American MTV aired the full 14-minute version of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ video for the first time.
• The Eurovision Song Contest was won by Corinne Hermes from Luxembourg with ‘Si La Vie est Cadeau’.
• Thin Lizzy split up.

Number #1 Hits of 1983

Artist	Title
Phil Collins	You Can’t Hurry Love
Men At Work	Down Under
Kajagoogoo	Too Shy
Michael Jackson	Billie Jean
Bonnie Tyler	Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Duran Duran	Is There Something I Should Know
David Bowie	Let’s Dance
Spandau Ballet	True
New Edition	Candy Girl
The Police	Every Breath You Take
Rod Stewart	Baby Jane
Paul Young	Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)
KC & The Sunshine Band	Give It Up
UB40	Red Red Wine
Culture Club	Karma Chameleon
Billy Joel	Uptown Girl
The Flying Pickets	Only You

Sport

• The BBC broadcast the first-ever live Match Of The Day.
• Manchester United won the FA Cup Final.
• Corbiere won the Grand National.
• John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova won the Wimbledon singles’ titles.
• The racehorse, Shergar was kidnapped and a £2 million ransom demanded.