2004

The Queen Mary 2 is christened by Elizabeth II.
57-year-old Serial killer Dr. Harold Shipman is found dead in his cell one day prior to his fifty-eighth birthday; suicide is suspected.
Piers Morgan is dismissed as editor of the Daily Mirror after the newspaper published fake pictures of Iraqi prisoner abuse.
The incumbent Ken Livingstone is announced as the winner of the election for Mayor of London.
The Queen unveils a memorial fountain to Diana, Princess of Wales.
Boscastle flood of 2004: flash floods destroy buildings and wash cars out to sea in Cornwall.
Tony Blair announces his intention to resign as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom if Labour win the next general election, so he will not have to stand for a possible fourth term in the position.
150 British people are among thousands of people killed by the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in across the South and Southeast Asia during a Christmas holiday and Boxing Day celebration.

The BBC cancels the appearance of Coca-Cola sponsorship credits in the music charts on its BBC One Top of the Pops show, after criticism from politicians and health campaigners that it would be promoting junk food and unhealthy drink products to teenagers.
BBC Two airs The Simpsons for the final time with Behind the Laughter being the final episode, having lost terrestrial rights to air the show to Channel 4.
Channel 4 Begins to Air The Simpsons With A Tale of Two Springfields Being The First Episode to Be Aired on The Channel, Having Taken The Terrestrial Rights From BBC Two.
BBC newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and her dance partner Brendan Cole win the first series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The BBC announces that Top of the Pops will move from its Friday evening BBC One slot to BBC Two, where it will be shown on Sunday evenings.

Elton John begins The Red Piano concert residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Originally scheduled for 75 performances, it will run for 248 shows over five years, including twenty-four tour dates in Europe.
George Michael announces that Patience will be his last commercially released record. Future releases will be available from his web site in return for donations to his favourite charities.
DJ Tony Blackburn is suspended by radio station Classic Gold Digital for playing songs by Cliff Richard, against station policy.
Steve Brookstein is named winner of the first series of the The X Factor. G4 are named the runner-ups, while Tabby Callaghan and Rowetta Satchell finish in third and fourth place respectively.

Artist	Title
Edison Lighthouse	Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
Lee Marvin	Wand’rin Star
Simon & Garfunkel	Bridge Over Troubled Water
Dana	All Kinds Of Everything
Norman Greenbaum	Spirit In The Sky
England World Cup Squad	Back Home
Christie	Yellow River
Mungo Jerry	In The Summertime
Elvis Presley	The Wonder Of You
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles	Tears Of A Clown
Freda Payne	Band Of Gold
Matthews’ Southern Comfort	Woodstock
Jimi Hendrix Experience	Voodoo Chile
Dave Edmunds	I Hear You Knockin’

Middlesbrough F.C. wins their first trophy in their 128-year history by defeating Bolton Wanderers F.C. in the Football League Cup Final.
Arsenal FC are the first team in history to win a Premier League season unbeaten. They are also the first team to win a top flight title unbeaten since Preston North End in 1889.
Manchester United beat Millwall 3–0 in the FA Cup final.
José Mourinho, the Portuguese coach who led FC Porto to the UEFA Champions League title on 26 May, is named as the new manager of Chelsea F.C. on a three-year contract.
The Football League club Wimbledon, who relocated to Milton Keynes from South London last autumn, are renamed Milton Keynes Dons to reflect their new location.
England are knocked out of UEFA Euro 2004 in the quarter-finals by host nation Portugal on penalties, following a 2–2 draw after extra time in Lisbon.
Great Britain participates in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens winning a total of 9 gold, 9 silver and 12 bronze medals.

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