2009
News
- The Yorkshire Ripper is released from Broadmoor Hospital to face a life sentence, for killing 13 women and attempting to kill 7 more, after doctors claim he has been treated for schizophrenia.
- TV personality, Jade Goody and her boyfriend, Jack Tweed, are married at Down Hall, Essex. Goody, 27, has been suffering from cervical cancer for six months and was told earlier this month that she may only have weeks to live after the cancer spread to her bowel, liver and groin.
- 22 March – Jade Goody, the reality TV star, dies at her home in Essex after a seven-month battle against cancer.
- 2009 swine flu pandemic: the human pandemic H1N1/09 virus originating in Mexico spreads to the UK, with 2 cases confirmed in Scotland.
- The Staffordshire Hoard, the largest haul of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found, is uncovered. The 1,500 gold and silver pieces are discovered buried beneath a field in Staffordshire by metal detecting enthusiast Terry Herbert.
Entertainment
- Jonathan Ross returns to television after serving a three-month suspension from the BBC following the row over prank telephone calls made to Andrew Sachs.
- At the 62nd British Academy Film Awards, the ‘BAFTAs’, British drama Slumdog Millionaire wins seven awards, including Best Film and Best Director for Danny Boyle. British actress Kate Winslet also wins the award for Best Leading Actress for her performance in The Reader.
- ITV announces that its news and information Teletext service will be discontinued within the next six months as a result of mounting losses and the inability to find a viable business model to continue.
- Granada Television begins the process of digital switchover.
Music
- At the 51st Grammy Awards, Coldplay win three awards including Song of the Year for Viva La Vida and Adele wins two awards including Best New Artist.
- Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney perform together (for the first time since 2002) at the Radio City Music Hall for the David Lynch Foundation.
- Alexander Rybak wins the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, for Norway. Within a couple of days, his song, “Fairytale”, reaches the top ten in charts in most of Europe, including a No. 10 entry in the UK Singles Chart. Jade Ewen finishes 5th for the UK with “It’s My Time”
- The entire catalogue of The Beatles is re-released as digital remasters with rare pictures, short documentaries, original and newly written liner notes with replicated original UK artwork for the first time since 1987.
- Joe McElderry wins the sixth series of The X Factor UK. Olly Murs is named runner-up, while Stacey Solomon and Danyl Johnson finish in third and fourth place respectively.
- Rage Against the Machine takes the Christmas number one slot in the United Kingdom with “Killing in the Name”, after a massive Facebook campaign to prevent the winner of The X Factor from taking the slot once again.
Number #1 Hits of 2009
| Artist | Title |
| Lady Gaga | Just Dance |
| Lily Allen | The Fear |
| Kelly Clarkson | My Life Would Suck Without You |
| Flo Rida Feat. Ke$ha | Right Round |
| Lady Gaga | Poker Face |
| Calvin Harris | I’m Not Alone |
| Tinchy Stryder Feat. N-Dubz | Number One |
| Black Eyed Peas | Boom Boom Pow |
| Dizzee Rascal | Bonkers |
| Pixie Lott | Mama Do (Uh Oh Uh Oh) |
| David Guetta Feat. Kelly Rowland | When Love Takes Over |
| La Roux | Bulletproof |
| Cascada | Evacuate The Dancefloor |
| J.L.S | Beat Again |
| Black Eyed Peas | I Gotta Feeling |
| Tinchy Stryder Feat. Amelle | Never Leave You |
| David Guetta Feat. Akon | Sexy Chick |
| Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West | Run This Town |
| Taio Cruz | Break Your Heart |
| Chipmunk | Oopsy Daisy |
| Alexandra Burke Feat. Flo Rida | Bad Boys |
| Cheryl Cole | Fight For This Love |
| J.L.S | Everybody In Love |
| Black Eyed Peas | Meet Me Halfway |
| X Factor Finalists 2009 | You Are Not Alone |
| Lady Gaga | Bad Romance |
| Rage Against The Machine | Killing In The Name |
Sport
- Chelsea F.C. manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is sacked by the club’s board after results deteriorate “at a key time in the season”. It comes just hours after fellow Premier League manager, Tony Adams of Portsmouth F.C., is sacked, again after a poor run of results.
- Manchester United F.C. win the 2009 Carling Cup, beating Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 4–1 on penalties in the final. The scores stood level at 0–0 after 90 minutes and extra time.
- Manchester United lose 2–0 to FC Barcelona of Spain in the European Cup final at Rome’s Olympic Stadium.
- Cardiff City F.C. move into their new Cardiff City Stadium, a 27,000 capacity all-seater venue, after 99 years at Ninian Park.
