17 December

Birthdays

 * Ray Wilson (b.1934, dec.), Pope Francis (b.1936), Simon Bates (b.1946),

Events

 * 1964: Goldfinger premiere in London.
 * 1979: Kramer Vs. Kramer premiere in USA
 * 1980: The Goodies and The Beanstalk (BBC1), The Merchant of Venice (BBC2)
 * 1986: Smash Hits Readers' Poll
 * 1989: The Simpsons premieres on Fox TV, Band Aid II at no.1
 * 2015: The Force Awakens goes on UK general release.
 * 2022: Strictly Come Dancing (S20) final: World Cup third place match.

Charts
as announced on this day, with no.1 single (new in bold). Click year for full chart.
 * 1964: The Beatles - I Feel Fine/She's A Woman (2/5)
 * 1972: Little Jimmy Osmond - Long Haired Lover From Liverpool (1/5)
 * 1974: Mud - Lonely This Christmas (1/4)
 * 1985: Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You (2/2)
 * 1989: Band Aid II - Do They Know It's Christmas? (1/3)
 * 1995: Michael Jackson - Earth Song (3/6)
 * 2000: Bob The Builder - Can We Fix It? (1/3)
 * 2006: Take That - Patience (4/4)
 * 2021: Ed Sheeran & Elton John - Merry Christmas (2/3 n.c.)

Top of the Pops
host DJ and number one single. Click year for show details.
 * 1964: Pete Murray. The Beatles – I Feel Fine/She's a Woman
 * 1981: Simon Bates. The Human League – Don’t You Want Me.
 * 1987: Gary Davies & Mike Read. Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind.
 * 1992: Tony Dortie & Mr. Blobby. Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You.
 * 1999: Jamie Theakston. Cliff Richard - The Millennium Prayer.
 * 2004: Fearne Cotton, Reggie Yates & Chris Moyles. Band Aid 20 - Do they Know It's Christmas? (Top Of The Pops/Radio 1 Christmas Party)