31 July

212/365 - 213/366

Birthdays

 * Jim Corr (b.1964), J.K. Rowling (b.1965), Will Champion (Coldplay, b.1978), Simon/Stephanie Hirst (b.1975), Harry Potter (b.1980)

Events

 * 1968: first episode of Dad's Army shown on BBC One; The Beatles close Apple Boutique in London, giving clothes away for free
 * 1971:  Apollo 15 astronauts take 6½ hour electric car ride on Moon
 * 1976: Olympic marathon run in Montreal
 * 1990: Bosnia-Herzegovina declares independence

Charts
as announced on this day, with no.1 single (new in bold). Click year for full chart.
 * 1968: Tommy James & The Shondells - Mony Mony (1/3 n.c.)
 * 1973: Gary Glitter - I'm The Leader of the Gang (I Am) (2/4)
 * 1979: The Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays (2/4)
 * 1984: FGTH - Two Tribes (8/9)
 * 1988: Yaz - The Only Way Is Up (1/5)
 * 1994: Wet Wet Wet - Love Is All Around (10/15)
 * 2005: James Blunt - You're Beautiful (3/5)
 * 2011: JLS ft DEV - She Makes Me Wanna (1/1)
 * 2015: Little Mix - Black Magic (3/3)

Top of the Pops
host DJ and number one single. Click year for show details
 * 1969: Alan Freeman. The Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women.
 * 1975: Tony Blackburn. Bay City Rollers - Give A Little Love.
 * 1980: no show due to strike. (final week)
 * 1986: Janice Long & Mike Read. Chris de Burgh - The Lady in Red
 * 1998: Jayne Middlemiss. Spice Girls - Viva Forever.
 * 2005: Fearne Cotton & Christian O'Connell. James Blunt - You're Beautiful

Stamps
click on stamp for issue details