1986

1986

MCMLXXXVI
 * FA Cup Winners: Liverpool FC (beat Everton 3-1, 10 May. First all-Merseyside FA Cup)
 * Christmas Number One: Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite
 * Eurovision Song Contest: Bergen (N), 03 May
 * UK Eurovision Entry: Ryder - Running in the Night (position 7th)
 * Contest Winner: Sandra Kim - J'aime la vie (Belgium)


 * Blue Peter Team: Janet Ellis, Simon Groom (until 23 June), Mark Curry (from 23 June), Peter Duncan (until 27 November), Caron Keating (from 13 November)
 * Doctor Who: Colin Baker (S23, The Trial of a Time Lord, from 06 September to 06 December)
 * Radio 1 Breakfast Show DJ: Mike Read (until 18 April), then Mike Smith (from 05 May)
 * Big Christmas Day Film on BBC1: aft.: Annie, The Musical, eve. Miss Marple: Murder at the Vicarage. EastEnders episode achieves highest audience of all time for a British television drama.

Main events

 * Feb.: Heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures, Wapping print-workers dispute, Single European Act signed
 * March: Today tabloid launches, engagement of Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson announced,
 * April: Oxford Utd. win Football League Cup,
 * May: Liverpool FC win First Division title and FA Cup.
 * June: Argentina win World Cup. England's Gary Lineker gets Golden Boot, moves to FC Barcelona for record £2.75 million.
 * July: Ian Rush signs to Juventus for new record £3.2 million, Prince Andrew & Sarah Ferguson married,
 * September: GCSE exams to replace 'O' Levels, Nissan car factory opened in Sunderland
 * October: The Independent daily first issued, HM the Queen & Prince Philip visit China, largest shopping complex in Europe "MetroCentre" opened on Tyneside, London M25 Orbital opened
 * November: Alex Ferguson replaces Ron Atkinson at Manchester Utd, anti-AIDS campaign launched.
 * December: 'Mad cow disease' diagnosed in British cattle; UK unemployment falls for the fifth month in succession

TV
(channel and first broadcast date in brackets)

New shows
full list
 * BBC One: Neighbours (27 October),
 * ITV: Catchphrase (12 January)

Shows ending
full list

Radio

 * Mike Smith takes over the Breakfast Show on R1 (05 May)

Music

 * Biggest selling singles: Artist - Title (full list)
 * Biggest selling albums: Artist - Title  (full list)
 * Compilation albums: Title
 * Debut albums: Artist - Title (full list)
 * Eponymous debut albums - Communards,
 * Alternative/independent: Artist - Title
 * See also: 1986 albums, 1986 singles

Films
UK release 


 * Cobra, Karate Kid II, Sid and Nancy,



Births

 * Alex Turner (06 January), Charlotte Church (21 February), Robert Pattinson (13 May), Ellie Goulding (30 December)

Birthdays

 * 20: Samantha Fox, Helena Bonham Carter,
 * 30: Bernard Sumner, Paul Young, John Lydon, Peter Hook, Sue Barker, Sebastian Coe, Ray Wilkins,
 * 40: Elisabeth Sladen, David Gilmour, Sue Townsend, Joanna Lumley, Maureen Lipman, George Best, Noddy Holder, Barry Gibb, Felicity Kendall, Lesley Judd, Janet Street Porter, Marianne Faithfull
 * 50: Roy Hudd, Ken Loach, Ted Rogers, Bill Wyman, Tommy Steele, James Burke
 * 60: George Martin, Warren Mitchell, Kenneth Williams, HRH Queen Elizabeth II, David Attenborough, Jimmy Savile,
 * 70:

Deaths

 * Phil Lynott (04 January, 36), Wallis, Duchess of Windsor (29 April), Cary Grant (29 November), Harold Macmillan (29 December, 92).