31 August

Birthdays

 * Roy Castle (b.1932, dec.), Van Morrison (b.1945), Richard Gere (b.1949), Glenn Tilbrook (b.1957), Todd Carty (b.1963), Debbie Gibson (b.1970),

Events

 * 1984: Karate Kid and Purple Rain movies on general release in the UK.
 * 1986: Sculptor Henry Moore dies, aged 88
 * 1997: Diana, Princess of Wales, dies in a car crash in a road tunnel in Paris.
 * 2005: Brokeback Mountain wins Golden Lion at Venice film festival.
 * 2007: Gardener's World 40th anniversary
 * 2012: Max Bygraves dies, aged 89.

Charts
as announced on this day, with no.1 single (new in bold). Click year for full chart.
 * 1969: Zager and Evans - In the Year 2525 (2/3)
 * 1983: UB40 - Red Red Wine (1/3)
 * 1986: Boris Gardiner - I Want To Wake Up With You (3/3)
 * 1997: Will Smith - Men in Black (4/4)
 * 2003: Elton John - Are You Ready For Love (1/1)
 * 2008: Katy Perry - I Kissed A Girl (4/5)
 * 2014: Lily Wood & Robin Schulz - Prayer in C (1/2)
 * 2018: Benny Blanco Halsey & Khalid - Eastside (1/1)

Top of the Pops
host DJ and number one single. Click year for show details.
 * 1972: Noel Edmonds. Rod Stewart - You Wear It Well
 * 1973: Noel Edmonds. Donny Osmond - A Million To One.
 * 1978: Tony Blackburn. Commodores - Three Times a Lady
 * 1989: Gary Davies. Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers - Swing The Mood
 * 1995: Dale Winton. Blur - Country House.
 * 2001: Jayne Middlemiss. Five - Let's Dance. (J. Middlemiss' final appearance after 58 editions)