2008

2008 MMVII
 * UK Prime Minister: Gordon Brown (Labour)
 * FA Cup Winners: Portsmouth (beat Cardiff City 1-0)


 * Christmas Number One: Alexandra Burke - Allelujah
 * Eurovision Song Contest: Belgrade, 24 May
 * Contest Winner: Dima Bilan - Believe (Russia)
 * UK Eurovision Entry: Andy Abraham - Even If (25th)


 * Blue Peter Team: Zoe Salmon, Gethin Jones (both until 25 June), Ayo Akinwolere, Helen Skelton and Joel Defries (both from 23 September )
 * Doctor Who: David Tennant (S4, with Catherine Tate)
 * Radio 1 Breakfast Show DJ: Chris Moyles (Greg James 4.00 - 7.00 am)
 * Christmas Day on BBC1: Doctor Who ('The Next Doctor'), Strictly Come Dancing, East Enders, Wallace & Grommit.

Main events

 * Feb: earthquake in Lincolnshire,
 * March: Heathrow Terminal 5 opens,
 * May: Boris Johnson elected mayor of London, Man Utd. win tenth Premier League title and beat Chelsea on penalties in the European Cup.
 * Aug.: Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China
 * Oct. UK govt. £500 billion bank bail-out package
 * Dec.: Woolworths announce closure of 807 UK stores in New Year



TV
(channel and first broadcast date in brackets)

New shows:
full list
 * Sense & Sensibility (BBC1, 01 Jan), Mistresses (08 Jan.) Ashes To Ashes (BBC1, 07 Feb.), Wallander (30 Nov.,

Shows ending
full list
 * BBC: What the Papers Say, Grange Hill,
 * ITV/C4: Wired

Other TV events

 * FA Cup and England matches move from BBC to ITV, Torchwood moves from BBC Three to Two, ITV News at Ten returns, The Weakest Link resumes on BBC 1, Richard & Judy moves from C4 to digital channel Watch (launched 07 Oct.)

Radio

 * Classic FM major shake-up (Feb.), Doctor Who Prom live from the Albert Hall (R3, 27 July)
 * Virgin Radio changes its name to Absolute Radio (Sep.), BBC7 changes its name to BBC Radio 7. (Oct., Radio 4 Extra from 2011)
 * Q Radio launches (until 2013)
 * Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand suspended from BBC R2 after prank call complaints.

Music

 * UK chart debuts: Duffy, Katy Perry, David Jordan, Estelle (ft. Kayne West), Alphabeat, Sam Sparro, Last Shadow Puppets, The Script, Ting Tings
 * Biggest selling singles: Alexandra Burke - Allelujah, X Factor Finalists - Hero, Duffy - Mercy (full list)
 * Biggest selling albums: Duffy - Rockferry  (full list)
 * Compilation albums: Mamma Mia! the Movie Soundtrack, Now 69, 70, 71
 * Debut albums: Artist - Title (full list)
 * Eponymous debuts - Vampire Weekend,
 * Alternative/independent: Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement

Films

 * Slumdog Millionaire

Births

 * Name Surname (day)

Birthdays

 * 20:
 * 30:
 * 40:
 * 50: Gary Numan, Kate Bush, Toyah Willcox, Madonna, Nik Kershaw
 * 60:
 * 70:
 * 80: Bruce Forsyth, Bernard Cribbins

Deaths

 * Jeremy Beadle (30 Jan., 59), Humphrey Lyttelton (25 April, 86), Richard Wright (Pink Floyd, 15 Sep), Peter Gordeno (18 Oct., 69), Oliver Postgate (08 Dec., 83