1998

1998

MCMXCVIII
 * FA Cup Winners: Arsenal (beat Newcastle Utd. 2-0)
 * Christmas Number One: Spice Girls - Goodbye (third consecutive Christmas no.1)
 * Eurovision Song Contest: Birmingham, UK, 09 May
 * Contest Winner: Dana International - Diva (Israel)
 * UK Eurovision Entry: Imaana - Where Are You (position 2nd)


 * Blue Peter Team: Stuart Miles, Katy Hill, Konnie Huq, Romana D'Annunzio (until 20 February), Richard Bacon (until 16 October - dismissed)
 * Doctor Who: -
 * Radio 1 Breakfast Show DJ: Zoe Ball
 * Big Christmas Day Film On BBC1: Miracle On Fourth Street (TV premiere), Babe. (C4 broadcast The Omen)

Main events

 * February: Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan
 * April: Good Friday Agreement, an agreement between the UK and Irish governments, and the main political parties in Northern Ireland is signed.
 * June: First general-circulation issue of a two pound coin, DVD format is released onto the UK market, FIFA World Cup in France.
 * December: Great Boxing Day Storm



TV
(channel and first broadcast date in brackets)

New shows



 * Robot Wars, Bob the Builder, So Graham Norton, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (full list)

Shows ending



 * Come Dancing, World In Action, Sale of the Century, Alias Smith & Jones, Telly Addicts, The Chart Show, Drop the Dead Donkey, Men Behaving Badly, Father Ted, Sooty & Co. (full list)

Other TV events

 * World Cup coverage shared between BBC and ITV, Parkinson returns, Brookside 2,000th episode, BBC America launched, ESC hosted by Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson, ITV2 launched, Neighbours 3,000th episode, Sky Digital and Sky Sports News launch, BBC switch on digital signal and BBC Choice is launched, 40 years of Blue Peter, FilmFour channel launched,



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 debuts - Artist, Artist,
 * Alternative/independent: Artist - Title

Films
UK release


 * The Boxer, Great Expectations, The Man In The Iron Mask, Sliding Doors, Waking Ned, Mrs Dalloway, The Big Lebowski, Lost In Space, City of Angels, Species II, Les Misérables, The Horse Whisperer, The Truman Show, Mulan, Armageddon, There's Something About Mary, the Mask of Zorro, Saving Private Ryan, The Avengers, Ronin, Antz, The Lion King II, Elizabeth, Velvet Goldmine, Babe: Pig in the City,



Births

 * Name Surname (day)

Birthdays

 * 20:
 * 30:
 * 40:
 * 50:
 * 60:
 * 70: Bruce Forsyth,

Deaths

 * Frank Muir (02 January), Enoch Powell (08 February), Linda McCartney (17 April), Justin Fashanu (02 May), Lew Grade (13 December)