1988

1988

MCMLXXXVIII
 * FA Cup Winners: Wimbledon (beat Liverpool 1-0)


 * Christmas Number One: Cliff Richard - Mistletoe & Wine
 * Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin, 30 April
 * UK Eurovision Entry: Scott Fitzgerald - Go (position 2nd)
 * Contest Winner: Celine Dion - Ne partez pas sans moi (Switzerland)


 * Blue Peter Team: Mark Curry, Caron Keating, Yvette Fielding.
 * Doctor Who: Sylvester McCoy
 * Radio 1 Breakfast Show DJ: Mike Smith (until 17 May), then Simon Mayo (from 23 May)
 * Big Christmas Day Film On BBC1: Back To The Future (afternoon), Silverado (evening)

Main events

 * Duke and Duchess of York visit California (March)

TV
(channel and first broadcast date in brackets)

New series

 * Countryfile (BBC1, 24 July), Red Dwarf (BBC2, 15 February), DEF II (09 May), Rapido (BBC1, 20 October), Wheel of Fortune (ITV, 19 July), The Oprah Winfrey Show (ITV, 03 October), Playbus ( BBC1, 17 October). (full list)

New seasons:

 * This Is Your Life (ITV, 19 October), Doctor Who (BBC1, 05 October)

Shows ending

 * Yes Minister, Hi-De -Hi, Play School (BBC2, 11 March), Crossroads (ITV, 04 April - until 2001) (full list)

Music

 * Biggest selling singles: Cliff Richard - Mistletoe and Wine, Yazz and the Plastic Population - The Only Way Is Up, Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lukcy (full list)
 * Biggest selling albums: Kylie Minogue - Kylie, Cliff Richard - Private Collection (1979-1988), Bros - Push (full list),
 * Compilation albums: Cliff Richard - Private Collection: 1979–1988, VV AA - NOW 11-12-13, The Premiere Collection: The Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber,
 * Debut albums: Bros - Push (full list)
 * Eponymous debuts - Tracy Chapman, Kylie Minogue, All About Eve
 * Alternative/independent:

Films
UK release
 * Robocop, Beetlejuice, Hawks, Moonstruck, Broadcast News

Births

 * Adele (05 May), Princess Beatrice (08 August)

Birthdays

 * 20: Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Will Smith, Matt & Luke Goss
 * 30: Gary Numan, Kate Bush, Toyah Willcox, Madonna, Nik Kershaw, David Sylvian, Martin Fry, Paul Weller
 * 40: Jean-Michel Jarre, Olivia Newton-John, Prince Charles
 * 50: Kenny Rogers, Bernard Cribbins
 * 60:
 * 70:
 * 80: John Mills

Deaths

 * Trevor Howard (07 January), Kenneth Williams (15 April), Russell Harty (08 June), Roy Kinnear (20 September)