1997

1997

MCMLXXXI
 * UK Prime Minister: John Major (Conservative) (until 02 May), Tony Blair (Labour) (from 02 May)
 * FA Cup Winners: Chelsea FC (beat Middlesborough 2-0; Di Matteo scores first goal within 1')
 * Christmas Number One: Spice Girls - Too Much
 * Eurovision Song Contest: Dublin, 03 May
 * UK Eurovision Entry: Katrina and the Waves - Love Shine A Light WINNER
 * Blue Peter Team: Stuart Miles, Katy Hill, Romana D'Annunzio, Tim Vincent (until 24 Jan) replaced by Richard Bacon (from 21 February), Konnie Huq (from 01 December).
 * Doctor Who: -
 * Radio 1 Breakfast Show DJ: Chris Evans (until 31 January), then Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley (Marc and Lard) (until 10 October), then Kevin Greening and Zoe Ball (from 13 October).
 * Big Christmas Day Film On BBC1: The Mask then later Airplane!

Main events

 * General election (01 May) won by the Labour Party led by Tony Blair.
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone published (26 June)
 * Death of Diana, Princess of Wales (31 August) and Dodi Fyed; funeral for Diana held on 06 September
 * Welsh devolution referendum
 * BBC on-line news website launched (November)

TV
(channel and first broadcast date in brackets)

New shows

 * Nostromo (BBC2, 01 February), Midsomer Murders (ITV, 23 March - pilot), Teletubbies (BBC2, 31 March ), Jonathan Creek (BBC1, 10 May), The Chair (BBC2, 21 May) Driving School (BBC1, 10 June), Celebrity Ready, Steady, Cook (BBC1, 11 July), Vets in Practice (BBC1, 26 August), I'm Alan Partridge (BBC2, 03 November), Aquila (BBC1, 02 December)
 * Family Affairs (C5 - )
 * BBC News 24 (09 November)

Other TV events

 * Channel 5 launched (30 March)
 * Ballykissangel (S2), Noel's House Party (S7, 18 October)

Radio
(more here)
 * Chris Evans sacked from R1 Breakfast Show (January), Mark & Lard take over then replaced by Zoe Ball and Kevin Greening.
 * Jo Whiley begins lunchtime R1 show (Feb.)
 * Chris Moyles begins Early Breakfast Show on R1 (July)
 * Radios 2, 3, 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live broadcast a joint programme presented by Peter Allen and James Naughtie after the death of Princess Diana. (Aug.)
 * Chris Evans begins on Virgin Radio (Oct.)

Music

 * Biggest selling singles: Elton John - Candle in the Wind 1997/Something About the Way You Look Tonight, Aqua - Barbie Girl, Will Smith - Men In Black, No Doubt - Don't Speak. (full list).
 * Biggest selling albums: Oasis - Be Here Now, The Verve - Urban Hymns, Spice Girls - Spiceworld, Radiohead - OK Computer
 * Debut albums: Gary Barlow - Open Road, Natalie Imbruglia - Left of the Middle, Travis - Good Feeling, Robbie Williams - Life Thru a Lens, Spice Girls - Spiceworld
 * Eponymous debuts - All Saints,
 * Alternative albums: Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole
 * Compilation albums: Enya - Paint the Sky With Stars, The Very Best of... Sting & The Police, Eternal - Greatest Hits, The Best of Wham!: If You Were There..., Like You Do... Best of The Lightning Seeds, VV AA - NOW 36

Films

 * Anastasia, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Face/Off, The Full Monty, Con Air 
 * Gattaca, Good Will Hunting, In & Out, Life Is Beautiful ( La vita è bella ), 
 * Men In Black, Spice World, Titanic.

Births
full list here
 * Marcus Rashford (31 October)

Birthdays

 * 40: Bryan Robson, Keith Chegwin, Nick Hornby, Daniel Day-Lewis, Siouxsie Sue, Marc Almond, Steve Davis, Stephen Fry, Dawn French, Billy Bragg
 * 50: David Bowie, Kiki Dee, Elton John, Brian May, David Essex
 * 60: Shirley Bassey, Vanessa Redgrave, Una Stubbs, Barbara Windsor, Brian Blessed, Gordon Banks, Anthony Hopkins
 * 70: June Brown, Danny La Rue, Cleo Laine, Ken Dodd.

Deaths

 * Billy Mackenzie (22 January, 39), Barry Evans (09 February, 53) Brian Connolly (10 February, 51), Laurie Lee (13 May, 82), (Diana, Princess of Wales (31 August, 35), Charlie Chester (26 June, 83), Billy Bremner (07 December, 54),