20 October

Birthdays

 * Timothy West (b.1934), Kathy Kirby (b.1940, dec.), Tom Petty (b.1950, dec.), Claudio Ranieri (b.1951), Danny Boyle (b.1956), Mark King (b.1958), Viggo Mortensen (b.1958), Ian Rush (b.1961), Kamala Harris (b.1964), Snoop Dogg (b.1971),



Events

 * 1972: John Betjeman appointed British Poet Laureate
 * 1973: Elizabeth II opens the Sydney Opera House
 * 1977: David Bowie performs "Heroes" on TOTP; The Britannia Awards (ITV)
 * 1980: U2 release debut album Boy.
 * 1992: 1600th TOTP, presented by Jarvis Cocker.
 * 1994: RIP Burt Lancaster

Charts
as announced on this day, with no.1 single (new in bold). Click year for full chart.
 * 1966: Jim Reeves - Distant Drums (5/5)
 * 1981: Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin - It's My Party (2/4)
 * 1991: Bryan Adams - Everything I Do.. (16/16)
 * 1996: Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There (1/2)
 * 2002: Nelly ft Kelly Rowland - DIlemma (1/2)
 * 2013: One Republic - Counting Stars (2/2 n.c.)
 * 2017: Post Malone - Rockstar (3/4)

Top of the Pops
host DJ and number one single. Click year for show details
 * 1966: JS. The Four Tops – Reach Out, I’ll Be There.
 * 1977: DLT. David Soul - Silver Lady.
 * 1983: Janice Long & Andy Peebles. Culture Club - Karma Chameleon.
 * 1988: Caron Keating & Steve Wright. Whitney Houston - One Moment In Time.
 * 1994: 1600th TOTP. Jarvis Cocker. Take That - Sure
 * 2000: Gail Porter. U2 - Beautiful Day (via satellite)

Stamps
click on stamp for issue details