random retro-spective
12 inches wide but plays at 45rpm
12-inch singles were launched for the first time, 1978
the retro hour: 1983
We've been through the archive and compiled everything we think you need to know about the year. To make it easier for you to find what you're looking for, everything is organised into categories.
the top stories
Gunmen got away with £7 million from a Security Express van: the
biggest haul in British history
The £1 coin came into circulation
President Reagan proposed a revolutionary defence system dubbed Star Wars
to protect America against Soviet attack
Michael Foot resigned as the Labour leader: the new leader was Neil Kinnock
The Conservatives won the General Election with a landslide majority
Radio Caroline came back onto the air, three years after its ship sank
in the North Sea
David Niven died at home in Switzerland, aged 73
In Northern Ireland, 134 prisoners broke out of the Maze Prison
Thousands of people died in an earthquake in a remote area of east Turkey
Women peace campaigners broke into the Greenham Common base
A 31-year-old woman from Liverpool gave birth to sextuplets: the babies,
all girls, weighed in at around two pounds each
on the chart
Kim Wilde won the award for Best Female artist at The Brits. Paul McCartney
was named Best Male and Dire Straits took the award for Best Group.
Madonna released her first album
Barry White appeared on Late Night with David Letterman to offer tips
on camping
An unknown Mozart symphony was discovered in Denmark. The 42-page manuscript
was written when the composer was just nine years old.
The Eurovision Song Contest was won by Luxembourg
Denis Wilson of The Beach Boys drowned while swimming off his boat in
California
on the tv and at the cinema
Early morning television began with the BBC's Breakfast Time on January
17th, followed by TV-am on February 1st
The last episode of M*A*S*H was watched by 125 million viewers
Former American president, Gerald Ford, made his acting debut in Dynasty
Blackadder appeared for the first time on the BBC and the first edition
of The Tube was televised by Channel 4
Top TV shows included Coronation Street, This Is Your Life, It'll Be Alright
On The Night, Last Of The Summer Wine and Family Fortunes
Films of the year were ET, Return Of The
Jedi, Octopussy, An Officer And A Gentleman and
War Games
At the Oscars, Ghandi won eight statues including Best Picture and Ben
Kingsley won Best Actor for his performance in the same film
sports achievements and milestones
Geoffrey Boycott was sacked by Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Bjorn Borg retired from tennis aged 26
The BBC broadcast the first ever Match Of The Day
The racehorse Shergar was kidnappped and a £2m ransom demanded.
Still with racing, Corbiere won the Grand National.
Liverpool won the First Division title and rivals Manchester United lifted
the FA Cup.
Pat Jennings became the first player in England to appear in over 1,000
first class football matches
Nelson Piquet was the Formula 1 World Champion
The Open golf championship was won by Tom Watson
and finally
American John Swain built a 3.91-metre house from cards
Cordless phones, Cabbage Patch Kids and Swatch watches were launched
The £1 coin came into circulation for the first time and if you
parked in the wrong place you could have been wheel clamped as the "Denver
boot" made its debut in the UK.
New words included chatline, pre-menstrual tension and toy boy