random retro-spective
John Major, the new PM
As Margaret Thatcher leaves Downing Street, John Major takes over. November 1990
the retro hour: 1987
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
Margaret Thatcher was elected for a third term backed by a massive Parliamentary
majority. The final analysis: Tories 375, Labour 229, the Alliance 22,
Others 24.
In March 1987, the ferry Herald of Free Enterprise sank off the waters
of Zeebrugge killing 187 people. Later, a group of pop stars got together
to raise money for the victims of the disaster; Ferry Aid's "Let
It Be" spent three weeks at number 1 in April.
Michael Fish made one of the most famous weather-forecasting blunders.
Hours after saying Britain wouldn't be affected by a hurricane, winds
gusting up to 110mph caused havoc and 300 million pounds worth of damage
to property.
Los Angeles was rocked by an earthquake, killing six people and injuring
100.
Unemployment fell below three million.
NHS prescription charges went up to £2:40.
Two new London evening papers The London Daily News and The Evening News
were launched.
Lester Pigott appeared in court in Ipswich on charges of tax evasion:
he was jailed for three years.
on the chart
At the Brit Awards, Kate Bush took the gong for Best Female, Peter Gabriel
was awarded Best Male and Five Star were named Best Group.
Siobhan Fahey from Bananarama married Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics
Lenny Kravitz married Lisa Bonet
The Eurovision Song Contest was won by Ireland. Their song was Hold Me
Now, written and performed by Johnny Logan.
on the tv and at the cinema
EastEnders came under the spotlight of Mary Whitehouse after she claimed
story lines in the soap "could have torn viewers' sensitivities to
shreds".
Michael Checkland was appointed Director-General of the BBC whilst Michael
Grade joined Channel 4.
The programme of the year was Going Live - essential Saturday morning
viewing from the BBC. The show was presented by Philip Schofield and Sarah
Greene.
The other favourites of 1987 were EastEnders, Coronation Street, A Question
Of Sport, Royal It's A Knockout and Children in Need.
It was the year when Joan Greenwood died and American actor Randolph Scott
passed away, aged 84.
Bruce Willis married Demi Moore and Tom Cruise
tied the knot with Mimi Rodgers
Charle Chaplin's trademark cane and bowler hat were sold at Christie's
for £82,500
Top films of the year were: Crocodile Dundee, The Living Daylights, Beverly
Hills Cop II, Superman IV and Full Metal Jacket
sports achievements and milestones
Martina Navratilova beat Steffi Graf to win her sixth consecutive Wimbledon
Singles' Title, whilst Pat Cash won the men's event beating Ivan Lendl
Australia won the Cricket World Cup beating England in Pakistan by seven
runs
The All Blacks of New Zealand won the Rugby World Cup
England hung onto the Ryder Cup 15-13 in America - the first home defeat
for the Americans since 1927
Nick Faldo won The Open at Muirfield by one shot
Nigel Mansell won the British Grand Prix
Maori Venture won the Grand National at Aintree
and finally
The novel Spycatcher by Peter Wright was banned in Britain but you could
get a copy if you went to America where it was freely available.
Prince Edward resigned from the Marines
Peter de Savaray bought Land's End
Oxford University refused Margaret Thatcher an honourary degree for the
second time
Alan Hope won the first local government seat for the Monster Raving Loony
party
New words included glasnost (Russian reform), executive (the discerning
professional) and thirtysomething (people in their thirties)