The big films of the year were Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Flashdance, Educating Rita and Terms of Endearment, with the latter winning the best picture Oscar.
In music the big singles were Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, The Police’s Every Breath You Take and Culture Club’s Karma Chameleon. Christmas number one was Only You by The Flying Pickets.
On television the UK’s first breakfast television shows debuted, with the BBC’s Breakfast Time first airing on January 17 and ITV’s TV-am following on February 1. Notable births included Kate Bosworth, Girls Aloud singer and X-Factor judge Cheryl Cole, Chinese 110m hurdles Olympic gold medallist Liu Xiang and troubled singer Amy Winehouse.
Notable deaths included British comedian Dick Emery, American singer Karen Carpenter and American playwright Tennessee Williams.
1983 Star Fact: On February 24 the Bermondsey by-election saw the Liberal Democrat’s Simon Hughes defeat Labour’s Peter Tatchell. Campaigning was criticised as rival candidates and their supporters allegedly made derogatory comments about Peter Tatchell’s homosexuality.
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