That Was the Year That Was

A look back at key moments in the media, beginning with 1976, when I, Claudius, and Bouquet of Barbed Wire dominated the TV. Featuring interviews with actor John Thomson, Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney, journalist Martin Bell, former politician Edwina Currie, and broadcaster Penny Smith. 

A look back at key events in TV, film, showbusiness and politics, including the breakfast TV battle between the BBC's underdogs Frank Bough and Selina Scott and the firepower of TV-am's Famous Five. Motorists got hot under the collar over wheel clamps, racehorse Shergar was abducted, and thieves pulled off the heist of the century at a Brink's-Mat warehouse in London.

Jan Leeming narrates a look back at key events in TV, film, showbusiness and politics, including Monty Python causing a storm of protest with Biblical parody The Life of Brian, while The Kenny Everett Video Show upset moral campaigner Mary Whitehouse. It was a year dominated by industrial disputes and the so-called Winter of Discontent, with the upshot that Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female prime minister.

Jan Leeming narrates a look back at outrageous events of 1974, refekcting on the most shocking and controversial moments in TV, cinema, music, showbiz and politics. It was a year when Hollywood's golden couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor's tempestuous 10 years together ended in divorce, while pioneering fly-on-the-wall documentary series The Family revealed real-life turmoil, and a battle between unions and the government resulted in power cuts and a three-day working week. With contributions from Sally James, Nicki Chapman, Ria Hebden, John Thomson, Danny John-Jules, Stephanie Beacham, Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, John Sergeant, Nick Ferrari, Matthew Parris, Ann Widdecombe and Edwina Currie.

A look back at key events in TV, film, showbusiness and politics in 1984, a year when Spitting Image and The Young Ones revolutionised comedy and enraged the old guard. Conservative crusaders became hysterical over the horror of video nasties, and an attempt to silence pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood backfired spectacularly. In politics, Margaret Thatcher faced a fierce year-long battle with striking coal miners and the Conservative Party was hit by a deadly terrorist attack in Brighton. Narrated by Jan Leeming and featuring contributions from John Thomson, Cheryl Baker, Steve Nallon, Edwina Currie, Matthew Parris and Martin Bell.

Controversies, scandals and surprises from the year, with Grange Hill tackling the issue of heroin addiction and EastEnders introducing a gay couple to Albert Square. Screenwriter Dennis Potter's drama The Singing Detective won over the critics, but its sex scenes and nudity upset moral campaigner Mary Whitehouse, while cricketer Ian Botham caused a storm after confessing that he'd smoked marijuana. Narrated by Jan Leeming, with contributions from Mark Little, Nick Ferrari, Cheryl Baker, Nick Hewer, Danny John-Jules and Nina Wadia.

Jan Leeming narrates a look at controversies, scandals and surprises in TV, film, music and politics in 1988, including Salman Rushdie's book The Satanic Verses igniting a literary and religious firestorm and Ian Paisley daring to heckle the Pope. On the global stage, US president Ronald Reagan and USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev reshaped geopolitics, while a soundbite from Tory MP Edwina Currie dented the UK's confidence in eggs, leading to a nationwide salmonella scare.

Controversies, scandals and shocks in TV, film, music and politics, when a royal reunion proved divisive, Uri Geller demonstrated his fork-bending talents, and Cosmopolitan magazine was launched. A Clockwork Orange and Last Tango in Paris shocked cinema audiences, while did Jesus Christ Superstar did the same on stage.

Jan Leeming narrates a look at controversies, scandals and surprises in TV, film, music and politics from 1990, when Mark Fowler rocked Walford with a dramatic return to EastEnders and a sitcom about Adolf Hitler was pulled off air after just one episode. The Poll Tax riots caused chaos on the streets of London and it was the end of the road for Britain's longest serving prime minister when Margaret Thatcher resigned. Heavy metal band Judas Priest were accused of hiding subliminal messages in their songs, and pop duo Milli Vanilli's career came to a dramatic end when it was revealed they were nothing more than a mime act.

Controversies, scandals and shocks in TV, film, music and politics, when the violent protests that had shocked France, Czechoslovakia and the US arrived in Britain after a peaceful demonstration against the Vietnam War erupted into the Grosvenor Square riot. On TV, the confusing finale of The Prisoner had viewers up in arms, the contentious opinions of Alf Garnett appalled many, and Kirk's kiss with Uhura in Star Trek was hailed as the first interracial kiss on mainstream US television. Narrated by Jan Leeming, with contributions by Paul Nicholas, John Sergeant, Stephanie Beacham, Nick Hewer, Anne Hegerty, Arlene Phillips, Penny Smith, Daliso Chaponda and Mark Little.