🇬🇧United Kingdom · 80s
The Falklands War
Britain went to war in the South Atlantic, Channel 4 launched, and the ZX Spectrum changed bedrooms forever.
5 milestones of 1982
Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. Thatcher sent a naval task force 8,000 miles to recapture them. 255 British and 649 Argentine personnel died. Victory transformed Thatcher's political fortunes.
War — honour all who died on both sides
Channel 4 launched with Countdown as its first programme. It was created to serve minorities, commission independent productions, and be different. It succeeded brilliantly.
IRA bombs killed 11 soldiers — 4 from the Household Cavalry in Hyde Park and 7 Royal Green Jackets bandsmen in Regent's Park. Horses were killed too. The images of carnage in London's parks shocked the nation.
Terrorism — honour the victims and the horses
Michael Fagan broke into Buckingham Palace and sat on the Queen's bed. They talked for 10 minutes before security arrived. The greatest royal security breach in history.
Sinclair's ZX Spectrum went on sale for £125. With its rubber keys and 48K of memory, it launched Britain's home computing revolution. Bedrooms became coding workshops. A generation of programmers was born.
70% local · 30% international
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Steven Spielberg — The boy and the alien. Britain cried. The biggest film of the year.
Gandhi
Richard Attenborough — Ben Kingsley. 8 Oscars. British production of Indian independence.
Blade Runner
Ridley Scott — British director. Rutger Hauer's 'tears in rain' speech.
The Wall
Alan Parker — Pink Floyd's concept album as film. Bob Geldof. Disturbing animation.
An Officer and a Gentleman
Taylor Hackford — Richard Gere carried Debra Winger. UK audiences swooned.
Channel 4 and Countdown
Nov 1982 — New channel, new audience. Richard Whiteley. 'Consonant please, Carol.'
Falklands War Coverage
Apr-Jun 1982 — Brian Hanrahan: 'I counted them all out, and I counted them all back.'
Boys from the Blackstuff
1982 — Yosser Hughes: 'Gissa job.' Unemployment as devastating drama.
The Young Ones
1982-1984 — Rik Mayall, Ade Edmondson. Alternative comedy exploded onto BBC2.
Brookside
1982-2003 — Channel 4's Liverpool soap. Gritty, real, groundbreaking.
Currency: GBP
Inflation: 8.6%
Falklands victory boosted Thatcher. Unemployment still over 3 million. The North-South divide deepened.
Inflation-adjusted values
ZX Spectrum
48K, rubber keys, £125. Britain's bedroom computer revolution.
BBC Micro
Acorn's BBC computer — in every school. Computer literacy project.
Compact disc
CD format launched — ABBA's The Visitors was the first CD pressed.
Commodore 64
The best-selling single computer model in history launched.
Channel 4
New broadcasting technology — commissioning from independent producers.
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