🇬🇧United Kingdom · 00s
The Crash
Banks collapsed, Boris became mayor, and Britain entered the Great Recession.
4 milestones of 2008
Northern Rock had already been nationalised (Feb). Now RBS, HBOS, and Lloyds needed £500 billion bailouts. Britain's banking system nearly died. Austerity would follow.
Economic crisis — acknowledge devastation to ordinary people
Boris Johnson defeated Ken Livingstone to become Mayor of London. The blond mop and bluster arrived at City Hall.
Britain celebrated Obama's election almost as enthusiastically as America. 'Yes We Can' resonated across the Atlantic.
Team GB won 47 medals (19 gold) — the best result since 1908. Chris Hoy, Rebecca Adlington, and Bradley Wiggins became national heroes.
70% local · 30% international
Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle — British director, Indian story. Best Picture winner.
The Dark Knight
Christopher Nolan — Heath Ledger's Joker. Filmed partly in London.
Mamma Mia!
Phyllida Lloyd — Meryl Streep and ABBA. British audiences loved it.
Tropic Thunder
Ben Stiller — Major UK release — TMDB 6.7
Quantum of Solace
Marc Forster — Major UK release — TMDB 6.3
Gavin & Stacey
2007-2019 — James Corden and Ruth Jones. Billericay meets Barry. 'Oh, what's occurring?'
The Inbetweeners
2008-2010 — Four suburban teenage boys. Painful, hilarious, universal.
Strictly Come Dancing
2004-present — BBC's Saturday night juggernaut was at peak popularity.
Currency: GBP
Inflation: 4.0%
Financial panic. House prices falling 15%. Northern Rock nationalised. Gordon Brown 'saved the world' (he misspoke — but arguably did).
Inflation-adjusted values
iPhone 3G (UK)
The iPhone went mainstream in Britain via O2.
BBC iPlayer
BBC launched catch-up TV. 'Watch again' changed viewing habits.
Spotify (Europe)
Swedish streaming service launched. UK access soon.
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