Look Back To 1982: What Happened That Year

The Falklands, the launch of Channel 4 and the arrival of the Spectrum.

Here's 1982 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

In the charts in 1982

• Dexys Midnight Runners' 'Come On Eileen' was the best-selling single of the year.
• The Jam split up in the autumn; 'Beat Surrender' entered the chart at number one in December.
• Renee and Renato's 'Save Your Love' was the Christmas number one.

In the news in 1982

• Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands on 2 April; the conflict ended with the Argentine surrender on 14 June.
• Channel 4 launched on 2 November, opening with Countdown.
• The Mary Rose was raised from the Solent on 11 October, live on television.

On screen in 1982

• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was the film of the year.
• The Snowman was first shown on Channel 4 at Christmas.
• Countdown became the first programme broadcast on Channel 4 and is still running.

In sport in 1982

• England reached the second group stage of the World Cup in Spain without losing a match.
• Daley Thompson won the European and Commonwealth decathlon titles.
• Tottenham Hotspur retained the FA Cup.

Everyday life in 1982

• The Sinclair ZX Spectrum and the Commodore 64 both arrived, and games loaded from cassette with a screech.
• The first compact discs went on sale abroad, though they were a rarity in British homes for years yet.
• Barcodes and self-service began spreading through supermarkets.

If you were born in 1982

• Anyone born in 1982 is the same age as Channel 4 and the ZX Spectrum.
• The Snowman has been on television every Christmas of their life.
• Anyone born in 1982 turns 30 in 2012, 40 in 2022, 50 in 2032, 60 in 2042 and 70 in 2052.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1985
• Look back to 1984
• Look back to 1983
• Look back to 1981
• Look back to 1980
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• 1980s party playlist
• 80s kids' TV shows
• 80s quiz questions
• Toys of the 80s and 90s
• Computers and consoles we grew up with
• Saturday morning TV
• Cassette tapes and taping the charts
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
• Nostalgia gift shop
• Retro party supplies
• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
• Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
• Guess the year quiz
• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What was the best-selling single of 1982?

'Come On Eileen' by Dexys Midnight Runners.

What was the first programme on Channel 4?

Countdown, on the channel's opening day, 2 November 1982.

How old is someone born in 1982?

Subtract 1982 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2022, 50 in 2032, 60 in 2042 and 70 in 2052.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.