Look Back To 1983: What Happened That Year

Breakfast television, the pound coin and a general election landslide.

Here's 1983 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 1983

• Culture Club, Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran were the chart acts of the year.
• 'Karma Chameleon' by Culture Club was the year's best-selling single.
• The Flying Pickets' 'Only You' was the Christmas number one.

In the news in 1983

• Margaret Thatcher won the June general election with a large majority.
• Wearing a seatbelt in the front of a car became compulsory on 31 January.
• The one pound coin entered circulation in April.

On screen in 1983

• BBC Breakfast Time launched on 17 January, with TV-am following on ITV in February.
• Blackadder began; Return of the Jedi was the film of the year.
• The final episode of M*A*S*H was shown, and Coronation Street and Dallas ran on either side of the schedule.

In sport in 1983

• Manchester United beat Brighton in an FA Cup final replay.
• Steve Davis and Cliff Thorburn contested a World Snooker final watched by a huge late-night audience.
• Aberdeen, managed by Alex Ferguson, won the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Everyday life in 1983

• Home computers became a normal Christmas present rather than a curiosity.
• The Austin Maestro was launched and heavily advertised.
• Video rental was at its peak before the shops consolidated.

If you were born in 1983

• Anyone born in 1983 has never known a car journey without a front seatbelt law.
• They were born the year breakfast television started, so there has always been something on first thing.
• Anyone born in 1983 turns 30 in 2013, 40 in 2023, 50 in 2033, 60 in 2043 and 70 in 2053.
• 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 1986
• Look back to 1985
• Look back to 1984
• Look back to 1982
• 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

When did breakfast television start in Britain?

BBC Breakfast Time began on 17 January 1983, and TV-am launched on ITV on 1 February 1983.

What was the Christmas number one in 1983?

'Only You' by the Flying Pickets, sung a cappella.

How old is someone born in 1983?

Subtract 1983 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2023, 50 in 2033, 60 in 2043 and 70 in 2053.

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.