Look Back To 2003: What Happened That Year

Iraq, a record-breaking heatwave and England winning the Rugby World Cup.

Here's 2003 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 2003

• 'Where Is the Love?' by the Black Eyed Peas was one of the year's biggest singles.
• Michael Andrews and Gary Jules' 'Mad World' was the Christmas number one.
• The White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army' became the terrace chant it still is.

In the news in 2003

• The invasion of Iraq began on 20 March, after a protest march in London in February that was the largest in British history.
• The August heatwave produced the highest UK temperature recorded up to that point, at Faversham in Kent.
• Concorde made its final commercial flight on 24 October.

On screen in 2003

• The Return of the King and Finding Nemo filled cinemas.
• Little Britain moved to television.
• Big Brother and I'm a Celebrity were both at their peak.

In sport in 2003

• England won the Rugby World Cup in Sydney on 22 November, with Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal in the last minute of extra time.
• Arsenal won the FA Cup.
• Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea in the summer.

Everyday life in 2003

• The London congestion charge began in February.
• Camera phones started appearing.
• Broadband overtook dial-up in new home connections.

If you were born in 2003

• Anyone born in 2003 was born the year England won the Rugby World Cup.
• They arrived in the summer Concorde stopped flying.
• Anyone born in 2003 turns 30 in 2033, 40 in 2043, 50 in 2053, 60 in 2063 and 70 in 2073.
• 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 2006
• Look back to 2005
• Look back to 2004
• Look back to 2002
• Look back to 2001
• Look back to 2000
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• 2000s party playlist
• 00s quiz questions
• Dial-up, MSN and MySpace
• Adverts we can still recite
• Decade music round questions
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: 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 England win the Rugby World Cup?

22 November 2003, beating Australia 20-17 in Sydney with a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal in the final minute of extra time.

What was the Christmas number one in 2003?

'Mad World' by Michael Andrews featuring Gary Jules.

How old is someone born in 2003?

Subtract 2003 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2043, 50 in 2053, 60 in 2063 and 70 in 2073.

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.