Look Back To 2017: What Happened That Year

Grenfell, the Manchester Arena attack and a snap election that went wrong.

Here's 2017 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 2017

• 'Shape of You' by Ed Sheeran was the year's best-selling single and one of the most-streamed songs ever.
• Ed Sheeran had sixteen songs in the top twenty in one week in March, which changed the chart rules.
• Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect' was the Christmas number one.

In the news in 2017

• The Manchester Arena attack on 22 May killed 22 people.
• The Grenfell Tower fire on 14 June killed 72 people.
• Theresa May called a snap election in June and lost her majority.
• Article 50 was triggered in March.

On screen in 2017

• Blue Planet II changed how the country talked about plastic.
• Peaky Blinders and Line of Duty were the dramas people shared.
• Dunkirk and Get Out were the films of the year.

In sport in 2017

• Chelsea won the league; Arsenal won the FA Cup.
• Anthony Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in April.
• Mo Farah won his last major track titles before moving to the marathon.

Everyday life in 2017

• The new twelve-sided pound coin entered circulation in March.
• The old paper five pound note had already gone; the polymer tenner arrived in September.
• Smart speakers appeared in kitchens.

If you were born in 2017

• Anyone born in 2017 has only ever seen the twelve-sided pound coin.
• They are the same age as Blue Planet II.
• Anyone born in 2017 turns 30 in 2047, 40 in 2057, 50 in 2067, 60 in 2077 and 70 in 2087.
• 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 2019
• Look back to 2018
• Look back to 2016
• Look back to 2015
• Look back to 2014
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• 2010s party playlist
• Phone party games
• How to run a quiz night
• Decade music round questions
• Guess the year quiz
• The 2020s so far
• The 2000s: 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
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• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
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• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What was the Christmas number one in 2017?

'Perfect' by Ed Sheeran, with Beyonce on the duet version.

Why did the chart rules change in 2017?

After Ed Sheeran occupied most of the top twenty in March, the Official Charts Company limited each act to three songs in the singles chart.

How old is someone born in 2017?

Subtract 2017 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2057, 50 in 2067, 60 in 2077 and 70 in 2087.

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.