28/2/81: U2 on Old Grey Whistle Test

On Saturday 28 February 1981, upcoming Irish rock band U2 performed live on the Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC2. The group played three tracks from their debut album Boy, released in October 1980: The Ocean, 11 O'Clock Tick Tock and I Will Follow.

Despite having achieved critical acclaim and attention from the British music press, the band failed to have a hit single in the UK until 1983. Their second album October would appropriately reach the Top 20 in October '81.

U2's lead singer Bono Vox on the cover of NME, February 1981

source: BBC Genome, U2gigs.com

27/1/81 'Coming Home' sitcom begins

On Friday 28 February a new BBC sitcom called Coming Home began at 7.30 p.m. on BBC One.

Protagonist Donald Maddocks (Philip Jackson), a chemistry teacher, is happy with his disorganised life. His wife Sheila (Sharon Dukes) isn't happy with hers and when she receives a letter from her sister, she knows things can only get worse.

The British Comedy Guide website has reviewed the show as "eminently forgettable". The sitcom ran for just one series of six episodes.

Sources: BBC Genome, comedy, British Comedy Guide

26/2/81: Kim Wilde's debut on Top of the Pops

On Thursday 26 february 1981 pop singer Kim Wilde made her television debut on Top of the Pops on BBC One, performing her single Kids in America which was just outside the Top 40. This was the start of a successful career for Wilde (b. 1960) who would go on to have several hit records throughout the eighties and into the nineties.

Kim was the eldest child of Marty Wilde who had also been a successful singer and songwriter in the late fifties and early sixties. Brother Ricky co-wrote and produced Kim's recorded output until she took a break from pop music to focus on her family and take up gardening.

pic.: wilde-life.com

Kids in America went to no. 2 in the UK charts.

source: BBC, official charts archive,
video via lee nichols

25/2/81: Royal engagement in the UK press

On Wednesday 25 February 1981 UK and other newspapers carried the news of the announcement of the Royal wedding engagement from the previous day.

source: Princess Diana Remembered - click for more newspaper features.

24/2/81: Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer wedding announcement

On Tuesday 24 February 1981 the engagement of Prince Charles to Lady Diana was made official in an announcement by Buckingham Palace. 

The Lord Chancellor Lord Maclean made the following statement :

"It is with greatest pleasure that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh announce the betrothal of their beloved son the Prince of Wales to the Lady Diana Spencer, daughter of the Earl Spencer and the Honourable Mrs Shand Kydd."

Prince Charles quipped that he was "delighted and frankly amazed that Diana is prepared to take me on", quipped Prince Charles, 32, while Diana shyly stated, "with Prince Charles beside me I cannot go wrong." Diana was 19 years old at the time.

source: BBC On This Day (video: goentertain )

23/2/81: 'Yes Minister' second series on BBC2

On Monday 23 February 1981 a new series of the UK sitcom Yes Minister started on BBC2. It was the second of three series broadcast between 1980 and 1984, later becoming Yes, Prime Minister for two more seasons from 1986-1988.

The series follows the fictitious character of  Right Honorable James Hacker MP, Minister for Administrative Affairs, played by Paul Eddington, trying to keep his head above nasty political waters, and usually up against Whitehall bureaucrat Sir Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne).

Radio Times cover for the week from 21-27 February 1981

Famously accurate in the spirit of the relationship between civil servant and politician in the early 1980s, it was allegedly Margaret Thatcher's favourite show.

sources: BBC Genome (schedule & pic.), BBC archive.


....also On This Day: the "23-F" coup d'état took place in Spain, ending the following day, and on John Peel first play of debut singles by Altered Images, Depeche Mode and New Order.

22/2/81: Sunday Times magazine

Selected contents:

ATOMIC BOMB SURVIVORS - As Pope John Paul prepares for his pilgrimage to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Murray Sayle visits the atom-bombed cities to see how each has come to terms with its horrific experience

(9½ pages)

BOBBY ROBSON - How Bobby Robson has survived twelve years as the manager of Ipswich Town

(3½ pages)

PIETRO ANNIGONI - Italy's most famous living artist, favourite of heads of state from Queen Elizabeth to President Kennedy, has, at 70, renounced worldly portraiture to spend much of his time at the Monte Cassino monastery near Naples painting - in return for his keep - an enormous fresco. John Pearson interviewed him near the end of his monumental task

(5 pages)

SHIRLEY CRABTREE (BIG DADDY) - "A life in the day of..."

source (pic. & text): crazyaboutmagazines.com