S18 Contemporary news, sports and general

So what else was happening in the world at the time of the broadcast of S18? Let's have a look at the news and sports of the time (and anything else not covered by various other threads!), perhaps on a weekly basis taking in the events which happened when each particular story was broadcast (as the Time Team reaches said story)

A quick review of the months prior to broadcast of The Leisure Hive tells us that we had just witnessed the Moscow Summer Olympics (July/Aug) which had been boycotted by over 50 nations but still managed to set more world records than the previous Olympics in Montreal; a few months before that, we had watched the Iranian Embassy seige unfold live on tv; Bjorn Borg had won his 5th successive Wimbledon title; the wreck of the Titanic had just been found; Peter Sellers had sadly died, as had John Laurie, Yootha Joyce and animator Tex Avery. These are only a few of the news stories of the time, and many more were to make the headlines during the coming months.

During the weeks of broadcast of The Leisure Hive, to name a few we had the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War; the death of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham; Ford launched the Mk3 Escort, effectively signalling the beginning of the end for the rear wheel drive family car; in Gdansk, Poland, the Solidarity trade union is formed after weeks of strikes; and Robert Redford's directorial debut, Ordinary People, wins him his first Oscar.

Who remembers these events, and are there any others of note you think are worth the mentioning?

I remember the Iranian Embassy siege, my dad and I were watching the snooker final between Alex Higgins and Cliff Thorburn when the BBC suddenly took it off for a news flash about the siege. They stayed with it for the rest of the evening, and I remember thinking it was some of the best, and most exciting telly I'd seen for some time. It was a bold decision for the BBC at the time, long before 24 hour news coverage dominated our viewing, it was unprecedented, and I think that's what made it so exciting.

Speaking of Yootha Joyce, I always remember Danny Baker's story about how he was on holiday in Spain at the time and a distraught waiter, knowing that the Bakers were English, came over and wailed "Mildred - she's dead".

Being only just 9 I guess I didn't follow the news very avidly - but I do remember the controversy over the 1980 Olympics, with various countries boycotting it.

I do remember the Moscow games well - esp the cute bear icon they had.

Also this year was the Iranian embassy seige ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Embassy_Siege

It was pretty much the first time the media saw the SAS in action. And they've become the Sun's media darlings ever since. "Send in the SAS" is pretty much their answer to all of societies ills isnt it?

Being very young at the time, most of this passed me by I'm afraid. My days were full of school, playing with my friends outside, riding my bike and stuff like that.

I do, however, remember the Olympics and the mascot in particular stands out. Mostly because, for some reason, we had a huge one that lived in our loft for years.

Si xx