What went down In the united kingdom In 1997

Here would be the biggest news, sport and entertainment stories of 1997...

Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a vehicle crash in Paris having apparently being pursued at high-speed by photographers on motorbikes. It had been believed that the motive force of her car was drunk at that time but which was disputed by many people; some believing the whole event would be a conspiracy plot involving MI5 and the Royal Family. Regardless of the true reason for her death; the united kingdom united in paying tribute to her and, after an unprecedented week of mourning, millions watched her funeral on television.

Also causing much debate was the announcement of the birth of the world's first successfully cloned mammal. Scientists in Scotland were accountable for the birth of Dolly sheep and media all over the world heralded it as being one the most significant scientific breakthroughs of the decade. For many though, it raised moral dilemmas amid fears the technique might be accustomed to clone humans; church and animal rights groups stirring up most of the ethical controversy.

Politically, the Conservative Party finally fell after 18 years in power carrying out a landslide general election victory through the Labour Party; Tony Blair becoming the youngest British pm of the century at 43.

One of the first changes the brand new government made ended up being to 'stub' out tobacco sponsorship within the sports world; leading to snooker, darts and cricket missing out on substantial levels of advertising money. Formula One racing appeared as if being the largest casualty but, per week after implementing the ban, Tony Blair specifically exempted that one sport in the new law (Almost anything to do with the £ A million Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone had donated to the Labour Party prior to the general election? ).

Elsewhere in sport, a lone yachtsman, Tony Bullimore, miraculously survived for 5 days on the ocean after his boat capsized within the Southern Ocean. He sheltered within the upturned hull of his yacht and survived on chocolate and water until he was randomly spotted with a passing Australian navy ship.

Entertainment wise, 1997 belonged to the Teletubbies; Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po saying "eh-oh" to the nation for that first time. Made for toddlers, the show soon became cult viewing for kids, students and adults alike; people finding much amusement in multi-coloured aliens playing around inside a dome. Such was its success that's also produced a chart topping single!

The cinemas saw another homegrown film take centre stage; low quality 'The Full Monty' being the large box office hit. The storyline spoke of several ex-steelworkers from Sheffield who transformed themselves into strippers to be able to make money during crisis. It had been equally popular on sides of the Atlantic and was nominated for four Oscars.

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