I Love the '80s (UK TV series)
I love the '80s | |
---|---|
opening title | |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
No. of series | 1 (BBC2) |
No. of episodes | 10 (BBC2) |
Production | |
Producer(s) | BBC |
Running time | 90 minutes |
Release | |
Original network | BBC2 |
Picture format | 4:3 |
Original release | 13 January – 24 March 2001 |
I Love the '80s is a BBC television mini-series that examines the pop culture of the 1980s. It was commissioned following the success of I Love the '70s and is part of the I Love... series. I Love 1980 premiered on BBC Two on 13 January 2001 and the last, I Love 1989, on 24 March 2001. Unlike with I Love the '70s, episodes were increased to 90 minutes long. The series was followed later in 2001 by I Love the '90s. The success of the series led to VH1 remaking the show for the US market: I Love the '80s USA, which is known simply as "I Love the '80s" in the US itself.
Contributors
The series used many regular contributors, which included Peter Kay, Clare Grogan, Dee Hepburn, Kate Thornton, Stuart Maconie, Emma B, Ice-T, Toyah Willcox, Tommy Vance, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Ross Noble and many others.
Episode Guide
I Love 1980 Broadcast: 13 January 2001
Presented by Larry Hagman. Opening titles: "Call Me" by Blondie. Ending credits: "Jump to the Beat" by Stacy Lattisaw.
The episode features (In the order shown in episode)
- Fame
- The Gap Band - "Oops Upside Your Head / Liquid Gold / Kelly Marie
- Diff'rent Strokes
- Pac-Man
- Metal Mickey
- Kickers Shoes
- Synthpop / The Human League / OMD
- Pierrot
- Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected
- Alton Towers
- Clothing labels: Pringle, Kappa, Fred Perry,
- Barbara Woodhouse Training Dogs
- Catsuit / Sheena Easton
- The Face
- Moscow Olympic Games
- Who shot J. R.? / Dallas
Flashback Commercial of 1980: Monster Munch - Three Monsters (actually aired in 1978)
I Love 1981 Broadcast: 20 January 2001
Presented by Adam Ant. Opening titles: Prince Charming by Adam and the Ants. Ending credits: Swords of a Thousand Men by Tenpole Tudor.
The episode features (In the order shown in episode)
- Adam and the Ants
- Magnum, P.I.
- Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer
- Valentine's Day
- Porky's,
- Shakin' Stevens
- Danger Mouse
- Executive toys,
- Kim Wilde
- Eric Bristow
- Bullseye
- Chocolate biscuits
- New Romantic
- Pencil case: smelly rubbers, food stationery
- Protect and Survive
- Threads
- Gregory's Girl / Clare Grogan
Flashback Commercial of 1981: Kit Kat - Pop Band (actually aired in 1984)
I Love 1982 Broadcast: 3 February 2001
Presented by Dave Lee Travis, Mike Read and Tommy Vance in TOTP set. Opening titles: Fantastic Day by Haircut 100. Ending credits: Poison Arrow by ABC.
The episode features (In the order shown in episode)
- The Young Ones
- Hair styles: Mullet / Jheri curl
- Rambo
- Boy George
- Deely Bobber
- BMX bike / Kelloggs Frosties animated advert - Tony the Tiger on bike
- Sandwich toaster / Breville Snack 'n' Sandwich Toaster animated advert - Crying sandwich in fridge (actually aired in 1981)
- Musical Youth
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
- School uniforms
- Boys from the Blackstuff
- Bubble gum
- Bananarama
- Alex Higgins
- Rah-rah skirt
- Imagination
I Love 1983 Broadcast: 10 February 2001
Presented by Roland Rat. Opening titles: Karma Chameleon by Culture Club. Ending credits: Calling Your Name by Marilyn.
The episode features (In the order shown in episode)
- Knight Rider
- Cabbage Patch Kids
- Flashdance
- Spandau Ballet- True
- Roland Rat / TV-am
- Leg warmers
- Wham!
- Sloane Ranger
- He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
- Keep fit
- Break dancing
- Just Seventeen
- Blockbusters
- Thriller
I Love 1984 Broadcast: 17 February 2001
Presented by Holly Johnson. Opening titles: Two Tribes by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Ending credits: Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin) by Scritti Politti.
The episode features (In the order shown in episode)
- The A-Team
- Nik Kershaw
- Roller disco
- Tucker's Luck
- Madonna
- Videotape / Video Nasties
- Torvill and Dean
- Trivial Pursuit
- Paul Weller / The Style Council / Jazz pop / Sade
- Robin of Sherwood
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Care Bears
- The Smiths / Morrissey
- Transformers
- The Brat Pack
- Katharine Hamnett (Slogan T-shirts)
- Frankie Goes to Hollywood
I Love 1985 Broadcast: 24 February 2001
Presented by Grace Jones. Opening titles: Take on Me by A-ha. Ending credits: Let's Go Crazy by Prince and the Revolution.
The episode features (In the order shown in episode)
- Grace Jones
- Levi 501
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- McDonald's
- Bruce Springsteen
- My Beautiful Laundrette
- "19"
- Dr. Martens
- Goth culture
- Max Headroom
- Spot creams
- Miami Vice
- Perfume
- Prince
- Amusement arcades
- Spitting Image
- Live Aid
I Love 1986 Broadcast: 3 March 2001
Presented by Patsy Kensit. Opening titles: Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles. Ending credits: Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent by Gwen Guthrie.
The episode features (In the order shown in episode)
- Samantha Fox
- Essex girl
- Moonlighting
- Boxer shorts / Nick Kamen
- Crocodile Dundee
- Neighbours
- Men's bedroom designs
- Sigue Sigue Sputnik
- Panini (stickers)
- Absolute Beginners
- No Limits/Jenny Powell
- Power ballads
- Big glasses / Timmy Mallett
- Sunday Sport
- Five Star
I Love 1987 Broadcast: 10 March 2001
Presented by Richard E. Grant. Opening titles: "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston. Ending credits: "Respectable" by Mel and Kim.
The episode features (In the order there were shown in episode)
- Terence Trent D'Arby
- Shellsuit / Bumbags
- Going Live
- Nouvelle cuisine
- Run DMC / Beastie Boys
- Withnail and I
- Head sports bags
- Network 7
- Puffball skirts
- Wall Street/Yuppies,
- Thirtysomething
- Pump trainers
- Brookside
- Rick Astley
I Love 1988 Broadcast: 17 March 2001
Presented by Raphael and Leonardo of The Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles . Opening titles: Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car by Billy Ocean. Ending credits: Tell It to My Heart by Taylor Dayne.
The episode features (In the order shown in episode)
- Bros / Brother Beyond
- Harry Enfield Loadsamoney
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- This Morning
- Florence Griffith-Joyner
- Quiz machine - Give Us a Break
- Second Summer of Love
- Prisoner Cell Block H
- Inflatables at football matches
- Viz
- Debbie Gibson / Tiffany
- Sumo
- Bill and Ted
- Car accessories: Garfield/Mooning man
- The Hit Man and Her
I Love 1989 Broadcast: 24 March 2001
Presented by Jason Donovan. Opening titles: All Around the World by Lisa Stansfield. Ending credits: Days by Kirsty MacColl.
The episode features (In the order shown in episode)
- Den Watts
- Lycra body
- Jason Donovan
- Challenge Anneka
- Mike Tyson vs Frank Bruno
- Decorating paint
- Soul II Soul
- Dancing flowers
- Guns 'n' Roses
- Shirley Valentine
- Crop circles
- Neneh Cherry
- Game Boy / Tetris
- Lambada
- Bodyform / Tampax / Bodyform advert
- Madchester
Flashback Commercial of 1989: Carling Black Label - Mission Impossible Squirrel
Repeats
The series has been repeated a number of times on BBC2,During 2002, 2008 and again 2014. The series was also repeated on UKTV Documentary, but was edited to fit into one hour slot with adverts.
DVD Release
The series has never been released on DVD or other media.