The Years That Changed Britain Forever

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Richard Littlejohn looks back at the years which changed Britain forever.

The Years That Changed Britain Forever: Let's head back to 1978

Factual

Let's head back to 1978

BBC Radio 2 - The Years That Changed Britain Forever, Let's head back to 1978

Richard Littlejohn looks back at the years which changed Britain forever. Welcome to 1978.

Richard Littlejohn looks at the years which changed Britain forever – politically, culturally, musically,  with contributions from Joan Armatrading & Alan Johnson.  Welcome to 1978

Over this series, journalist and writer Richard Littlejohn looks back at the years which changed Britain forever – politically, culturally, musically – and they’re not necessarily the years you’d think they are. 

Ask most people about the pivotal year in Britain in the 1970s which altered the course of history and they'll probably answer 1979 - the year that Mrs Thatcher was elected.

Richard argues that they're a year out - 1978 was the year that changed everything. 

If things had turned out differently, it would have been the end of Margaret Thatcher, before she entered Downing Street. There would have been no privatisations in the early 80s,, no miners' strike, and Labour may well have pulled us out of Europe. 

It was a landmark year, too, in the fight for racial equality.  Against this backdrop rose Rock Against Racism, marshalling the power of music to fight discrimination at rallies in London and Manchester.

In 1978, punk was on its last legs, and a new wave was emerging from the wreckage; proper musicians who'd cut their teeth on the pub-rock circuit . Dire Straits, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, The Clash, Gerry Rafferty, The Jam and Elvis Costello provided a different kind of soundtrack to 1978.

The musical event of the year was the festival at Blackbushe Aerodrome, headlined by Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton and including the wonderful Joan Armatrading who shares her memories of that day with Richard.

Plus contributions from Alan Johnson, a former trades union leader, Labour MP, Health Secretary, Education Secretary and Home Secretary.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

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