Breakdown of 1991 into the biggest news, sports and entertainment events; This is what happened…
Earlier in the year the ‘Gulf War’ began as a result of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, causing UK forces to turn to fight Saddam Hussein’s army. The fighting lasted only a couple of months, but it is well remembered for being the first war to be televised on the news.
Unloved media mogul Robert Maxwell meets a mysterious end while vacationing on his boat off the coast of Tenerife. Struggling under financial pressure, with his corporation on the brink of collapse, he was thought to have overdone it, though no one really knows what happened.
Another mystery that emerged was an outbreak of ‘crop circles’. Some 600 new ones appeared (one in the Prime Minister’s garden!) in the UK during the summer of 1991, bringing Britain under the attention of the world media. Some experts pointed fingers at human deceivers, some claimed freak weather conditions were the cause, while others were 100% sure it was messages from aliens.
In sporting terms, England hosted the 1991 Rugby World Cup but, despite having home court advantage, the Australians edged them out in the final. Paul Gascoigne, the rising star of football, damaged his knee while playing for Tottenham in the FA Cup final, leading to him being sidelined for a year.
Television saw a couple of newcomers make their mark and a veteran return. Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer (better known simply as Vic & Bob) debuted on Channel 4 and their brand of bizarre humor quickly became popular, making their surreal show a hit in 1991. Back with more silly games, fewer than guests specials and ‘garbage’ was Noel Edmonds on his live show (broadcast from the fictional ‘Crinkley Bottom’) ‘Noel’s House Party’. Accompanying Edmonds was his pink and yellow friend, Mr. Blobby, who surprisingly managed a number one single despite not being able to speak.
The best film of 1991 was ‘The silence of the lambs’, with the main roles of Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. As Hannibal Lecturer (a psychotic cannibal) and Clarice Sterling (a young FBI cadet) they form a strange kind of partnership to hunt down an even stranger serial killer named “Buffalo Bill”. That year also came out one of the few sequels that improved on the original; he said “I’ll be back” and Arnold Schwarzenegger was in ‘Terminator 2’. This time playing one of the good guys trying to protect the boy destined to save the human race.
On the UK music front in ’91, the year belonged to Bryan Adams and his HUGE hit ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It For You’. The title track from ‘Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves’ topped the charts for a record 16 weeks and was in the Top 40 for a total of 6 months. As for the best-selling album of 1991, it went to Simply Red and their ‘Stars’ album. The Christmas number one was a reissue; Queen have re-released ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ to commemorate the death of singer Freddie Mercury earlier in the year.