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Dominic Sandbrook looks at a dynamic decade. The late 80s saw Britain transformed, from the rise of the yuppie to a growing disconnection from the political elite.

The third and final programme charts the final years of the decade, looking at a society transformed by an accelerated change. Dominic argues that this change brought opportunities and anxieties that we continue to wrestle with to this day, from significant technological advances and the privatisation of national companies, to the deregulation of the stock market and the growing polarisation of rich and poor.

The late 80s saw Britain transformed beyond measure, from the economic 'Big Bang' in the City of London and the rise of the yuppie to more tangible, everyday signs of household change, such as the impact of Europe on British shopping habits - from German cars to French wine, Italian fashion and Scandinavian interior design. But alongside this transformation was a growing disconnection from the political elite, signified by the rise of rave culture and the poll tax riots. Margaret Thatcher - widely seen as the architect of so much of this change - would ultimately become its biggest victim.

59 minutes

Clips

Music Played

  • Belouis Some

    Imagination

  • ABC

    When Smokey Sings

  • Fine Young Cannibals

    Good Thing

  • Fine Young Cannibals

    Good Thing

  • Madonna

    Gambler

  • ABC

    (How to Be A) Millionaire

  • Curiosity Killed the Cat

    Name and Number

  • Farley Jackmaster Funk

    As Always

  • Frankie Goes to Hollywood

    Welcome to the Pleasuredome

  • Public Image Ltd

    Rise

  • The Smiths

    I know it's over

  • Sade

    Smooth Operator

  • Billy Idol

    Catch my Fall

  • Prince

    U Got the Look

  • The Chameleons

    Swampthing

  • Cameo

    Word Up

  • Frankie Goes to Hollywood

    Welcome To The Pleasuredome

  • Public Image Ltd

    Rise (Vocal)

  • Erasure

    Sometimes

  • Soul II Soul

    Fairplay

  • 厂鈥椭虫辫谤别蝉蝉

    Hey Music Lover

  • D Mob & Gary Haisman

    We Call it Acieed

  • Lil鈥 Louis & the World

    French Kiss

  • Mr. Fingers

    Can You Feel It

  • Phil Collins

    In the Air Tonight

  • 厂补濒迟鈥怤鈥怭别辫补

    Push It

  • Maurice

    This is Acid

  • M|A|R|R|S

    Pump up the Volume

  • Kraftwerk

    The Telephone Call

  • Belouis Some

    Imagination

  • ABC

    When Smokey Sings

  • Sigue Sigue Sputnik

    Love Missile F111

  • INXS

    Need You Tonight

  • George Michael

    Faith

  • Adam and the Ants

    Young Parisians

  • MC Hammer

    U Can't Touch This

  • George Michael

    Faith

  • Happy Mondays

    Step On

  • New Order

    World In Motion

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Nessum Dorma

    Performer: Luciano Pavarotti.
  • The La鈥檚

    There She Goes

  • Calvin Harris

    Acceptable in the 80's

  • Cameo

    Word Up

  • D Mob

    We Call It Acieed (feat. Gary Haisman)

  • M|A|R|R|S

    Pump Up The Volume (7" Version)

  • Mr. Fingers

    Can You Feel It

  • Sigue Sigue Sputnik

    Love Missile

  • Happy Mondays

    Step On

  • MC Hammer

    U Can't Touch This

  • New Order

    World In Motion

  • Luciano Pavarotti [Tenor]

    "Nessun Dorma!"

  • William Orbit

    In a landscape

  • 顿别别别鈥怢颈迟别

    What Is Love

  • Cocteau Twins

    Persephone

  • Inspiral Carpets

    This Is How It Feels

  • Fine Young Cannibals

    Good Thing

  • Bomb the Bass

    Beat Dis

  • The Chameleons

    Swamp Thing

  • Inner City

    Good Life

  • Inner City

    Good Life (Buena Vida)

  • Aretha Franklin

    Think ('89)

  • Nine Inch Nails

    Right Where It Belongs

  • Rebel MC & Double Trouble

    Street Tuff

  • Calvin Harris

    Acceptable In The 80s

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Dominic Sandbrook
Writer Dominic Sandbrook
Executive Producer Chris Granlund
Series Producer Alexander Leith
Producer Kate Misrahi
Director Kate Misrahi

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