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TFI Friday Special: The Last Time Chris Evans Debuted His Offbeat Show, The Spice Girls Dominated The Charts - What Else Was Happening?

The Last Time TFI Friday Kicked Off... Look Who Else Made The News
The Huffington Post UK
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The news that Chris Evans is returning to Channel 4 on Friday evening with his 'one-off' - so far, anyway - anniversary special of 'TFI Friday' has got us casting our minds back to that special day when the first distinctive notes of the 'Man in a Suitcase' theme were heard, and irrepressible Chris kicked off what would become unmissable yoof entertainment.

But what else was going on back then? It was the height of Britpop, Liam had yet to fall out permanently with Noel, there was no war in Iraq to march against, and we were years away from sitting down on our sofas to watch strangers sitting down on their sofas. All in all, a simpler time.

What else was new? Well...

People Making The News In 1996
(01 of10)
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The Prime Minister was Conservative John Major, in opposition was Tony Blair, promising the electorate New Labour. He was rewarded for his pains with a landslide majority of 179 at the polls a year later.
(02 of10)
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The most popular film of the year was Independence Day, taking more than $817million at the global box office. At the Oscars, it was all about The English Patient, and Cuba Gooding Jr stealing the show.
(03 of10)
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David Beckham began his road to superstardom with a spectacular goal on the first day of the football season. In his brand new No 10 Manchester United shirt, he scored a goal against Wimbledon from the half-way line. And the rest is history.
(04 of10)
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The Prince and Princess of Wales were finally divorced, after years of acrimony and infidelity on both sides. The Princess lost her 'HRH' status but continued on her quest to be Queen of People's Hearts, until her death the following year.
(05 of10)
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Bill Clinton was re-elected as the US president, beating Republican opponent Bob Dole and Reform candidate Ross Perot. Two years later, the House voted to impeach him for perjury and obstruction of justice in relation to the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Bill Clinton was later acquitted on both charges.
(06 of10)
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Scotland was horribly knocked by the tragedy of Dunblane on 13 March 1996, when former scout leader Thomas Hamilton shot dead 16 school children and their teacher at the town's high school. One pupil in hiding that day was future Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.
(07 of10)
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The Olympics were held in US city of Atlanta. Big winners included Canadian Donovan Bailey setting a new world record in the men's 100 metres, and Carl Lewis winning his 4th long jump gold medal aged 35. However, the Games were overshadowed by the explosion of a bomb at the Centennial Olympic Park, killing one and wounding more than 100.
(08 of10)
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The biggest musical stars of 1996 were the Spice Girls, kickstarting their career with three number one singles. Their song 'Wannabe' was the second-best selling single in the world, beaten only by the Fugees' Killing Me Softly. And in other music news, Lisa Marie Presley divorced Michael Jackson, bringing to an end one of the music industry's most pedigree but confusing unions.
(09 of10)
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The Wimbledon men's champion was Dutch player Richard Krajicek, who beat US opponent Mal Washington in straight sets. The women's champion was Steffi Graf, winning the event for the seventh time in nine years.
(10 of10)
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Katie Price launched her modelling career as a 16-year-old on Page 3.

TFI Friday returns on Channel 4 on Friday at 9pm. Watch the best bits of the original show here...

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