August 5th "2024" Daily Prep
Welcome to day 218 of the year! Known as Blogger Day, National Couscous Day, National Underwear Day. If you were born today you were likely conceived the week of November 12th in the previous year. Your star sign is Leo and your birthstone is Peridot.
1996 – It was reported that the long running UK TV music show “Top Of The Pops” had hit rock bottom with it’s lowest audience ever – only two and a half million viewers. In its heyday the show attracted over 17 million viewers each week.
Todays birthdays
1952 – Louis Walsh (72), Irish music manager (Boyzone, Westlife) and television personality (The X Factor), born in Kiltimagh, Ireland.
1963 – Mark Strong (61), British actor (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Grimsby, Cruella, Sherlock Holmes), born in London.
1965 – Mark Labbett (59), English professional quizzer and television personality (‘The Beast’ on The Chase), born in Tiverton, Devon.
1975 – Antony Cotton (49), English actor (Sean Tully – Coronation Street, Alexander Perry – Queer As Folk) and comedian, born in Bury, Lancashire.
1980 – Wayne Bridge (44), English former professional footballer (Southampton, Chelsea, Manchester City, England), born in Southampton.
Famous deaths
1984 – Richard Burton (b. 1925), Welsh actor and producer (Cleopatra, Where Eagles Dare, The Taming of the Shrew).
The day today
1963 – A Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed in Moscow by Russia, the United States and Britain. Under the treaty, nuclear tests in the Earth’s atmosphere, in space or under the sea were outlawed.
1975 – Forestry Commission officials announced that Dutch elm disease, which had attacked more than three million trees in Britain, was spreading.
1976 – The clock overlooking the Houses of Parliament stopped for the first time in 117 years.
1986 – Princess Anne rode Gulfland to win the 3.45 at Redcar; her first victory as a jockey.
2016 – The Summer Olympic Games officially open in the Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Great Britain finished 2nd on the medal table with 27 gold, 23 silver and 17 bronze for a total of 67.
Today in music
1956 – Doris Day was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Whatever Will Be Will Be’, the singer actress’ second UK No.1 single. The Oscar-winning song was featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 film, The Man Who Knew Too Much, with Doris Day and James Stewart in the lead roles.
1989 – Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers had their first of three UK No.1’s with ‘Swing The Mood’. Produced by the father and son DJ team of Andy and John Pickles, Swing the Mood fused a number of early rock and roll records with liberal use of Glenn Miller’s ‘In The Mood.’
1995 – Take That played the first of ten sold out nights at The Nynex Arena, Manchester, (the shows were without Robbie Williams who had quit the group on 17th July 1995). The group were also at No.1 on the UK singles chart with ‘Never Forget’, their 7th UK No.1 and last with Robbie Williams.
1996 – It was reported that long running UK TV music show Top Of The Pops had hit rock bottom with it’s lowest audience ever – only two and a half million viewers. In its heyday the show attracted over 17 million viewers each week.
2007 – DNA testing on about a dozen people who claimed late soul star James Brown was their father revealed that at least two of them were telling the truth.
Today in history
642 AD – The Battle of Maserfield (now widely identified as Oswestry), between the Anglo-Saxon kings Oswald of Northumbria and Penda of Mercia. The battle ended in Oswald’s defeat, death, and dismemberment.
910 AD – The last major Viking army to raid England was defeated at the Battle of Tettenhall by the allied forces of Mercia and Wessex, led by King Edward and Earl Aethelred.
1305 – Sir William Wallace, Scottish hero and champion of Scottish independence who beat Edward I at the battle of Stirling Bridge, was captured by the English and later executed as a traitor.
1583 – English soldier and navigator Sir Humphrey Gilbert (half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh) established the first English colony in North America, at what is now St John’s, Newfoundland and claimed it for Elizabeth I.
1620 – The Mayflower departed from Southampton on its first attempt to reach North America but the sister ship, the Speedwell developed a leak. It had to be refitted at Dartmouth and, after further leaks (or possibly sabotage) the Mayflower made the 60 day crossing alone.