2009 in history
Here are some light-hearted facts about 2009, designed to serve as a prep sheet for a radio feature on 2009.
I created this page because when I needed some notes to create a few talking points about 2009 in Ireland I couldn't find any suitable sources, so I thought I'd share what I did find. It applies to 2009 in Britain too.
You can also look at years other than 2009:
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2009
The UK entered a recession.
Michael Jackson’s death brought shock and grief around the world. Approximately one billion people watched the memorial service.
It was a cold winter with snow blanketing the country.
A plane famously made an emergency landing on the Hudson River, allowing all 150 passengers to evacuate safely.
The Daily Telegraph began publishing a list of what British MPs were claiming on expenses, causing outrage. By far the most famous was one MP charging the public for an ornamental duck house.
Rage Against the Machine were the Christmas number one, as part of a protest organised against The X Factor's dominance.
James May built a real-life house entirely out of lego, and spent the night in it to prove that it was entirely usable.
Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the VMAs, to say that Beyoncé should have won. This would be the first of a number of incidents where Kanye was accused of abusing her.
Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States and the first black President.
The Mamma Mia DVD became Britain's best selling DVD, and the first movie to sell more than five million such copies.
Noel Gallagher quit Oasis, saying he "could not go on working with Liam a day longer". The two didn't play together for another 15 years.
2009 Launches
Minecraft was first launched.
The Facebook app FarmVille launched, and millions of people started online farming.
The first precise location-based dating app, Grindr, was launched. The app was discussed by Stephen Fry and Jeremy Clarkson on an episode of Top Gear, prompting a huge boost in membership.
Walkers launched the crisp flavours 'chilli and chocolate', 'onion bhaji' and 'Cajun squirrel'.
The game Angry Birds was released.
WhatsApp was launched.
Google Street View launched in the UK, sharing millions of photos which theirs cars had taken while driving around the UK and Ireland.
Bitcoin was first used. It would dramatically increase in value and pose lots of questions about the future of finance.
2009 in Film
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was the biggest film of the year.
Other big films include Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (the sixth one), Up, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Avatar, The Hangover, Star Trek, Monsters vs Aliens, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (the third one), X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, The Proposal and Fast & Furious.
2009 in TV
Big TV shows of the year (not premiers): Britain's Got Talent, The Royal Family, Doctor Who, Dancing On Ice and Strictly Come Dancing.
The X Factor was big this year, with Jedward as contestants, who were treated as a joke by Simon Cowell. Calvin Harris interrupted the live show with a pineapple on his head. Olly Murs also rose to fame this year.
Pointless, The Chase, Glee and Total Wipeout were new on TV.
Miranada Hart launched her TV show.
Both the 'Go Compare' adverts with Wynne Evans and the 'Compare the Meerkat' adverts first played.
2009 in Ireland
Ryan Tubridy replaced Pat Kenny as host of The Late Late Show.
IKEA opened in Ballymun.
Ryan Tubridy replaced Pat Kenny as host of The Late Late Show.
Dublin's newest swing bridge, the Samuel Beckett Bridge, opened.
Work on the upgraded Red Cow Roundabout in Dublin finally finished.
Controversial restrictions were introduced for drivers on Dublin's College Green.
While these facts about 2009 have been checked against third-party sources (and have been used on air before!), they are provided in good faith to inspire your research and no guarantee is made about their accuracy or their uniqueness. You can use the facts however you wish: most people just take a couple of points they remember and talk around then.
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