It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; 12 months full of incident and intrigue which, if we had been able to see into the future this time last year, we never would have believed
From global conflicts to political turmoil at home and abroad, Royal scandals, dizzying advances in technology, high profile deaths, a Coldplay concert kiss that went viral and even a pop star in space, 2025 has been a year to remember.
And while at times the world may have seemed a dark and troubled place there were also lighter moments that brought celebration and laughter. It was a year of firsts across the year too.
In February, Beyonce won her first-ever album of the year award at the Grammy’s, May saw Pope Leo X1V become the first Head of the Catholic Church to have been born in the US and July saw a much anticipated series of huge concerts after the band Oasis reunited after a 16 year hiatus.
Sadly, we lost a host of famous faces in 2025 from across the worlds of religion, entertainment, sport and fashion including Pope Francis, Joe Bugner, Gene Hackman, Ozzy Osborne, Prunella Scales, Giorgio Armani and Robert Redford.
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But as we said goodbye to some, other names were emerging onto our screens and timelines to dominate the headlines. Afterall, who could have predicted that in October the nation would take retired rugby player and Celebrity Traitor Joe Marler to its heart or that Alan Carr would win the series – his tears becoming a tv moment of the year?
Or that a performance back in March by actor Owen Cooper playing a troubled teenager in the TV series Adolescence would spark a national debate on toxic masculinity? The past year also witnessed feats of remarkable courage. The families of three little girls killed at a dance class in Southport in 2024 established legacy projects to help others in their name. Former Olympic track cyclist Chris Hoy, who is living with stage four cancer, continued his mission to raise money for and awareness of prostate cancer.
Then there was Gisèle Pelicot whose testimony at her own mass rape trial resulted in a change in French legislation around sexual violence. And earlier this month the world watched in horror as Ahmed al-Ahmed disarmed a gunman on Australia’s Bondi Beach. The terrorist was one of two now accused of murdering 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration.
But, back in January, all this was still to come. A little under 12 months ago we were battling snow, floods and some of the iciest temperatures in a decade courtesy of storms Eowyn and Herminia. The cold took its toll in the US too with the inaugural address of the 47th President, Donald J Trump, having to move indoors because of the plummeting thermometer.
It was all warm smiles in Bradford, though, which began its year as the UK City of Culture and there were celebrations too in Cheshire when local lad Luke Littler became the youngest World Darts Champion at the age of 17. And it was a month of good news for the Royal Family with the Princess of Wales announcing she was in remission from cancer. The year bookended with even more positive Royal news as the King, who has also been battling the disease, revealed earlier this month his schedule of treatment would be reduced for 2026.
The months in between however, were less happy for the House of Windsor with the relationship between the former Prince Andrew and the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein dominating the headlines. Pressure mounted in March with the death of Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent survivors of Epstein’s abuse. In August a biography of Andrew was released casting fresh doubt on his claims as to when he and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson first met the financier while a leaked email in October appeared to contradict a previous claim about when he had ceased contact with the convicted child sex offender.
Later that month, King Charles took action and officially stripped his brother of his titles, forcing him to fund himself privately and quit his 30-room mansion. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is expected to move home in 2026. Meanwhile, Prince Harry and wife Meghan also continued to make headlines. In May he lost his appeal over the level of security he and his family are entitled to in the UK.
Scandal within the British Royal Family was not the only topic to a cast long shadows this year with global conflict and the quest for peace continuing to govern the international landscape. In February there was a fiery meeting in the White House between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump with tempers flaring amid talks to end war with Russia.
Cordial terms were restored but the Ukraine/Russia conflict continued as the year grew older. Between October and December Russian forces launched huge missile and drone strikes against Ukraine which has recently secured a £79 bn loan from the EU. Meanwhile the year saw ceasefires begin and end in the Isreal-Gaza war – the latest made in October remains in place. In July the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared famine in the region. The IPC reported recent improvements in nutrition and food supplies but said 100,000 people still experienced ‘catastrophic’ conditions in November.
Nearer to home, the political landscape remained complex. Large anti-immigration protests swept cities – the largest was in London in September – as immigration and border control remained the hottest of topics. But there were other political headline grabbing moments – who could forget Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tears in the Commons back in July or the leaking of her budget in November?
We’ve had high profile political resignations too, most notably Deputy PM Angela Rayner in September after a row over underpaid tax on a house in Hove. But 2025 has also seen the government increase the National Living Wage increased in April, introduce the Renters’ Rights Act, abolishing ‘no fault evictions’ and implement measures to penalise water company bosses who pollute rivers and seas.
Meanwhile, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has risen in popularity despite its leader, Nigel Farage, facing claims of racism and anti-semitism in November. March was a month of ups and downs with Firefly Aerospace’s “Blue Ghost” becoming the first commercial lander to reach the Moon. Just weeks later pop star Katy Perry also went to space aboard Blue Origin’s rocket as part of an all female crew – and sang ‘Wonderful World’ to mark the occasion.
A wonder of the world was also revealed that month when a colossal squid was captured on video in its natural habitat for the first time in the South Atlantic Ocean. Overall, 2025 was a good year for music lovers. Charli XCX was the big winner at The Brit Awards, taking home five prizes in March. She later headlined at Glastonbury in June. And Taylor Swift fans were thrilled both with her new album and the news in August that she was engaged to American footballer Travis Kelce.
Less thrilled though were the two work colleagues caught on camera at a Coldplay concert in a warm embrace back in July. Called out by frontman Chris Martin their horrified reaction went viral. Technology showed its best and worst sides this year with AI becoming ever more embedded in our lives. In April the Co-op was the subject of a cyber attack. Jaguar Land Rover also fell victim in August and M&S followed in September.
But back in April medical advancements saw Grace Davidson from London become the first woman in the UK to give birth using a transplanted womb. The past year saw us looking back as well as forward with major celebrations across the country in May and August to mark the 80th anniversaries of both VE Day and VJ Day. There were also some defining moments in our long established law courts.
The Supreme Court ruled in April that the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex – transgender people remain protected under the Equality Act – while the Assisted Dying Bill, allowing terminally ill adults to request assistance to end their lives, passed the House of Commons in June. In May two men from Cumbria were found guilty of illegally cutting down the world famous Sycamore Gap Tree. They were each jailed for more than four years.
There were sporting landmarks aplenty across the year and none bigger than England’s Lionesses winning the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final in July after beating Spain. Gary Lineker presented his final Match of the Day after 26 years in May, David Beckham also received a knighthood in November and just this month (Dec) British racing driver Lando Norris won the Formula One World Driver’s Championship.
The UK’s summer of 2025 was the hottest on record while a series of heatwaves dominated Europe from April through to early October. President Trump made a state visit in September and all eyes were on a scorching Wimbledon where electronic line calling meant eliminating human line judges for the first time. Jannik Sinner triumphed in the men’s final and Iga Świątek the women’s.
The summer was tinged with grief, though, as fans paid tribute to Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne who died in July. The world was stunned too at the death of Liverpool FC player Diogo Jota that same month.Heat warnings continued into August and, while we all scrambled for shorts and t-shirts, clothing retailer Topshop announced a return to the high street five years after its parent company collapsed. Poundland too was saved from closure after a restructuring plan.
Immigration remained the hottest of topics. In the wake of Home Office figures showing there were a record 111,000 applications for asylum in the UK, national flags began appearing across cities in England and Scotland. Summer often brings wedding invitations and the lucky guests who saw Amazon founder Jeff Bezos marry Lauren Sanchez in June were treated to a spectacular celebration in Venice. Other notable matches this year included actress Selena Gomez married musician Benny Blanco and Twilight saga star Kristen Stewart tied the knot with actress Dylan Meyer.
There were celebrity splits too, though, including Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban in September. Comedian Amy Schumer and Chris Fischer and Lily Allen and David Harbour also parted ways.. September saw the first Catholic funeral for a member of the Royal Family in modern times following the death of Katharine, Duchess of Kent while the long-running Epstein scandal engulfed the Duchess of York after an email emerged from her to him. In the days that followed various charities dropped her as a patron.
Another religious first came in October with Dame Sarah Mullally named as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury while King Charles became the first British monarch to pray with a pope with Henry V111 split with the Catholic Church. However, the news agenda was dominated by an attack on a synagogue in Manchester in which two people were killed, marking a year of sometimes shocking news stories including that of Paul Doyle who drove his car into Liverpool FC’s victory parade crowds in May and a mass stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire in November.
It was a stellar year for TV with The Traitors commanding huge audiences, I’m a Celebrity marking its 20th series and Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daley stepping down from hosting Strictly this month. Radio favourite Sara Cox also raised £11.5m for Children in Need in November after a 135 mile marathon challenge The news was less good for the BBC that same month which saw Director General Tim Davie resign following criticism of a Panorama report which edited together parts of speech by President Donald Trump. The President announced he would sue the corporation.
The year looks to be ending as it began with unpredictability in both the weather and in politics. December saw warnings in place for heavy rain and flooding, the Justice Secretary, David Lammy, raised the question of whether every trial needs a jury and a case containing the Crown Jewels came under attack from protesters throwing apple crumble and custard at it.
Transgender issues were once again being debated after Girlguiding announced that transgender girls will be banned from joining the Girl Guide groups and the long shadow of Covid remained with the publication of a report into £10.9bn of government money lost to fraud and error during the pandemic. It’s been a year of fast change and uncertainty. As for 2026 there’s one thing that’s certain- that it will be every bit as surprising as 2025.
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