I Love the '80s is a BBC television nostalgia series that examines the pop culture of the 1980s. It was commissioned following the success of I Love the '70s and is part of the I Love... series. I Love 1980 premiered on BBC Two on 13 January 2001 and the last, I Love 1989, on 24 March 2001. Unlike with I Love the '70s, episodes were increased to 90 minutes long. The series was followed later in 2001 by I Love the '90s. The success of the series led to VH1 remaking the show for the US market: I Love the '80s USA, which is known simply as "I Love the '80s" in the US itself. The following repeat version in 2001 was cut down to an hour per year, then in 2019, the series was repeated again, this time cut down into a 30 minutes per year "highlights" version removing certain pop-culture and/or contributors.
Contributors
The series used many regular contributors, which included Peter Kay, Clare Grogan, Dee Hepburn, Kate Thornton, Stuart Maconie, Emma B, Ice-T, Toyah Willcox, Tommy Vance, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Ross Noble, Jamie Theakston, and many others.
Episode guide
I Love 1980 - broadcast: 13 January 2001
Presented by Larry Hagman. Opening titles and introduction to show: "Call Me" by Blondie. Ending credits: "Jump to the Beat" by Stacy Lattisaw.
Fame
The end of disco
The Gap Band - "Oops Up Side Your Head" Liquid Gold Kelly Marie Diff'rent Strokes Pac-Man Metal Mickey Kickers shoes Synthpop The Human League OMD Pierrot Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected Alton Towers Clothing labels Pringle Kappa Fred Perry Training Dogs the Woodhouse Way Catsuit / Sheena Easton The Face Moscow Olympic Games (the first to be hosted in a communist country) Who shot J. R.? / Dallas
Flashback commercial of 1980: Monster Munch - Three Monsters (actually aired in 1978).
I Love 1981 - broadcast: 20 January 2001
Presented by Adam Ant. Opening titles and introduction to show: "Prince Charming" by Adam and the Ants. Ending credits: "Swords of a Thousand Men" by Tenpole Tudor.
Adam and the Ants
Magnum, P.I. Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer Valentine's Day Porky's Shakin' Stevens Danger Mouse Executive toys Kim Wilde Eric Bristow and Bullseye Chocolate biscuits New Romantic Pencil case, smelly rubbers, food stationery Protect and Survive and Threads (originally aired in 1984) Gregory's Girl / Clare Grogan
Flashback commercial of 1981: Kit Kat - Pop Band (actually aired in 1984).
I Love 1982 - broadcast: 3 February 2001
Presented by Dave Lee Travis, Mike Read and Tommy Vance in TOTP set. Opening titles and introduction to show: "Fantastic Day" by Haircut 100. Ending credits: "Poison Arrow" by ABC.
The Young Ones Hair styles: Mullet, Jheri curl
Rambo Boy George
Deely Bobber
BMX bike
Sandwich toaster
Musical Youth
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial School uniforms
Boys from the Blackstuff Bubble gum
Bananarama
Alex Higgins
Rah-rah skirt
Imagination
I Love 1983 - broadcast: 10 February 2001
Presented by Roland Rat. Opening titles: "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club. Introduction to show: "Young Guns (Go for It)" by Wham!. Ending credits: "Calling Your Name" by Marilyn.
Knight Rider Cabbage Patch Kids
Flashdance True/smooching
Roland Rat
Leg warmers
Wham! Sloane Rangers and Hooray Henrys He-Man and the Masters of the UniverseFitness craze Break dancing Just Seventeen Blockbusters ThrillerI Love 1984 - broadcast: 17 February 2001 Presented by Holly Johnson. Opening titles: "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Introduction to show: "Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" by Eurythmics. Ending credits: "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)" by Scritti Politti.
The A-Team Nik Kershaw
Roller disco
Tucker's Luck Madonna
Videotape / Video Nasties
Torvill and Dean
Trivial Pursuit
Paul Weller / The Style Council / Jazz pop / Sade
Robin of Sherwood Dungeons & Dragons
Care Bears
The Smiths / Morrissey
Transformers
The Brat Pack
Katharine Hamnett (Slogan T-shirts) Frankie Goes to Hollywood
I Love 1985 - broadcast: 24 February 2001
Presented by Grace Jones. Opening titles and introduction to show: "Take On Me" by A-ha. Ending credits: "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince and the Revolution.