ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Friday 15th May 2026
This is day 135 of the year with 230 remaining. This is week 20 and there are 224 days till Christmas.    
UK & World News
2025 It's reported a fourth baby may be at risk after a mother herself a victim abandoned three babies near Plaistow in 2017, 2019 and 2024.2024 An assassination attempt is made on Slovak prime minister Fico after he supported Russian dictator Putin and tried to limit democracy.2005 Photos from the Hubble Space Telescope confirm that Pluto has two additional moons Nix and Hydra.2001 UK supermarkets cut the price of medicines after a court ruling puts an end to a pharmaceutical industry price fixing policy.1997 The US Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on mission STS-84 to dock with the Russian space station Mir.1993 The Neuilly kindergarten crisis ends in France when police rescue children being held hostage for two days at a nursery school.1991 Edith Cresson becomes France's first female Prime Minister.1988 Russia begins withdrawing 115000 troops from Afghanistan after invading in 1979. They lose the ten year Soviet-Afghan war in 1989.1974 The Ma'alot massacre occurs when Palestinian terrorists attack a school in Israel killing 31 people including 22 children.1957 Britain tests its first hydrogen bomb at Malden Island in the Pacific Ocean during a set of tests called Operation Grapple.1948 The Arab-Israeli War starts when Israel is attacked by Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.1889 The Eiffel Tower is officially opened in Paris and will be the worlds tallest structure until 1929.1536 Anne Boleyn the Queen of England age approx 30 stands trial in London on charges of treason an adultery. They kill her on 19/05/1536.
   

Music & Entertainment
2019 Tom Petty‘s daughters take legal action against his widow as part of a battle for control of his music catalogue.2006 The BBC start their first HD channel 'BBC HD' as a 'trial'. It will stop being a 'trial' on 01/12/2007 and be closed on 25/03/2013.2001 A train rolls out of a yard in the USA after an engineer fails to board. It becomes the inspiration for the 2010 movie Unstoppable.1995 Supergrass release their debut album 'I Should Coco' following the 1994 release of their debut single 'Caught by the Fuzz'.1984 Ozzy Osbourne is arrested in Memphis, Tennessee in the US while 'staggering drunk'.1967 Paul McCartney meets Linda Eastman for the first time at a Georgie Fame performance in London. They will marry on 12/03/69.1940 The McDonald's brothers open their first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California in the US.1928 The first Mickey Mouse film 'Plane Crazy' is given an initial test screening.
   

Birthdays
1996 Birdy, British singer who had hits including the 2013 hit 'Wings'.1987 Simon Whistler, British video creator best known for making documentaries on Youtube.1984 Alex Brooker, British TV presenter best known from Channel 4 programme 'The Last Leg'.1979 Dominic Scott, Irish British musician best known from hit group Keane but left before their mainstream success.1972 Richard Blackwood, British singer, TV presenter and actor who had the 2003 UK no 3 hit 'Mama Who Da Man'.1971 Sarah Hadland, British actress best known for playing 'Stevie' in the BBC comady series 'Miranda'.1970 Attrell Cordes aka Prince Be, American lead singer of hit group 'P M Dawn'. Died 17th June 2016.1968 Sophie Raworth, British TV presenter best known from BBC News programmes.1967 Tish Cyrus, American music manager and mother of Miley Cyrus who in 1995 was hotter looking than Miley.1966 Pete Wiggs, British musician best known from hit group Saint Etienne.1959 Andrew Eldritch, British singer and musician best known from hit group the Sisters of Mercy.1953 Mike Oldfield, British musician best known for the 1973 hit album 'Tubular Bells' and Blue Peter theme music.1951 Fergie Frederiksen, American best known as lead singer of hit group Toto. Died 18th January 2014.1948 Brian Eno, British hit musician, songwriter, record producer and visual artist.1932 Baba Oje, American musician best known from hit group Arrested Development. Died 30th October 2018.1918 Richard Tompkins, British retail manager best known for creating Argos and Green Shield Stamps. Died 6th December 1992.1863 Frank Hornby, British inventer of Meccano, Hornby Model Railways and Dinky Toys. Died 21st September 1936.
   

Deaths
2020 Phil May, British singer of Pretty Things who influenced David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Kasabian. Born 9th November 1944.2004 Clint Warwick, British musician best known from hit group The Moody Blues. Born 25th June 1940.2000 Geoff Goddard, British writer of many hit songs including the number one 'Johnny Remember Me'. Born 19th November 1937.1999 Robert Gretton, British manager of Joy Division, New Order and a director of Factory Records. Born 15th January 1953.1995 Eric Porter, British actor who may be best known for the 1985 BBC series of 'Oliver Twist'. Born 8th April 1928.
   


   

Today's Videos

   

Britain Tests First H-Bomb at Christmas Island (1957) On this day in 1957 Britain tests its first home made hydrogen bomb at Malden Island in the Pacific Ocean during a set of tests called Operation Grapple.
ITN News At Ten - 15/05/81 Main stories: Princess Anne has a baby girl, Pope's assailant police think he didn't act alone, thousands turn out for Ulster's day of funerals, air gun attack hits three outside Ripper courtroom and Frank Whittle father of the jet aeroplane pleads for Concorde.
ITN news clip - 15/05/91 Main stories: John Major claims to have ended the deadlock on talks over Northern Ireland, bids go in to the government from companies who want to run the fifteen ITV companies and TV-AM and a 55 year old man who killed a mugger is found not guilty of murder after being held since August the previous year.

Music and Memes

   


   

Supergrass - Alright On this day in 1995 Supergrass released their debut studio album 'I Should Coco'.
Why Is This Guy Everywhere? - Roman Abalin (2025) On this day in 1987 Simon Whistler the British video creator best known for making documentaries on Youtube was born.
Wayne's World 2 - Preston's Ozzy Story clip (1993) On this day in 1984 Ozzy Osbourne is arrested in Memphis, Tennessee in the US while 'staggering drunk'.
Stevie what have you done today to make you feel proud - Miranda (2010) On this day in 1971 Sarah Hadland the British actress best known for playing 'Stevie' in the BBC comady series 'Miranda' was born.
PM Dawn - Set A Drift On Memory Bliss (1991) On this day in 1970, Attrell Cordes, known by the stage name Prince Be, lead vocalist of the hip hop group P.M. Dawn was born. He died on the 17th June 2016.
Mike Oldfield feat Maggie Reilly - Moonlight Shadow (1983) Mike Oldfield, English musician, songwriter, and producer best known for his 1973 debut album Tubular Bells was born on this day in 1953.