Today, March 23, marks one year since we went into our first lockdown in the UK.
In that time, coronavirus has seen the world undergo countless shifts. Jet-setting was swapped for the humble staycation, fashion shows were replaced with virtual runways and face masks became an essential handbag item. Though restrictions have come and gone and shops have opened and closed, we’ve come a long way in the past year, with half of all adults in the UK having now received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
While there are plenty of miserable statistics that could be pulled from the past year, there are also countless bright spots and warming, human moments that have helped us pull through what will forever be known as the notorious ‘unprecedented’ year. And with the year we've had, boy do we need some positivity.
So if your dopamine levels are starting to dwindle as we hit the lockdown anniversary in the UK today, fear not. Here, we take a look back at some of the best uplifting moments and happy news stories of the past year, from powerful social movements to blissfully bizarre viral videos.
March 26, 2020: Clap for Our Carers begins
On March 26 at 8pm, millions of people across the UK took to their doorsteps, balconies and windows to applaud the selfless work of the NHS, caregivers and key workers during the Coronavirus pandemic.
At an uncertain time when we all felt a little disconnected from one another, the national gesture of appreciation served as a warm reminder of the power of community. With everyone from the Cambridge children to the Beckham family participating, heartwarming videos of cities clapping in unison and banging pots and pans were shared across social media. The first Clap for Our Carers marked the beginning of a unifying act of gratitude for the invaluable work of UK front line carers that went on to run for several weeks.
March 29, 2020: Elton John hosts 'iHeart Living Room' benefit concert
There's nothing to lift the spirits like a singalong, and no one knows this better than Sir Elton John. The British pop icon had a busy evening on March 29 as he hosted a virtual music festival to raise funds for two US charities.
'Here we are, all together at home,' the singer opened with, before handing the time off to a long list of A-list artists who performed stripped-down songs from their living rooms. Featuring music from Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Billie Eilish and Sam Smith, there was no shortage of big names at this benefit concert, which also saw special messages from the likes of Lady Gaga and Lizzo.
Spreading a little joy and raising money for worthy causes at the same time, the special was one of the first virtual events of its kind and went on to inspire many more virtual concerts.
March 30, 2020: John Krasinski premieres Some Good News
Just when Covid fatigue was starting to set in, actor John Krasinski came through with the goods and brought us Some Good News. A YouTube series created by The Office US star, the episodes focused on positive news and inspiring stories, featuring a generous sprinkling of cameos from his famous friends.
The show brought us a number of memorable moments, including a virtual prom where the Jonas Brothers and Billie Eilish performed, a remote performance of the musical Hamilton by the original cast, as well as Brad Pitt's debut as a weatherman. Providing some much needed escapism at just the right time, the uplifting show was the ray of light we needed to remember the kindness being seen around the world and brilliant work being done to ensure this crisis passes.
April 4, 2020: #PortraitsforNHSHeroes
Feeling somewhat aimless amid the early days of the pandemic, on April 4 Oxford-based artist Tom Croft launched #PortraitsforNHSHeroes. Offering a free oil portrait for the first NHS worker to message him, the artist encouraged others to join him in the effort as a means of giving something back to the frontline NHS heroes of 2020. His post received an overwhelming response, sparking an artistic movement that connected 500 NHS workers with professional artists who had volunteered to sketch or paint them.
A testament to the power of human connection, the initiative proved a great success, with artists posting portraits under the Instagram hashtag #PortraitsforNHSHeroes to create a makeshift virtual exhibition. Croft hopes to hold an exhibit featuring all of the portraits from the project once it's safe to, and we personally cannot wait.
April 6, 2020: Sir Captain Tom Moore begins fundraising for the NHS
Now a firmly established national treasure, back in April of 2020 the world had only just met the late Sir Captain Tom Moore. Then 99-year-old and determined World War Two Veteran began walking 100 lengths of his garden with his walking frame in aid of NHS Charities Together with the aim of raising £1,000 by his 100th birthday.
Though his family had expected £1,000 would be 'a real stretch', his heartwarming efforts soon went viral, capturing hearts and inspiring donations from across the world. By the time he had completed his 100 laps on April 16, Captain Tom had raised a tremendous £15 million. Dubbed a 'one-man fundraising machine' by Prince William, Captain Tom had originally wanted to raise funds as a way of giving back to NHS staff who had treated him for cancer and a broken hip.
Encouraged by the huge amount he had managed to raise already, Captain Tom took to his garden once more and continued walking. By the morning of Moore's 100th birthday he had raised a total of £30 million, with this reaching £32.79 million by the end of the day.
April 7, 2020: Tiger King becomes the most-watched title on Netflix for the longest period of time
There were a few key things that helped us pull through the early stages of lockdown (think Houseparty, Dalgona coffee, Zoom quizzes) and Tiger King was undoubtedly among these defining cultural heavyweights. A seven-part docuseries, Tiger King explores the frankly bizarre worlds of wild cat owners, controversial animal parks, murder allegations and multiple, often messy, romantic relationships. The Netflix series focuses predominantly on a feud between zoo owner Joe Exotic and big cat rights activist Carole Baskin, with the show unravelling a number of outlandish revelations along the way.
Truly, each time you think it can't get weirder, somehow it does. And yet, this was its irrefutable appeal, with seemingly everyone becoming collectively obsessed with the series in the days following its release. After launching on March 20, by April 7 Tiger King had become the most-watched title on Netflix for the longest period of time, maintaining the top spot for 15 consecutive days.
Beating out previous six day record holder The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez, the Tiger King frenzy kicked in fast and it kicked in hard. Providing some much needed escapism into an entirely new and eccentric world, the series made lockdown all the more bearable and spawned some choice memes.
April 18, 2020: Lady Gaga's star-studded 'Together At Home' coronavirus concert airs
On April 18 Lady Gaga collaborated with Global Citizen to hold the mother of all virtual concerts. Enlisting more than 100 world renowned artists to perform at her eight-hour 'Together At Home' Coronavirus concert, if you're wondering who played at the event, you'd be better off asking who didn't. From a surprise appearance by Beyoncé to a Stevie Wonder tribute to Bill Withers, there were countless A-listers at the event, including hosts for each hour that spanned from Matthew McConaughey to Laverne Cox. Truly, if you weren't at this event, where were you?
In addition to being a prime opportunity to spy on some amazing celebrity abodes, the event raised almost $128 million (£102 million), with proceeds going towards vaccine development and regional charities. Offering some sweet escapism while raising money for worthy causes, the event paved the way for many more virtual events of its kind.
April 23, 2020: Lizzo and SZA heal the world with some much-needed meditation on Instagram Live
April 23 brought us the collaboration we never knew we needed - Lizzo and SZA guiding us in meditation via Instagram live. In the 45-minute session the pair soothed us to serenity, with SZA making use of a Tibetan singing bowl while an impassioned Lizzo played her trusty flute in harmony.
While we're still not entirely sure what a chakra is, the event came as a welcome opportunity to catch our breath and focus on some good old fashioned self care.
April 28, 2020: Kylie Jenner pokes fun at sisters in TikTok video
Ah, TikTok - the app we ironically downloaded at the start of lockdown and have since become sincerely obsessed with. If you're still in the camp of not fully 'getting' the appeal of it, Kylie Jenner's hilarious TikToks will convince you otherwise.
Since the beauty mogul's return to TikTok at the start of April 2020 she has recruited 'momager' Kris Jenner and baby Stormi for her videos, but on April 28 she delivered arguably her best (and one of her most viewed) TikToks. In the clip, she pokes fun at her famous sisters, re-enacting iconic KUWTK moments with her best friend Stassie Karanikolaou, including that infamous Kim Kardashian diamond earring incident. Watch for yourself and see why Jenner's TikToks were one of the best things to come out of lockdown.
June 3, 2020: John Boyega delivers a powerful speech to protestors at Black Lives Matter rally
Racism has historically been a topic people shy away from speaking on, deeming it too difficult or uncomfortable. However, in June 2020 a long overdue shift began taking place. After protests across the US following the untimely death of George Floyd, June 3 saw thousands of protestors taking to the streets of London to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement and urge the government to address the institutional racism that sadly still exists in our society.
Among those protesting was Star Wars actor John Boyega who addressed protestors at Hyde Park in a deeply moving speech. Speaking to a crowd, a clearly emotional Boyega said: 'Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important. We have always meant something. We have always succeeded regardless. And now is the time. I ain’t waiting.'
June 5, 2020: Washington D.C. mayor Bowser renames plaza outside White House ‘Black Lives Matter Plaza’
On June 5 Washington D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser had a two-block long mural reading ‘Black Lives Matter’ painted outside the White House where protestors had been demonstrating following George Floyd's death. Bowser later tweeted that that particular section of 16th Street had been renamed 'Black Lives Matter Plaza'.
Earlier that week, President Trump had faced scrutiny for ordering authorities to forcibly remove peaceful protesters from a square outside the White House so he could cross the street to take a photo in front of a church.
Speaking on her public reproach of Trump's draconian response, mayor Bowser said: 'There are people who are craving to be heard and to be seen, and to have their humanity recognised, and we had the opportunity to send that message loud and clear on a very important street in our city.'
June 12, 2020: Marcus Rashford raises £20 million for kids’ meal fund
If you're not a football fan you'd be forgiven for not knowing who Marcus Rashford was pre-2020. However, the Coronavirus pandemic saw the Manchester United footballer become a household name as he pledged to 'keep fighting until no child in the UK has to worry about where their next meal is coming from'.
A cause close to his heart, Rashford used to rely on breakfast clubs and free school meals while growing up. Collaborating with charity FareShare, the footballer originally hoped to raise £100,000 to supply food to children who would usually benefit from free school meals. However, Rashford reached this target in mere days, by June 12 having raised an impressive £20 million for the charity.
The footballer kept up this momentum through the year, going on to urge the government to extend its free school meal scheme into the summer holidays and persevering with his food poverty campaign into late 2020.
June 12, 2020: London Fashion Week goes digital
After nearly 40 years since the British Fashion Council held their first London Fashion Week, June 12 saw the prestigious event take on an entirely new format. Merging its London Fashion Weeks to create one gender-neutral, digital platform, for the first time ever the prestigious event was hosted online at londonfashionweek.co.uk. With designers showcasing both menswear and womenswear collections digitally, the event took place over the month in which London Fashion Week Men's would have usually been.
'Welcoming both industry insiders and fashion consumers,' unlike previous seasons, the digital event meant that anyone and everyone could enjoy seeing the latest collections, with the hub being accessible internationally for all to watch from the comfort of their own home, whether secretly in hoodies or not.
June 22 2020: Five-year-old Tony Hudgell raises over £1 million with 10km walk on prosthetic legs
On June 22, a then five-year-old Tony Hudgell raised £1,014,348 for the hospital that saved his life. Hudgell had to have both his legs amputated after being abused by his birth parents as a baby. However, inspired by Captain Tom Moore, the determined child set a target of walking 10km in a month, originally aiming to raise £500 for Evelina London Children’s Hospital by walking each day in June.
Speaking on the impressive feat, his mother said that 'it is incredible to think that just a few weeks ago Tony could barely take a few steps'. The heartwarming and remarkable story highlights the power of resilience and proved an inspiration for many, with his mother also noting that his walking had 'improved immeasurably during the challenge'.
July 17, 2020: Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi secretly marry
Rarely is a royal wedding low-key, and even more infrequently does a royal wedding take place in secret. However, on July 17 just that happened, with Buckingham Palace confirming Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi had married at All Saints Chapel in Windsor. The private ceremony took place in the morning with just 20 guests, including the Queen and Prince Philip.
Though the couple had originally intended to marry in May at a grand 150-person ceremony in the Chapel Royal of London's St James's Palace, the pair were forced to cancel their nuptials due to Coronavirus.
While we're sad to have missed out on the usual buzz in the lead up to the wedding, we couldn't be more thrilled for the couple and loved poring over the intricate details of the Windsor wedding after it took place, from Princess Beatrice's beautiful second-hand wedding dress borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II to her stunning platinum and diamond ring.
July 17, 2020: Captain Sir Tom Moore receives a knighthood
In the Queen's first official in person engagement since lockdown began, on July 17 she knighted Captain Sir Tom Moore in a ceremony at Windsor Castle. The centenarian was recognised for his zimmer-frame aided walking of over 100 laps of his garden in April to raise money for the NHS.
After his fundraising efforts went viral and he raised over £32 million, Moore quickly rose to fame in the UK and became a beloved beacon of positivity. Praised internationally for his selflessness and remarkable achievements, though Moore sadly passed away in January 2021, his memory was honoured in a national clap on February 3, 2021.
August 4, 2020: Reese Witherspoon spearheads #2020challenge meme
Right when we needed it, Reese Witherspoon stepped in with a new viral meme trend for us all to hop on. Witherspoon's original '#2020Challenge' post showed a grid of different facial expressions that sum up our mental state through 2020, starting with a polished Witherspoon in Legally Blonde and ending with a more dishevelled Reese from Wild.
Perfectly reflecting the emotional instability we've all unavoidably felt this year, the trend went on to be adapted by famous friends including Mindy Kaling, Kerry Washington and Charlize Theron.
August 10, 2020: Carol Kirkwood suffers a fatal slip of the tongue on BBC Breakfast
Ah, August 10, 2020. Memorable because on this day during a live weather report from Greenwich Park, BBC Breakfast presenter Carol Kirkwood mixed up ‘joggers’ and ‘dog walkers’ while on air.
Mistakenly informing viewers that she was surrounded by 'lots of doggers', a calm Kirkwood quickly corrected herself, though not before we had been given this moment of TV gold. The presenter later tweeted: 'That will teach me to try and say joggers and dog walkers in the same sentence!'.
September 6, 2020: Lily Allen and David Harbour tie the knot, proving love isn’t dead
Lily Allen and David Harbour made everyone's 2020 a little better on September 6 when the couple married in an intimate Vegas ceremony attended only by Allen's daughters, Marnie and Ethel.
Speaking on the Sex, Lies & DM Slides podcast in October, the Smile singer said of the wedding: 'We didn't plan to announce it to anyone, it was meant to be a very private affair. We were leaving Vegas and driving to Los Angeles and Nevada Clark County tweeted our marriage certificate.'
After the unintended reveal, Allen later confirmed the news on her Instagram in a series of adorable photos from the wedding featuring an Elvis impersonator, her chic Dior A-line mini dress and a low-key wedding reception at In-N-Out Burger. Solidifying their title as the couple everyone loves to love, we couldn't be happier for the two.
September 18, 2020: Brad and Jen delight fans as they reunite for a virtual read of Fast Times At Ridgemont High
After having been thrown into emotional chaos following the notorious SAG Awards wrist grab in February, we were once again given reason to squeal as September 18 saw Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston unite to take part in a virtual read of Fast Times At Ridgemont High.
The pair were playing Linda Barrett and Brad Hamilton, and in one scene Linda appears in Brad's sexual fantasy:
‘Hi, Brad,' Aniston says. 'You know how cute I always thought you were. I think you're so sexy. Will you come to me?’ Cue fans everywhere losing it, while fellow cast members visibly held back laughter.
September 18, 2020: Mourners pay tribute to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
September 18 saw the passing of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion of women's rights and liberal feminist icon. Just hours after her passing, hundreds of mourners gathered on the steps of the Supreme Court to honour her memory. Set against the backdrop of a makeshift candle-lit memorial, crowds sang songs including 'Amazing Grace' and 'America the Beautiful', with individuals recounting the powerful impact that 'RBG' had on the justice system and in turn their lives.
Ginsburg was the oldest justice and second ever woman to sit on the Supreme Court, where she served for 27 years. Leaving behind a legacy that has fundamentally impacted decades to come, her passing reignited the importance of voting for a more just and fair society in the bleak run up to the US election.
September 20, 2020: Zendaya makes Emmy history with her win, nearly falling off her chair in the process
Zendaya Coleman made history on September 20 by becoming the youngest woman to win Best Actress in a Drama Series at the 2020 Emmys. Awarded for her gritty portrayal of teenage drug addict Rue in HBO's Euphoria, the former Disney Channel star beat out heavyweights including Jennifer Aniston and Jodie Comer, who had previously set the record as youngest actress to win in this category.
In addition to her win being historic for her age, Zendaya is also only the second Black woman to ever win this award, following Viola Davis' memorable 2015 win for How To Get Away With Murder.
A beaming Zendaya was noticeably taken aback following her win, almost falling out of her chair with excitement. Accepting her award surrounded by family she fought back tears, saying: 'I just want to say to all my peers out there doing the work in the streets, I see you, I admire you, I thank you.'
September 20, 2020: Viewers adapt to the bizarre fake audience at the Emmys
The Emmys were different for a number of reasons in 2020. For starters, each nominee had someone dressed in a hazmat suit outside their house waiting to pass the award through in case they won, or, peace out and leave if they didn't.
However, by far one of the most disconcerting things to come out of 2020's virtual Emmys ceremony was the bizarre use of archival footage and canned laughter that was pieced together to make a fake audience for host Jimmy Kimmel's monologue. After managing to keep up appearances for a good few minutes, Kimmel eventually conceded 'Of course I'm here alone, of course there isn't an audience. This isn’t a MAGA rally, this is the Emmys'.
However, viewers had mixed feelings on the decision:
Before leaving the stage, Kimmel made the most of the unusual circumstances, saying: 'Let's have a standing ovation for me.' Sure enough, a fake audience erupted in applause, while cameras panned to stars like Sandra Oh and Lin-Manuel Miranda as they enthusiastically clapped (again, from archival shots). We'll leave you to decide how you feel about it all.
September 24, 2020: Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik welcome their baby girl into the world
After months of speculation and anticipation, on September 24 it was confirmed that Gigi Hadid had given birth to a healthy baby girl. Though neither Hadid nor her partner Zayn Malik have publicly confirmed her exact birth date, the news was first announced by the former One Direction singer in a tweet:
Hadid then followed up with her own black-and-white snap on Instagram featuring the caption: 'Our girl joined us earth-side this weekend and she’s already changed our world. So in love.'
The news brought some much needed joy to September, with the couple later revealing their daughter's name to be Khai. Congratulations to the power couple!
September 24, 2020: Sir David Attenborough joins Instagram, beating out Jennifer Aniston to 1 million followers in a record time
On September 24, unlikely contender for Instagram influencer Sir David Attenborough joined the app, breaking Jennifer Aniston's record for the fastest time to reach 1 million followers. The naturalist achieved the milestone in just four hours and 44 minutes, beating out Aniston by 32 minutes.
Attenborough's first post was a short video in which he stated his reason to join Instagram plainly as: 'I’m exploring this new way of communication to me because, as we all know, the world is in trouble.'
Though his message might have been difficult to reconcile with, it was cheering to see the broadcaster use his platform to spread this important message - unintentionally breaking records in the process and all. While the 94-year-old went on to quit the app just two months later, at the time of writing the account still boasts 6.1 million followers.
October 2, 2020: The long-awaited Savage x Fenty Vol. 2 show hits screens
Just as dopamine levels were starting to dip, Rihanna came to save the day with Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2. Following on from her 2019 installation, last year's show was bigger and better than ever, with far too many names to cram in this round-up. Featuring models, dancers and performers, the show saw more representation than ever before and, naturally, and endless array of slinky lingerie from the Savage X Fenty AW20 collection.
Moving to a pre-filmed setup, it's fair to say that the show transcended your average fashion show. The almost hour-long show included everything from musical performances by Rosalia to appearances by the likes of Cara Delevigne with a mullet, Jaida Essence Hall in latex and Normani as a sultry bride.
Despite her first show being a hard act to follow, it's safe to say the show did not disappoint. An extravaganza to watch, Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 oozed sexiness and made us feel empowered all from the comfort of our sofas - win, win.
October 11, 2020: Disney Pixar’s Soul is released
As the days started to get shorter and we had more time on our hands to stay in and watch movies, Soul came at the perfect time. Telling the story of a jazz musician in a dead-end job who finally gets his big break, the Disney Pixar film follows main character Joe Gardner (voiced by Jamie Foxx) as he embarks on an otherworldly journey and exploration of self, meeting a brattish soul called 22 (voiced by Tina Fey).
Beautifully animated and thoughtful, Soul explores existential themes without being too heavy and soon after its release was all anyone could talk about. While we won't spoil it for you on the off-chance you haven't seen it, we cannot recommend this feel-good film enough. An instant classic and essential watch.
October 23, 2020: The Queen's Gambit is released, going on to break Netflix records
As the months wore on, we were delighted to have more new Netflix series to binge-watch. If you told us earlier in the year that we’d be obsessed with a show about a chess prodigy we wouldn’t have been convinced, but by November The Queen's Gambit held the record as the most-watched scripted limited series on Netflix.
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, the drama follows an orphan as she struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, competing with elite chess players across the globe, all while turning out some impeccable outfits. Offering a look into the world of competitive chess and lives of women in the 1960s, the seven-episode series was an instant hit, proving both gripping and insightful.
The series had a very tangible impact beyond breaking Netflix records, with Mary Higbe, director of marketing at Goliath Games, telling NPR that while October chess sales were up 178% compared to the year before, the late October release of The Queen’s Gambit led to a 1,048% increase over 2019. Check mate.
November 7, 2020: Kamala Harris makes history as first female, Black, and Asian-American Vice President-elect
After being plunged into days of anguish and uncertainty while votes were totted up across the US, on Saturday November 7 a number of outlets including the BBC and NBC projected that US presidential candidate Joe Biden had won the 2020 election. Having won the key states of Pennsylvania and Nevada, Biden's victories pushed him to a total of 273 electoral votes (a candidate needs 270 to win).
Taking to Twitter, the President-elect said: 'America, I’m honoured that you have chosen me to lead our great country. The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans—whether you voted for me or not. I will keep the faith that you have placed in me.'
The election, which saw the highest voter turnout in over 100 years, was especially historic as it saw Vice President-elect Kamala Harris become the first woman, first Black woman and first Asian-American to hold the office. After Biden's win was confirmed, Harris tweeted: 'This election is about so much more than @JoeBiden or me. It’s about the soul of America and our willingness to fight for it. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Let’s get started.'
November 10, 2020: Rupert Grint shatters Sir David Attenborough's Instagram record
Just a month after Sir David Attenborough smashed records for the fastest time to reach 1 million Instagram followers, in stepped Rupert Grint to dethrone the naturalist.
The actor, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, made his first Instagram post on November 10, joking he was 'only 10 years late' to the party. The 32-year-old reached 1 million followers in just four hours and one minute, beating out Attenborough by 43 minutes, according to Guinness World Records.
Dubbing himself 'Grint on the Gram', the actor's adorable first snap showed him with his baby daughter, Wednesday Grint, who partner Georgia Groome gave birth to in May.
November 16, 2020: Jack Black makes a late entry for the 'WAP' challenge
Just when we thought we'd managed to get Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's catchy hit 'WAP' out of our heads, three months after the song's release comedian and actor Jack Black hit us with a late entry for the 'WAP' challenge.
The video sees a scantily clad Jack Black gyrating, twerking, and manoeuvring in ways we didn't know possible as he does his best to recreate the now-famous 'WAP' TikTok dance. The actor prances around in barely there red briefs, all while struggling to keep his eyes open as a garden hose is directed his way. Whether you're a School of Rock fan or not, the clip was diabolically funny and made for the perfect mid-November pick-me-up. Thanks, Jack!
December 2, 2020: Pfizer/BioNTech becomes the first Covid vaccine to be approved
By December we were well and truly in the grips of winter and the prospect of yet another lockdown was looking increasingly likely. Yet, from the gloom came a much needed ray of hope. After what felt like years of waiting, on December 2, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine became the first Covid jab to be approved for use in the UK.
The fastest vaccine to move from conception to rollout, the process that would usually span 10 years took just 10 months, providing hope to millions across the country and paving the way for mass vaccination. In the days after its approval, 800,000 doses of the jab were due to arrive in the country, with the UK wasting no time in ordering a further 40 million doses of the jab - enough to vaccinate 20 million people. The Pfizer jab would go on to be followed by the approval of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on December 30.
With a majority of the rollout set to take place in the new year, the news made the thought of 2021 a lot brighter, offering up a glimmer of tangible hope right when we needed it.
December 2, 2020: The #MyElf challenge begins
Frivolous internet challenges are what helped us make it this far into 2020, and by December it continued to be business as usual. On December 4 the #MyElf challenge was born. In essence, the challenge sees celebrities finding the name of another celebrity that rhymes with their own. For example, Elizabeth Banks and Tom Hanks. Then, they edit a tiny version of that celebrity on their shoulder. Sound dumb? To us it sounds just ridiculous enough for it to become a viral challenge.
What began with Garcelle Beauvais (The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills) reposting a photo of 'Garcelle on Pharrell' quickly spiralled into Hanks on Banks, Perry on Kerry and so on. The rest is history.
December 4, 2020: The Kardashians prank their famous friends
December rolled around, and with it came another hilarious Kardashian prank. In a clip shared on Khloé Kardashian's Instagram account, the video shows the entire Kardashian Jenner clan FaceTiming their famous friends, but with a twist. Kim, Khloé, Kourtney, momager Kris Jenner, and sisters Kylie and Kendall Jenner, all gather around the camera ominously, looking intently, as if about to perform an intervention. They then sit there silently and record the bewildered reactions of their A-lister friends.
With victims of the prank including Hailey Bieber, Travis Scott and Karanikolaou, the practical joke was met with some hysterical reactions. A personal fave of ours was Tristan Thompson's bemused ‘Oh, hey! What the…’ clearly unsure of what exactly was taking place.
The video was followed up by a sequel posted to Kim's Twitter which proved equally funny. Reminiscent of the early KUWTK pranking days, something about celebrities FaceTime pranking each other just gets us.
December 4, 2020: Mariah Carey collaborates with Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson on the ultimate Christmas song
It's an indisputable truth that Mariah Carey is the Queen of Christmas. However, along with the essential 'All I want for Christmas Is You' listening we do each December, this year the Queen blessed us with the collab to end all collabs. Teaming up with Jennifer Hudson and Ariana Grande, the trio delivered a remix of Carey's 2010 hit 'Oh Santa!'. Hudson hammers home some powerful vocals, while another fan favourite moment saw Carey and Grande harmonise on the rare whistle tone note, and just, wow.
Prepare your ears:
We're still not entirely sure we even heard that note.
Wrapped up as part of Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special, the full special delivered 43 minutes of sheer bliss, and featured other celebrity appearances from the likes of Tiffany Haddish and Snoop Dogg. Is it weird that we're still listening to this in March 2021? Either way, we're grateful to Carey for saving Christmas yet again and could not be more obsessed with this iconic partnership.
December 8, 2020: Nigella Lawson teaches us the correct way to pronounce 'microwave'
The meme that nobody asked for but we are so very glad we got, on December 8 TV cook Nigella Lawson sent the internet into a state of flux after a clip of her pronouncing microwave in an unconventional fashion went viral.
The clip, taken from an episode of her BBC series Cook, Eat, Repeat, saw Lawson splashing some milk into her pan, explaining that she had warmed it in the 'mee-cro-wa-vay'. With fans on Twitter dubbing it 'the best thing to happen in 2020' and 'the defining moment of 2020', the domestic goddess went on to explain in a tweet: 'Well, I do say it like that, but not because I think that’s how it’s actually pronounced. [sic]'
Regardless, no one could have predicted the weird and wonderful cultural phenomenon that this would snowball into.
December 25, 2020: Bridgerton is released in time for the Christmas holidays
It's hard to remember a world pre-Bridgerton, but the Netflix period drama series only came into our lives on December 25, just in time for us to binge-watch it after Christmas Day festivities.
Produced by Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy) and based on Julia Quinn's novel The Duke and I, the Netflix series follows debutante Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) as she makes her debut into Regency London's fiercely competitive marriage market. Navigating 'the season', Daphne soon meets the rebellious Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page) and things escalate from there. Throw in Lady Whistledown, Regency's answer to Gossip Girl, and you've got a hit Netflix series on your hands.
On January 27, Netflix announced that 82 million households had watched the show in its first 28 days, making it the streaming giant's biggest ever launched series, beating out The Witcher and Stranger Things to the top spot. According to Deadline, this equates to 41% of all Netflix subscribers.
A carefully crafted blend of decadent period costumes, extravagant balls, witty quips, romance and suspense in equal measure - it's little wonder the series was met with such success. We'll be here waiting for Bridgerton season 2 if you need us.
January 10, 2021: Sex and The City reboot is confirmed
Over 16 years on from when it last aired, we received the exciting news that Sex and The City would be returning to the small screen. After rumours began swirling in December that a 10-episode revival was on the cards, on January 10 stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon all shared the same teaser to Instagram, confirming the speculation.
The video itself gives little away, showing footage of a bustling Manhattan accompanied by SJP's Carrie Bradshaw-esque caption 'I couldn’t help but wonder... where are they now?' as well as the hashtag #SATCNextChapter.
Titled And Just Like That..., the sequel to SATC is due to start production in late spring. While it will come as little surprise to well-versed fans that Kim Cattrall will not be reprising her role as Samantha Jones for the HBO Max reboot, not even that could stop us from being anything other than ecstatic to have more SATC episodes on the horizon.
January 20, 2021: Amanda Gorman steals the show at the Biden Harris inauguration
Of the countless historic and touching moments of the Biden Harris inauguration, poet laureate and perennial ray of light Amanda Gorman reciting her inauguration poem was undoubtedly one of the most memorable.
Taking to the stage in front of the US capitol, 23-year-old Gorman left viewers across the world speechless as they listened to her read 'The Hill We Climb'. The spirit of the poem resonated with many, acknowledging the hardships we have faced in recent times yet imbuing a strong sense of hope in now-famous lines such as 'For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it'. You can read the moving poem in full here.
January 20, 2021: The powerful symbolic meaning behind inauguration outfits
You'd be forgiven for being too swept up in appreciating the outfits from the inauguration to realise their symbolic meaning. However, beyond simply turning out looks, a number of the fashion choices from the ceremony had powerful meanings behind them.
Vice President Harris opted for a rich purple dress and coat, with the colour being a mixture of red and blue (the colours of opposing political parties the Republicans and Democrats). Her choice of a monochrome purple ensemble is therefore thought to symbolise unity, as well as being seen as a feminist colour due to its links to the suffrage movement.
The polished two-piece was made by Black designer Christopher John Rogers, with Harris' choice to wear the piece being a clear demonstration of her support f0r minority creatives. Former First Lady Michelle Obama followed suit in a striking plum ensemble designed by Black designer Sergio Hudson, while performer Lady Gaga wore a large golden dove brooch intended to convey the message 'May we all make peace with each other'.
Ah, how we've missed being able to have reason to talk about the powerful intersection between fashion and politics.
January 20, 2021: Bernie and his mittens conquer the internet
The Bernie memes came in thick and they came in fast. While the inauguration was in no way short of memorable fashion moments, it was senator Bernie Sanders’ look that caught the attention of the internet.
Shortly after the ceremony, a photo of the senator bundled in a practical coat, face mask and some now-famous brown wooly mittens made the rounds on social media. Slumped in a folding chair, socially distanced from other guests at the inauguration, Sanders could never have known he was about to become the biggest meme of 2021.
Two hours later and Bernie had been transposed across space and time, making a trip to everywhere from the Iron Throne to classical paintings. Someone even made a site which lets you put him anywhere in the world on Google Maps. Truly, the internet outdid itself with this one.
Here are some more of our favourites because we're in deep:
For a good few days after the inauguration, all we saw on social media was Bernie - the rest is a blur.
February 4, 2021: Handforth Parish Council meeting goes viral
Enter, Jackie Weaver.
Members of Handforth Parish Council unintentionally became overnight celebrities after their chaotic local parish Zoom meeting went viral. The video sees councillors trading insults before descending into mayhem, spawning a number of quotable moments.
From what we can decipher amid the havoc, chairman Brian Tolver refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of a meeting held by two other councillors, leading to his iconic: 'You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver!' We all know how the story ends, with Weaver swiftly stepping in to remove him from the call, and go on to remove an enraged caller named Aled Brewerton in an attempt to gain some semblance of order.
The unlikely internet sensation was originally posted on the Cheshire council website before being tweeted out by 17-year-old Shaan Ali and picking up traction, causing 'Jackie Weaver' to trend on Twitter. As seems to be the case with all the best memes, truly no one could've seen this one coming.
February 9, 2021: Lawyer assures judge he isn’t a cat
In one of our favourite Zoom mishaps to date, US lawyer Rod Ponton appeared before a judge as a cat after scrambling, unsuccessfully, to remove a camera filter.
The video came into existence during a virtual hearing in Texas, with Ponton clarifying 'I’m not a cat' in an audibly alarmed state. In spite of the filter, Ponton's sheer panic was palpable, with the kitten's nervous eyes flitting across the screen as he attempted to restore himself to his true, non-kitten form.
With similar meme energy to the notorious Handforth Parish Council meeting, the video provided a welcome moment of levity. Cat-astrophe not averted (don't hate us, we couldn't not).
February 14, 2021: The Duke And Duchess Of Sussex announce they're expecting a second child
There's nothing like baby news to raise spirits! Nearly two years after welcoming their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor into the world, on February 14 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced that they are expecting their second child.
The couple shared the news via a spokesperson and released an intimate black and white photograph of themselves in what appears to be the garden of their Montecito home. Taken by their friend, photographer Misan Harriman, in the picture the pair are seen under a tree, with the Duke of Sussex resting his hand on his wife's head as she cradles her baby bump.
'We can confirm Archie is going to be a big brother,' a spokesperson for the couple told the BBC. 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.'
Though little else is known about Meghan's second pregnancy, on Sunday March 7 during their CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey, the couple revealed that they were expecting a girl this summer.
February 20, 2021: Regé-Jean Page’s bizarre and brilliant ‘Loco’ music video on Saturday Night Live
After steamrolling through Bridgerton, we were 'burning' for more Regé-Jean Page content and were not disappointed when the actor hosted Saturday Night Live in February. Recruiting the help of Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and comedians Ego Nwodim and Pete Davison, Regé-Jean Page was part of a hilarious spoof music video for 'Loco', a song that perfectly mirrors the mental state we've fallen into during quarantine (plant hugging included).
The song was accompanied by a number of memorable sketches effortlessly delivered by the 31-year-old. The Brit's hosting of the renowned comedy sketch show is no small feat, with SNL being lauded as an institution in American comedy.
We'll be honest, we're down to watch most things that feature this 'smouldering, sensual, smoke show of a man' (his words, not ours), but he absolutely nailed it too, with NBC reporting a notable increase in its ratings from the week before.
March 2, 2021: Dolly Parton receives Covid-19 vaccine she helped fund, reworking 'Jolene' for the occasion
Beloved country singer Dolly Parton treated us to a reworked rendition of 'Jolene' on March 2 as she received her first dose of the Moderna vaccine that she helped fund. In 2020, the singer donated £715,000 ($1 million) to the Vanderbilt University medical centre in Nashville, the same location she received her jab at.
In a video shared to her Instagram with the caption 'Dolly gets a dose of her own medicine', the star expressed her excitement to be receiving the jab, adding 'I'm old enough to get it and I'm smart enough to get it'.
The 75-year-old then launched into a reworked version of her 1973 hit 'Jolene' to sing: 'Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine... I'm begging of you please don't hesitate. Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, because once you're dead, that's a bit too late.'
Using her platform to spread awareness of the need for mass vaccination, the singer then reiterated the importance of people getting the jab. We salute you, Dolly.
March 14, 2021: Beyoncé becomes the most decorated woman in Grammy history
Beyoncé set a new record as she picked up her 28th Grammy Award on March 14, becoming the most-awarded woman in Grammy history.
Overtaking previous record holder Alison Krauss, Beyoncé won four awards at the 2021 Grammy ceremony, including best Rap performance and Rap song for 'Savage' with Megan Thee Stallion, best music video for 'Brown Skin Girl' and best pop performance for her 2020 Black Lives Matter anthem, 'Black Parade'.
In powerful lyrics that celebrate black history and resilience, 'Black Parade' was released on Juneteenth last year. Accepting her 28th Grammy for the song, the singer said: 'As an artist, I believe it's my job to reflect the times, and it's been such a difficult time so I wanted to uplift, encourage, and celebrate all of the beautiful Black queens and kings that continue to inspire me and inspire the whole world.'
Adding to an already record-breaking career, the singer is also the most nominated female artist ever, having attained an eye-watering total of 79 Grammy nominations over her career. Congratulations to the undisputed queen of the Grammys, Queen Bey.
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Lian Brooks is Hearst's SEO Manager. Helping brands stay ahead of emerging trends, she is an experienced digital marketer and writer with a penchant for all things tech.
