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In the UK the Freedom Of Information Act comes into force on 1st January.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), wins a landslide victory in the Palestinian presidential election held on 9th January.

On 13th January The Sun newspaper publishes a picture on its front page of Prince Harry wearing a swastika armband at a fancy dress party. The Prince apologises for "any offence or embarrassment" caused by his "poor choice of costume."

Sir Mark Thatcher, son of the former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, makes an unscheduled appearance in the Cape High Court on 13th January. He pleads guilty to unwittingly aiding a plot to overthrow the President of Equatorial Guinea. He incurs a four-year suspended sentence and a fine of 3 million rand.

The world's biggest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, is launched at a ceremony in Toulouse on 18th January. The plane successfully completes its maiden flight on 27th April.

On 20th January George W. Bush is inaugurated for a second term as US President.

Actress Patsy Rowlands, known for her appearances in the '70s sitcom Bless This House and nine of the Carry On films, dies on 22nd January, aged 71.

The American TV presenter Johnny Carson, famous for hosting The Tonight Show, dies on 23rd January in Los Angeles, aged 79.

Condoleezza Rice is sworn in as US Secretary of State on 26th January, becoming the first African-American woman to hold the post.

Jim Capaldi, once the drummer with the group Traffic, dies on 28th January, aged 60.

Elections for a new National Assembly are held in Iraq on 30th January.

Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister, and Mahmoud Abbas, the new Palestinian President, call a halt to four-and-a-half years of conflict when they meet at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt on 8th February.

Playwright Arthur Miller dies on 11th February, aged 89.

Rafik Hariri, the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, is assassinated in a bomb attack in Beirut on Valentine's Day.

On the same day three former PayPal workers - Steve Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim - activate a new video-sharing website called YouTube.

On 15th February Yusuf Islam is awarded "substantial damages" and receives apologies from The Sun and The Sunday Times, both of which had published articles alleging that he had supported terrorism.

The Kyoto Protocol - a series of measures requiring countries to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses - comes into force on Wednesday, 16th February.

A hunting ban comes into force in England and Wales on Friday, 18th February, making it illegal to hunt foxes with dogs.

On 23rd February, following a 22-day court martial in Osnabruck, Germany, two British soldiers (Corporal Daniel Kenyon and Lance Corporal Mark Cooley) are both found guilty of abusing Iraqi prisoners at the Camp Bread Basket humanitarian aid depot, near Basra. A third soldier, Lance Corporal Darren Larkin, had already pleaded guilty to a charge of assault. All three men are given jail sentences and discharged from the army.

After a week-long meeting of archbishops, the Anglican Church fails to resolve its dispute over homosexuality. A communiqué issued on 24th February requests that the Episcopal Church (USA) and the Anglican Church of Canada "voluntarily withdraw their members from the Anglican Consultative Council".

Million Dollar Baby wins the Oscar for Best Picture at the 77th Academy Awards ceremony on 27th February.

At least 115 people are killed in a suicide car-bomb attack on 28th February in Hillaj, south of Baghdad.

Giuliana Sgrena, an Italian journalist held hostage in Iraq, is wounded when US troops open fire on her car as she heads for Baghdad Airport on 4th March. Nicola Calipari, a secret service agent travelling with her, is killed.

Following protests, which had brought down the pro-Syrian government in Lebanon, Syrian troops begin a withdrawal from Beirut on 7th March.

Comedian Dave Allen dies in London on Thursday, 10th March, aged 68.

The Commission for Africa report is launched at the British Museum on 11th March, calling upon the world's wealthiest nations to double aid to Africa, remove trade barriers and help stamp out corruption.

On the same day, after almost thirty hours of parliamentary debate, the Prevention of Terrorism Bill is given Royal Assent. MPs agree to review the controversial legislation in 12 months.

On 17th March the five sisters and fiancée of Robert McCartney, a Belfast man murdered in an IRA shooting on 30th January, meet with the US President George W. Bush, who backs them in their campaign for justice.

Monty Python's Spamalot opens on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on the same day.

The former British Prime Minister Lord Callaghan dies on 26th March, the eve of his 93rd birthday and only 11 days after the death of his wife, Audrey.

On 28th March, little more than three months after the tsunami disaster, an earthquake shakes the coast of Indonesia.

Elections in Zimbabwe held on 31st March, claimed to be fraudulent by the opposition, give Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party a two-thirds majority. The result allows the President to change the constitution to install a successor without immediately calling elections.

Pope John Paul II dies on 2nd April, aged 84.

The novelist Saul Bellow, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1976, dies on 5th April, aged 89.

Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the world's second longest-reigning monarch, dies on 6th April, aged 81.

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles postpone their wedding to avoid clashing with the Pope's funeral. They are married in a private civil ceremony at the Guildhall in Windsor on 9th April. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend the blessing of the marriage, which is held shortly afterwards in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

On 10th April, following the break down of negotiations between MG Rover and a possible Chinese investor, Shanghai Automotive, the UK government provides a £6.5 million loan to stave off redundancies. When last-ditch efforts to save the company fail, the government pledges a further £150 million aid package.

Kamel Bourgrass, an illegal immigrant from Algeria who was already serving a life term for murdering DC Stephen Oake in 2003, is sentenced at the Old Bailey on 13th April to a further 17 years in jail for masterminding a plot to release ricin and other deadly poisons in the UK.

Sales of music downloads are included in the UK singles chart for the first time on 17th April.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is elected Pope on 19th April. He takes the name Pope Benedict XVI.

Sir John Mills, star of films such as Scott Of The Antarctic, Great Expectations and Ryan's Daughter, dies on 23rd April, aged 97.

71 people are killed on 25th April when a Japanese commuter train derails and crashes into an apartment block in Osaka.

Tony Blair leads the Labour Party to a third consecutive victory in the UK general election held on 5th May, despite winning only 35.2% of the votes cast and the support of just 21.6% of all those entitled to vote. After losing his seat David Trimble stands down as the leader of the Ulster Unionists.

Uzbekistan troops crush an uprising in Andijan on Friday, 13th May.

On 16th May US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer secures a controlling 75% stake in Manchester United.

On 17th May, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Kylie Minogue cancels the remaining dates on her Showgirl tour, which had already played in Europe and had been scheduled to visit Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

On 20th May The Sun newspaper publishes photographs of Saddam Hussein in prison wearing only his underwear.

On 21st May Helena Paparizou wins the Eurovision Song Contest for Greece with the song My Number One. The UK entry, Touch My Fire by Javine, finishes in 22nd place.

French voters reject the proposed European Union constitution in a referendum held on 29th May.

On 1st June voters in the Netherlands also vote against the European Union constitution.

Anne Bancroft, best known for her role as Mrs. Robinson in the film The Graduate, dies of cancer in New York on 6th June, aged 73.

Sir Del and Sir Tel: actor David Jason and broadcaster Terry Wogan are awarded Knighthoods in the Queen's Birthday Honours List announced on 11th June. Dame Judi Dench is made a Companion of Honour.

French journalist Florence Aubenas is released on Saturday, 11th June, after 157 days of captivity in Iraq. Her mother Jacqueline comments: "I thought I knew what the word happiness meant. It's much better than I thought."

On Monday, 13th June Michael Jackson is found not guilty of all charges at the end of his four-month child abuse trial in Santa Maria, California.

European leaders fail to reach agreement on the EU budget at a summit meeting in Brussels, which ends acrimoniously on 17th June.

An 80-year-old Klu Klux Klan member Edgar Ray Killen is found guilty on 21st June of the manslaughter of three civil rights activists (James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner), 41 years to the day after the crime had been committed. On 23rd June he is sentenced to 60 years in prison, 20 years for each count of manslaughter.

On 28th June Canada becomes the third country, after Belgium and the Netherlands, to legalise same-sex marriages. On 30th June Spanish MPs also approve a new law permitting same-sex marriages. 187 MPs vote in favour, with 147 against and four abstentions.

On 30th June Scottish MPs vote to introduce a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces, commencing on 26th March 2006.

On 1st July the UK takes over the Presidency of the European Union.

Luther Vandross, the singer, songwriter and producer whose hits included the 1992 duet with Janet Jackson The Best Things In Life Are Free, dies on 1st July, aged 54.

On 2nd July, prior to the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Live8 concerts are held in London's Hyde Park and at nine other locations around the world. The Hyde Park concert features Bono, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Madonna and the Scissor Sisters. In an open letter to the G8 leaders Bob Geldorf writes: "Twenty years ago at Live Aid we asked for charity. Today at Live8 we want justice for the poor."

The International Olympic Committee announces on 6th June that the 2012 Olympic Games will be held in London. The celebrations are short-lived.

On 7th June London is brought to a stand still by four suicide bomb attacks during the morning rush hour - three of them on the London Underground (on the Circle line near Aldgate and at Edgware Road, and on the Piccadilly line near Russell Square) and a fourth on the top deck of the No. 30 bus in Tavistock Square. 52 people are killed and more than 700 injured. A fortnight later, on 21st July, London's transport network is again disrupted by four similar bomb attacks - at Shepherd's Bush, Warren Street and Oval stations and on the No. 26 bus as it is travelling through Bethnal Green. This time there are no fatalities and only one minor injury.

Sir Edward Heath, Prime Minister of the UK from 1970-74, dies on 17th July, a week after his 89th birthday.

Fox Interactive Media buys MySpace for $580m on 19th July.

Long John Baldry, famous for his 1967 hit Let The Heartaches Begin, dies on 21st July, aged 64.

Eugene Record, lead singer with the Chi-lites, dies on 22nd July, aged 64.

The Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is rocked by bomb blasts on 23rd July.

Heavy monsoon rains bring the city of Mumbai to a standstill on 26th and 27th July. More than 1,000 people lose their lives in the floods that engulf the city and the surrounding area.

At least 20 people are injured on 28th July when a tornado hits Birmingham.

In a statement released on 28th July, the IRA announces "an end to the armed campaign."

On 29th July a black eighteen-year-old, Anthony Walker, is attacked with an axe while waiting at a bus stop in Liverpool with his white girlfriend and a cousin. He dies in hospital early the next morning.

King Fahd of Saudi Arabia dies on 1st August after 22 years on the throne. He is succeeded by his half-brother Crown Prince Abdullah.

On 3rd August an Air France Airbus A340 crash-lands at Toronto Airport. All 309 passengers and crew on board scramble to safety before the plane erupts in flames.

Former Foreign Minister Robin Cook dies on 6th August, aged 59, while hill walking in Scotland.

Barbara Bel Geddes, who found fame as Miss Ellie in the soap-opera Dallas, dies on 8th August, aged 82.

The US space shuttle Discovery returns safely to earth on 9th August, landing at Edwards Air Force Base at 13.12 BST (5.12 PST).

A Helios Boeing 737 (Flight ZU522) crashes into a mountainside north-east of Athens on Sunday, 14th August, killing all 121 passengers and crew on board.

Former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam dies on 19th August, aged 55.

On 23rd August Israeli troops complete the forced eviction of Jewish settlers from Gaza.

Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans on 29th August. A. J. Holloway, the Mayor of Biloxi, comments: "This is our tsunami."

On 31st August hundreds of Shia pilgrims are killed in northern Baghdad in a stampede sparked by rumours that there was a suicide bomber in the crowd.

On 5th September a Mandala Airlines Boeing 737-230 (Flight 091 from Medan to Jakarta) crashes as it is taking off from Polonia Airport, killing 100 of the people on board and 49 on the ground.

Hosni Mubarak is re-elected in Egypt's first contested Presidential elections, held on Wednesday, 7th September.

On 8th September the President of the Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, sacks his government.

On 9th September former Football Association secretary Faria Alam, who had claimed that she was unfairly dismissed following her affair with the England Manager Sven Goran Eriksson, loses her employment tribunal case for compensation.

Thousands gather in Trafalgar Square on 13th September to celebrate the England cricket team's victory in the Ashes Test series. Two days later Marc Quinn's controversial statue of a disabled woman, Alison Lapper Pregnant, is unveiled in Trafalgar Square.

Hurricane Rita sweeps into Texas and Louisiana on 24th September, though the storm is less destructive than had been anticipated.

On 26th September the IRA announces that it has put its arms and explosives beyond use. This is confirmed by the Canadian decommissioning expert General John de Chastelain.

26 people are killed on 1st October in three suicide bomb attacks at restaurants in the Bali resorts of Jimbaran and Kuta.

Comedian Ronnie Barker dies on Monday, 3rd October, aged 76. His erstwhile comedy partner Ronnie Corbett pays tribute to him, saying: "Ronnie was pure gold in triplicate: as a performer, a writer and a friend."

Hurricane Stan strikes the Gulf coast of Mexico on 4th October, provoking mud slides and flooding in southern Mexico and in the neighbouring countries of Central America and causing the deaths of at least 1,668 people.

Boy George is arrested at his home in New York's Little Italy on Friday, 7th October on suspicion of possessing cocaine.

Kashmir is devastated by a an earthquake on Saturday, 8th October. 73,000 people are killed, millions are left homeless.

On 10th October, three weeks after the inconclusive German general election held on 18th September, the Chancellor Gerhard Schröder finally concedes defeat to the Christian Democrats led by Angela Merkel.

On 13th October up to 200 pro-Chechen fighters attack the Russian city of Nalchik.

The deposed president of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, goes on trial on Wednesday, 19th October, charged with crimes against humanity.

Hurricane Wilma, at one point the strongest hurricane ever recorded, strikes the Gulf coast of Mexico on 21st October.

On 27th October rioting breaks out in the Parisian suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois, where police were investigating a reported break-in at a building site.

59 people are killed and 210 injured in three bomb attacks in Delhi on Saturday, 29th October.

The UK's Work and Pensions Secretary, David Blunkett, who resigned as Home Secretary in December 2004, resigns again on 2nd November.

The nightly rioting that begun in Paris on 27th October, spreads to other French cities on 4th November.

Jersey Boys, a jukebox musical featuring the hits of The Four Seasons, opens at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway on 6th November. The musical makes its West End debut at London's Prince Edward Theatre in February 2008.

On 9th November UK MPs vote by 322 to 291 against a government proposal, which would have allowed the police to detain suspected terrorists for up to 90 days without charging them.

Fifty-six people are killed on 9th November in three suicide bomb attacks on hotels in Amman, Jordan.

Lord Lichfield, famous for his photographs of Royalty, celebrities and calendar models, dies on 11th November, aged 66, after suffering a stroke.

Gary Glitter is arrested at Ho Chi Minh City Airport on 19th November and held on suspicion of committing "lewd acts" with children.

On 21st November the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announces on television that he is quitting the right-wing Likud party to form a "new national liberal" party.

Angela Merkel is elected as Germany's first woman Chancellor on 22nd November.

The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballer George Best dies in London's Cromwell Hospital on 25th November, aged 59.

At a press conference in London on 25th November Take That announce that they are to reform (without Robbie Williams) for a tour of the UK and Ireland in April 2006.

On Sunday, 27th November French surgeons carry out the world's first face transplant on a woman who had been savaged by a dog.

Dr. John Sentamu, Britain's first black archbishop, is inaugurated as the Archbishop of York on 30th November.

On 6th December David Cameron wins the election to be leader of the UK Conservative Party.

Comedian Richard Pryor dies of a heart attack on 10th December, aged 65.

At 6.00am on 11th December explosions at the Buncefield fuel depot near Hemel Hempstead cause a massive fire, described by the chief fire officer for Hertfordshire, Roy Wilsher, as "the largest incident of its kind in peacetime Europe." 43 people are injured, two seriously.

Parliamentary elections are held in Iraq on 15th December.

On the same day a Henry Moore sculpture worth £3 million is stolen from the grounds of the Henry Moore Foundation in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire.

On Monday, 19th December the UK's first civil partnership ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples are held at Belfast City Hall. On Wednesday, 21st December Sir Elton John and his long-term partner David Furnish attend a civil partnership ceremony at Windsor Guildhall.

Kerry Packer, the Australian media tycoon whose World Series changed the face of international cricket, dies on 26th December, aged 68.

• Arctic Monkeys
  
• Corinne Bailey Rae
  
• James Blunt
  
• Steve Brookstein
  
• G4
  
• The Kooks
  
• Pussycat Dolls
  
• Rihanna
  
• Roll Deep
  
• Lee Ryan
  
• K. T. Tunstall
  
• Shayne Ward
  
  

• Akon
  Lonely
  
• Arctic Monkeys
  I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
  
• Audio Bullys featuring Nancy Sinatra
  Shot You Down
  
• Natasha Bedingfield
  I Bruise Easily
  
• James Blunt
  You're Beautiful
  
• Bodyrockers
  I Like The Way
  
• Steve Brookstein
  Against All Odds
  
• Kate Bush
  King Of The Mountain
  
• Cabin Crew
  Star To Fall
  
• Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay
  (Is This The Way To) Amarillo
  
• Charlotte Church
  Crazy Chick
  
• Coldplay
  Fix You
  
• Coldplay
  Speed Of Sound
  
• The Coral
  In The Morning
  
• Crazy Frog
  Axel F
  
• Depeche Mode
  Precious
  
• Eminem
  Like Toy Soldiers
  
• Erasure
  Breathe
  
• Eurythmics
  I've Got A Life
  
• Foo Fighters
  Best Of You
  
• G4
  Bohemian Rhapsody
  
• Goldfrapp
  Ooh La La
  
• Gorillaz
  Dare
  
• Gorillaz
  Feel Good Inc.
  
• David Gray
  The One I Love
  
• Green Day
  Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
  
• Green Day
  Wake Me Up When September Ends
  
• Natalie Imbruglia
  Shiver
  
• Javine
  Touch My Fire
  [Eurovision Song Contest: UK entry]
  
• Elton John
  Electricity (from the musical Billy Elliot)
  
• Kaiser Chiefs
  I Predict A Riot / Sink That Ship
  
• The Killers
  Somebody Told Me (Re-issue)
  
• Jennifer Lopez
  Get Right
  
• Madonna
  Hung Up
  
• Magic Numbers
  Love Me Like You
  
• Paul McCartney
  Fine Line
  
• McFly
  All About You / You've Got A Friend
  
• McFly
  I'll Be OK
  
• Katie Melua
  Nine Million Bicycles
  
• George Michael
  John & Elvis
  
• Kylie Minogue
  Giving You Up
  
• Nelly featuring Tim McGraw
  Over And Over
  
• New Order
  Krafty
  
• Nizlopi
  JCB Song
  
• Oasis
  The Importance Of Being Idle
  
• Oasis
  Lyla
  
• Pondlife
  Ring Ding Ding
  
• Daniel Powter
  Bad Day
  
• Elvis Presley
  Jailhouse Rock (re-issue)
  
• Elvis Presley
  One Night (re-issue)
  
• Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes
  Don't Cha
  
• Pussycat Dolls
  StickWitU
  
• Razorlight
  Somewhere Else
  
• Rihanna
  Pon De Replay
  
• Cliff Richard
  What Car
  
• The Rolling Stones
  Streets Of Love / Rough Justice
  
• Jessica Simpson
  These Boots Are Made For Walkin'
  
• Status Quo
  The Party Ain't Over Yet
  
• Stereophonics
  Dakota
  
• Shakin' Stevens
  Trouble / This Ole House
  
• Sugababes
  Push The Button
  
• Texas
  Getaway
  
• 2Pac featuring Elton John
  Ghetto Gospel
  
• K.T. Tunstall
  Black Horse And The Cherry Tree
  
• U2
  City Of Blinding Lights
  
• U2
  Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
  
• Shayne Ward
  That's My Goal
  
• Westlife
  You Raise Me Up
  
• Westlife featuring Diana Ross
  When You Tell Me That You Love Me
  
• Robbie Williams
  Tripping
  
• Stevie Wonder
  So What The Fuss
  
• Will Young
  Switch It On
  

• Sunset Strippers
  Falling Stars
  

• Rick Astley
  Portrait
  
• James Blunt
  Back To Bedlam
  
• Michael Bublé
  It's Time
  
• Kate Bush
  Aerial
  
• Tracy Chapman
  Where You Live
  
• Coldplay
  X & Y
  
• Ry Cooder
  Cháves Ravine
  
• Rodney Crowell
  The Outsider
  
• Depeche Mode
  Playing The Angel
  
• Franz Ferdinand
  You Could Have It So Much Better
  
• Goldfrapp
  Supernature
  
• Gorillaz
  Demon Days
  
• David Gray
  Life In Slow Motion
  
• Green Day
  Bullet In A Bible
  
• Natalie Imbruglia
  Counting Down The Days
  
• Kings Of Leon
  Aha Shake Heartbreak
  
• Kraftwerk
  Minimum - Maximum
  
• Madness
  The Dangermen Sessions, Volume One
  
• Madonna
  Confessions On A Dance Floor
  
• Paul McCartney
  Chaos And Creation In The Backyard
  
• Katie Melua
  Piece By Piece
  
• Van Morrison
  Magic Time
  
• New Order
  Waiting For The Sirens' Call
  
• Oasis
  Don't Believe The Truth
  
• John Prine
  Fair & Square
  
• The Rolling Stones
  A Bigger Bang
  
• Simply Red
  Simplified
  
• Bruce Springsteen
  Devils & Dust
  
• Richard Thompson
  Front Parlour Ballads
  
• Barbra Streisand
  Guilty Too
  
• Paul Weller
  As Is Now
  
• White Stripes
  Get Behind Me Satan
  
• Robbie Williams
  Intensive Care
  
• Stevie Wonder
  A Time To Love
  
• Trisha Yearwood
  Jasper County
  
• Dwight Yoakam
  Blame The Vain
  
• Neil Young
  Prairie Wind
  
• Will Young
  Keep On
  
• Various Artists
  John Peel: A Tribute
  

• The Assassination Of Richard Nixon
  
• Batman Begins
  
• Bewitched
  
• Brokeback Mountain
  
• Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
  
• The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
  
• Closer
  
• Crash
  
• Downfall
  
• The Dukes Of Hazzard
  
• 5x2
  
• The 40-Year-Old Virgin
  
• Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
  
• Hitch
  
• The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
  
• Hotel Rwanda
  
• In Her Shoes
  
• Keeping Mum
  
• King Kong
  
• Kinky Boots
  
• Kinsey
  
• The League Of Gentlemen's Apocalypse
  
• The Magic Roundabout
  
• March Of The Penguins
  
• Match Point (Woody Allen)
  
• Meet The Fockers
  
• Melinda and Melinda (Woody Allen)
  
• Miss Congeniality 2: Armed And Fabulous
  
• Monster-In-Law
  
• Mr. & Mrs. Smith
  
• Mrs. Henderson Presents
  
• Mysterious Skin
  
• Nanny McPhee
  
• Ocean's Twelve
  
• Oliver Twist
  
• On A Clear Day
  
• Pride and Prejudice
  
• The Producers
  
• Ray
  
• Robots
  
• The Sea Inside
  
• Sideways
  
• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
  
• Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
  
• Valiant
  
• Vera Drake
  
• Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit
  
• War Of The Worlds
  
• The Wedding Date
  
• The Woodsman
  
  

Tony Award for Best Musical:
Spamalot

Olivier Award
for Best New Musical:
The Producers

• Absolute Power
  
• The Apprentice (Series 1)
  
• Big Brother 6
  
• The Bigger Picture With Graham Norton
  
• Bleak House
  
• Casanova
  
• Celebrity Love Island
  
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• Coach Trip
  
• Dead Man Weds
  
• Deal Or No Deal
  
• Desperate Housewives
  
• Dick and Dom's Ask The Family
  
• Doctor Who (Series 1, Christopher Eccleston)
  
• Dragon's Den
  
• 8 Out Of 10 Cats
  
• Extras
  
• Hell's Kitchen (Gary Rhodes)
  
• Help
  
• The Hotel Inspector
  
• I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! (Series 5)
  
• Jamie's School Dinners
  
• Life In The Undergrowth
  
• Lost
  
• Mock The Week
  
• The National Lottery: Come And Have A Go (Julian Clary)
  
• OFI Sunday
  
• Rome
  
• Shameless (Series 2)
  
• Spooks (Series 4)
  
• Springwatch
  
• Streets Ahead
  
• Strictly Come Dancing (Series 3)
  
• Strictly Dance Fever
  
• To The Ends Of The Earth
  
• Top Gear (Series 6 and 7)
  
• The Two Ronnies Sketchbook
  
• Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? (Series 17 and 18)
  
• The X Factor (Series 2)
  
  

BBC Sport

BBC
Sports Personality
of the Year:
Andrew Flintoff

Darts: Phil Taylor wins the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship for the 10th time. He beats Mark Dudbridge in the final, 7-4.
Raymond van Barneveld wins the British Darts Organisation (BDO) World Championship for the fourth time with a 6-2 victory over Martin Adams.

Sailing: on 7th February Ellen MacArthur sets a new world record for sailing solo around the world, completing her non-stop voyage in 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds.

Tennis: the centenary of the Australian Open is celebrated with victories for Serena Williams in the women's singles (a three sets winner over Lindsay Davenport) and for Marat Safin in the men's singles (a winner in four sets against Lleyton Hewitt).
Justine Henin-Hardenne wins the women's singles title at the French Open for the second time, defeating Mary Pierce 6-1, 6-1 in the final. Rafael Nadal wins the men's singles title, defeating Mariano Puerta in the final (6-7. 6-3, 6-1, 7-5).
The women's singles final at Wimbledon is a repeat of the 2000 final, with Venus Williams once again beating Lindsay Davenport. Williams comes back from match point down in the second set to win 4-6. 7-6, 9-7. The men's singles final is a repeat of the 2004 final. Victory again goes to Roger Federer, who beats Andy Roddick 6-2, 7-6, 6-4.
Roddick is knocked out in the first round at the US Open, along with the defending women's singles champion Svetlana Kuznetsova. Victory goes to Kim Clijsters, who secures her first Grand Slam singles title with a straight sets win over Mary Pierce (6-3, 6-1). Roger Federer retains his men's singles title, beating Andre Agassi in the final in four sets (6-3, 2-6, 7-6, 6-1).

Rugby Union: Wales win the Six Nations Championship, completing the team's first 'Grand Slam' since 1978 with a 32-20 victory over Ireland.

Rowing: the University of Oxford crew wins the 151st Boat Race by two lengths.

Horse Racing: the Grand National is won by the 7/1 favourite Hedgehunter, ridden by Ruby Walsh.
Motivator, the 3/1 favourite, wins the Derby.
Scorpion, ridden by Frankie Dettori, wins the St. Leger Stakes.
Best Mate, three times a winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, dies of a heart attack on his return to racing at Exeter on 1st November.

Snooker: Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the UK Masters, defeating John Higgins 10-3 in the final.
At the World Snooker Championship O'Sullivan loses in the quarter-finals. He is succeeded as World champion by 22-year-old Shaun Murphy, who beats Matthew Stevens 18-16 in the final.
At the UK Championship in December snooker veteran Steve Davis is beaten 10-6 in the final by the rising star of the game, 18-year-old Ding Junhui.

Golf: Tiger Woods wins the US Masters for the fourth time and The Open (St. Andrews) for the second time.
Michael Campbell wins the US Open.
Phil Mickelson wins the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol.

Athletics: Paula Radcliffe wins the London Marathon women's race for the third time, despite having to make an unscheduled toilet break five miles from the end. Martin Lel wins the men's race.
Radcliffe also wins the women's marathon at the World Championships in Helsinki.

Football: Chelsea win the Premiership title with three matches to spare.
Arsenal win the FA Cup final, beating Manchester United 5-4 in a penalty shoot out. Roy Keane quits the club in November and on 15th December signs for Celtic.
Liverpool beat AC Milan 3-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the final of the European Champions League. UEFA changes its rules to allow Liverpool the chance of defending the title in the 2005-06 competition.

Cycling: Lance Armstrong retires after winning the Tour de France for the seventh successive year (subsequently disqualified). After winning, he says: "This is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it. Vive Le Tour forever."

Boxing: former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson retires after losing a fight at the MCI Center in Washington to Irish boxer Kevin McBride.

Cricket: the England team wins the Summer Test series against Australia, re-gaining the Ashes after 16 years.

Motorcycling: Valentino Rossi wins the MotoGP Championship for the fifth year in a row.

Motor racing (Formula 1): the US Grand Prix turns into a six-car farce when the seven teams using Michelin tyres withdraw from the race on safety grounds. Michael Schumacher scores a hollow victory, with Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello in second place.
At the Brazilian Grand Prix, on 25th September, the Renault driver Fernando Alonso becomes the youngest-ever Formula 1 World Drivers' Champion with a third-place finish behind the McLaren drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen. Alonso completes the season in style with victory in the China Grand Prix on 16th October. His win secures the constructors' championship for Renault.

Man Booker Prize

Winner:
John Banville
The Sea

Julian Barnes
Arthur And George

Sebastian Barry
A Long, Long Way

Kazuo Ishiguro
Never Let Me Go

Ali Smith
The Accidental

Zadie Smith
On Beauty

Orange Prize
for Fiction

Winner:
Lionel Shriver
We Need
To Talk About
Kevin