Brits take a nostalgic look back to the 80s on Live Aid’s 40th anniversary
- Survey reveals Brits’ most-loved 1980s songs, shows and memories.
- Research also reveals average ticket prices for concert-goers have increased by over 500%.
- Simple pleasures like ‘being able to call the doctor directly’ and ‘life without social media’ are much-missed.
Research* conducted by Ambassador Cruise Line has stepped back in time encouraging Brits to reflect on their favourite cultural moments from the 80s and reveal what they miss most about the era.
To mark the 40th anniversary of Live Aid on 13 July 2025, the affordable quality cruise line – which is staging a six-night Summer of ‘85 Revisited tribute cruise departing Bristol on Sunday# – asked the nation to share their thoughts on the music, TV and memories that defined a generation*.
From Wham! to Woolworths, caravan holidays to cassette tapes, the results paint a vivid picture of a decade that continues to resonate deeply with the Great British public.
From the silver screen to the radio waves, the 1980s delivered an explosion of creativity that people still just can’t get enough of. When asked to name their favourite entertainment from the era, responses from Brits read like a ‘who’s who?’ of zeitgeist-defining pop culture.
Going for a Song
13 July 2025 is set to mimic 13 July 2025 with blue skies and soaring temperatures, but when it comes to the nation’s most beloved 80s track by a British or Irish artist, it’s Christmas all year round with Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ named the UK’s favourite song according to the research.
There was a four-way tie for second place in the 80s Top 10, with ‘In The Air Tonight’ by Phil Collins – famed for playing both the Wembley and Philadelphia Live Aid shows – followed by Queen’s ‘A Kind of Magic’, taken from the Album of the same name after a Live Aid-driven ‘renaissance’; Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ (originally written for Meat Loaf); and Chris de Burgh’s ‘Lady in Red’ taking up the remaining spots.
| The Nation’s Favourite 80s Songs | |||
| 1 | Wham! | Last Christmas | 1984 |
| 2 | Phil Collins | In the Air Tonight | 1981 |
| 3 | Queen | A Kind of Magic | 1986 |
| 4 | Bonnie Tyler | Total Eclipse of the Heart | 1983 |
| 5 | Chris Be Burgh | Lady in Red | 1986 |
| 6 | Band Aid | Do They Know It’s Christmas | 1984 |
| 7 | George Michael | Careless Whisper | 1984 |
| 8 | Pet Shop Boys | West End Girls | 1986 |
| 9 | Dexys Midnight Runners | Come on Eileen | 1982 |
| 10 | Queen & David Bowie | Under Pressure | 1981 |
TV Gold
On the small screen, the antics of everyone’s favourite wheeler dealers in Only Fools and Horses reigned supreme, with long-running perennial staples like Doctor Who and EastEnders following closely behind.
Gender preferences revealed that men leaned toward action and bawdy comedies like The A-Team and Blackadder, while women preferred dramas and music-based shows like EastEnders and Top of the Pops.
| The Nation’s Favourite TV Show of the 80s | ||
| 1 | Only Fools and Horses | 1981-2003 |
| 2 | Doctor Who | 1963-1989; 2005-present |
| 3 | EastEnders | 1985-present |
| 4 | Blackadder | 1983-1989 |
| 5 | The A-Team | 1983-1987 |
| 6 | Top of the Pops | 1964-2006 |
| 7 | Dad’s Army | 1968-1977 |
| 8 | The Young Ones | 1982-1984 |
| 9 | Grange Hill | 1978-2008 |
| 10 | The Two Ronnies | 1971–1987 |
Firm Film Favourites
The survey found that the magic of 80s movies hasn’t faded one bit over the last 40 years. Brits are still having the time of their lives with Dirty Dancing (1987), dubbing it their favourite film of the decade – with a notable 18% of women giving it top billing.
Action-packed blockbusters and feel-good favourites also made a strong showing, with Top Gun, The Karate Kid, E.T., Back to the Future and Die Hard proving that the 80s were a golden age for unforgettable storytelling, iconic characters and endlessly quotable lines.
| The Nation’s Favourite 80s Movies | ||
| 1 | Dirty Dancing | 1987 |
| 2 | The Karate Kid | 1984 |
| 3 | Top Gun | 1986 |
| 4 | Back to the Future | 1985 |
| 5 | E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | 1982 |
| 6 | Die Hard | 1988 |
| 7 | Ghostbusters | 1984 |
| 8 | The Terminator | 1984 |
| 9 | The Goonies | 1985 |
| 10 | Beetlejuice | 1988 |
Live Aid Memories: Who Wants to Live Forever?
With Live Aid celebrating its 40th anniversary, the survey asked the British public which moment from the day that ‘rock and roll changed the world’ they’d most like to experience again. The most common responses included ‘Status Quo opening it with ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’; ‘Phil Collins on Concorde’; Paul McCartney performing ‘Let it Be’; David Bowie singing ‘Heroes’; and last, but not least, ‘Bob Geldof’s sweary rant’.
However, it will come as a surprise to absolutely nobody that Queen’s ‘electrifying’ performance ‘which showed other bands how to play to a live crowd’ topped the poll by a considerable margin. ‘Freddie had the audience in the palm of his hand’ just about sums up the responses, making it clear there’s one band (and more specifically, one moustachioed maestro often cited as the greatest frontman to have ever lived) that people just can’t break free from…
| Top Ten Live Aid Moments – Quotes | |
| 1 | One of the best live displays ever – the Queen performance and Freddie Mercury having 100,000 people in the palm of his hand. Awesome! |
| 2 | Status Quo opening it with Rockin’ All Over the World |
| 3 | Bob Geldof’s sweary rant |
| 4 | The sense of togetherness for my family and friends |
| 5 | When Phil Collins performed in the UK then flew to the USA and performed there |
| 6 | The enjoyment of all the bands coming together for the good of others |
| 7 | Paul McCartney singing Let It Be |
| 8 | U2 – Bono was brilliant! |
| 9 | David Bowie’s magnificent set and his emotional rendition of ‘Heroes’ – simply amazing |
| 10 | The incredible amount of money raised for a good cause |
Counting the Cost of Legends Live
With many Live Aid performers still touring today, Ambassador compared their ticket prices from the 1980s to the 2020s, and the results are staggering.
The comparison shows just how far the music industry has come – and how the era-defining acts of the 80s are still as relevant and popular today as they were 40 years ago, even if a ticket to see them play live has soared in price!
1980s Ticket Prices:
- Queen (1986 – Wembley) – £25
- U2 (1987 – Joshua Tree Tour) – £15
- Genesis (1986 – Invisible Touch Tour) – £15-£20
- Madonna (1987 – Who’s That Girl Tour) – £15
- Paul McCartney (1989/90 – The Paul McCartney World Tour) – £20
- Phil Collins (1985 – No Jacket Required Tour) – £15
- Dire Straits (1985 – Brothers in Arms Tour) – £16
- Duran Duran (1984 – Sing Blue Silver Tour) – £12
- The Rolling Stones (1982 – Tattoo You Tour) – £18
- Simple Minds (1985 – Once Upon A Time Tour) – £12
2020s Ticket Prices:
- Queen + Adam Lambert (2023 – The Rhapsody Tour) – £100+ – 300% increase
- U2 (2023 – The Sphere Tour) – £120 – 700% increase
- Genesis (2022 – The Last Domino? Tour) – £80+ 355% increase
- Madonna (2023 – Celebration Tour) – £150+ – 900% increase
- Paul McCartney (2024 – Got Back Tour) – £110 – 450% increase
- Phil Collins (2023 – Not Dead Yet Tour) – £85+ – 467% increase
- Dire Straits (2023 – Mark Knopfler Tour) – £100 – 525% increase
- Duran Duran (2023 – Future Past Tour) – £75 – 525% increase
- The Rolling Stones (2022 – No Filter Tour) – £130 – 622% increase
- Simple Minds (2022 – 40 years Of Hits) – £70 – 483% increase
(Prices based on average tickets with two time periods compared to find mean percentage increases)
Get Back! (to where we once belonged…)
Last, but by no means least, when asked what aspects of 1980’s life they’d most like to bring back to today, Brits overwhelmingly longed for the simplicity and personal connections we enjoyed ‘back in the day’.
The most missed element of daily life was the ability to call the doctor directly to book an appointment, cited by 37% of respondents. This was closely followed by a desire to return to a time of greater respect for elders (34%) and life without the pressures of social media (33%). Nostalgia for the high street was also strong, with 29% wishing for the return of staples like Woolworths.
The survey also revealed a deep affection for holidays in the 1980s, which many respondents described as “simple,” “cheaper,” and “more family-focussed.”
Caravan parks, Butlins, and classic UK beach breaks were frequently mentioned, evoking memories of a slower pace and stronger sense of togetherness.
One respondent recalled “less faff in airports, less pressure to ‘go places’,” while another opined, “We loved caravan holidays. We actually spoke to each other.”.
