2016 - A Year In Review


As years go, 2016 has been pretty rough - wouldn't you agree? Filled with ups and downs, though largely the latter, it is difficult to feel positive when reflecting on a year filled with events that mainly involved unexpected death or an orange man with floppy hair.


When I try to think what has happened in 2016, I can largely just picture dead people.
Victoria Wood, David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Gene Wilder, Terry Wogan, Ronnie Corbett, AA Gill, Prince, Lemmy, Leonard Cohen. We all have a particular "favourite" death of the year; the one we’re saddest about, the one that we can't help but mention to every passer-by in the street. We then seem to have a grieve-off to see who actually cared about the famous person in question the most:

"Oh but I had each and every single one of their records!"

"Well I've read every single interview they've ever done."

"Well I know what brand of underwear they wear - go on, ask me which ones they wear!"

Team the neverending string of celeb death with the fear-filled US election and the constant threat of nuclear war and environmental ruin - and Harambe! - and we're left with a pretty rancid pile of ashes to call a year. Sprinkle a little bit of crusty Brexit crumbs on top followed by an unhealthy dollop of Brangelina and you've got yourself 2016.

Maybe it wasn't all doom and gloom, could it be that 2016 was actually alright but we just failed to notice in fear of Kate Bush popping her clogs next?

Sure, The Great British Bake Off is no longer with the BBC and Channel 4 paid £75 million for a tent with a flour-covered Paul Hollywood inside, but you can be damn sure that there will be a "new Bake Off" for Mary, Mel and Sue. Bake Off too will continue, just on a different channel with a couple of new presenters - maybe it will rise into a marvelous masterpiece or maybe it will leave Channel 4 with a soggy bottom. Anyway, two baking programs for your delight whereas there was only one before!

In other TV news, the resurrection of Top Gear was an utter calamity. Okay, maybe I am being rather harsh when I say that because the only real problem with it was Chris Evans, the gingery-grey toddler disguised as a 50-year-old adult man. Alas, every cloud and all that, the "fracas" between Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon spawned The Grand Tour. Now this is a show that has, so far, been utterly brilliant, in terms of both entertainment and visual imagery. The same chemistry is present on The Grand Tour between Clarkson, Hammond and May and also Top Gear will be returning in 2017 without Chris Evans! Two motoring-based entertainment shows that you can watch on your tellybox (or internet streaming device) where before there was just the one!

Besides the world of entertainment, the wild tiger population has increased for the first time in 100 years from 3,200 to about 3,900...so that's something positive I guess.

Also on the animal theme, giant pandas are now no longer on the endangered species list. 2,060 giant pandas are currently roaming free in the wild, eating up all the bamboo and not having sex. They're now just "vulnerable", which is better (apparently).

In food news, more than half a million people in the UK alone now eat a vegan diet, and cafes, restaurants and supermarkets have started to up their vegan game, now offering more than just a wilted salad. This means fewer animals had to be killed, again, positive.

Maybe I'm just trying to polish a turd now but has 2016 really been that bad? Well, maybe it's still a yes. I love animals and all but I'd sooner have Bowie still alive than have Pandas move on an arbitrary scale from endangered to vulnerable.

Here's to a better 2017.





Photograph: ITV

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48 comments:

  1. Loved reading this! It's so cool that the wild tiger population has increased - you only seem to hear about animals going extinct/near extinct nowadays.

    Rachel | Beauty and the Bird

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  2. I liked your post. 2016 for me was a positive year. Yes many public figures passed on but I have friends and family who lose loved ones every year and the good can still outweigh the bad. Hoping 2017 is better for all!

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  3. It's sad about the number of famous people who have passed away. 2016 was quite a sad year x

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  4. I think we have got to that time when the nations treasures are all teetering on the edge ready to go one and by one sadly and with them, one or two shocks along the way x

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  5. Some people tell me not to be "hung up" over 2016 because of famous deaths, but in actual fact It was a pretty crappy year for me anyway! I'm looking forward to a fresh start and hopefully more positivity.

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  6. I have to admit that while some people might think 2016 was a bad year - personally for me it was a great year. But here's hoping 2017 is even better! x

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  7. I can't believe how many celebrity deaths there were last year :(

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  8. I don't think 2016 was all that bad! I loveee the facts about the animals, Tigers are my favourite, so this has made 2016 the best year ever!

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  9. 2016 was bad, but maybe not as bad as we thought it was? What happens next will tell us.

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  10. I think it is great news that wild tiger population has increased and that giant pandas are no longer on the endangered species list. Hopefully the pandas will begin to have sex in 2017 and their population will also increase!

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  11. I agree about Top Gear - it will never be the same. 2016 was definitely a crazy year!

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  12. Its true we lost so many greats and well Brexit/ Trump happened which was unexpected. It was a year of chaos for sure.

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  13. Well I didn't know that about pandas! Great post. I completely agree about people having a 'special' celebrity death - Mine is Victoria Wood. That picture embodies my youth. Wishing you all the best for 2017.

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  14. Loads seems to have happened in 2016 including quite few celeb deaths. I wasn't aware about the Pandas but it's great news. I didn't know there were that many vegans but I must admit i wanted to try more vegan foods.

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  15. Although all this does amount to a bad year I got married this year so it's great for me in that sense. 2017 has also started with a bang as my niece was born yesterday so so far everything is good x

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  16. I agree with you, 2016 wasn't all total rubbish, there were some positives hidden in there x

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  17. It was a rollercoaster of a year! Mixed with sadness, angry and joy for us, we actually had a pretty good year in our family bubble...who knows what 2017 will hold..

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  18. It's so cool to look back - I thought 2016 was pretty dire for most things but there were snippets of positive and it's so important to remember that!

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  19. I refused to watch the new top gear with Chris Evans, I'm yet to see The Grand Tour. I'm still in shock at how much people died! xo

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  20. This is a nice post, I'm glad you've focused on some of the positives of 2016! x

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  21. Don't even joke about Kate Bush!!!!!! I actually had a real mix of really good and really bad in 2016 - there was no inbetween so I can't decide what to make of it really!

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  22. I am all for a better 2017. This past year has been rotten!

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  23. There has been some awful news regards to people dying last year and so hard when so much bad news around. I like to switch off from technology and turn news off for a while and just spend time with nature trust me it works X

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  24. 2016, I hope, was a blip - lets hope 2017 brings better things!

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  25. Honestly, it's nice to hear any good news that was hidden in amongst the bad of 2016. Here's hoping 2017 is kinder to all of us. x

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  26. Great news about the tigers, at least something good came out of 2016!

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  27. 2016 was defiantly a shocking year with celebrities. Glad to hear the new about the tigers, thats just great

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  28. It wasn't the best year - personally, on the world stage or for many! I was devastated and in shock over some celeb deaths. Can't get over Victoria Wood or Gene Wilder. Good to see the work in helping improve extinction is working and those who work in the field are getting some recognition x

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  29. My friends were quite upset about the British Bake off moving. I bake more than any of them but haven't seen it yet, I'm not sure if it will be worth watching now.

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  30. I can't believe how many celebrities sadly passed away in 2016, I do hope 2017 isn't as tragic xxx

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  31. Great re-cap of the year, I cannot believe the celebrity deaths this year, I think I'm still amazed and shocked and can't believe so many iconic people I grew up with are now gone

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  32. Its safe to say 2016 was a bit of a mad one!!! We did loose some great, influential people and sadly gained some awful people in places of power however lets all be positive about 2017 and hope it can't be as bad a shit storm as last year!

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  33. Fantastic Post! Made me chuckle out loud in fact. I agree with Top Gear; total drivel, but the Grand Tour has been amazing.

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  34. It's been such a crazy year! I wonder what the next year will bring

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  35. Ahh I'd completely forgotten that GBBO had moved over to Channel 4 - another tragedy!

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  36. its definitely been an interesting year. so many shocks and surprises. I'm still not over gbbo

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  37. It's certainly been a sad year for celebrity deaths, and this post was written before George Michael, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds! Wonder what 2017 will bring ?

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  38. That's great that you are also highlighting some of the positives in 2016. Hopefully 2017 doesn't have as much doom and gloom though!

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  39. Great review of the year! Definitely honest and a refreshing outlook! Let's hope 2017 is amazing!

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  40. This totally summed up 2016, though nothing personal shared I loved the focus and had to chuckle at the Kate comment. Hope that scare calms are a** down in 2017, one can hope

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  41. Happy new year. 2016 was an eventful year but it was good to me.

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  42. Great post, I love Panda's but also loved David Bowe so get your point. 2016 was definitely a challenging year! Cheers to a great 2017 (Tina Andrews)

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  43. Every year is going to have ups and downs. I didn't realise that many people were vegan now!

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  44. I'm gonna say I'm pretty stoked about the panda thing. As someone who basically has worked/supported WWF since I was young I followed their work and it is actually a massive step forward, because it is an on going crazy battle. But that aside 2016 hasn't been the best for many reasons, but we don't have to worry about it so much now... 2017 is here so hopefully it'll be better.

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  45. 2016 was quite a crap year personally, in entertainment, and don't get me started on the politics. Here's to a better 2017!

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  46. I try not to hang on the negatives and focus on the positives. Happy New Year!

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  47. Loved reading this - lots of good news but the bit about pandas made me really happy. A lil spark of hope in this age of global warming :)

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  48. Nice to read this and round up everything that's happened. It's been such a horrible year really and I can't watch the news anymore because I don't want to hear any more bad things!

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