2023: A year in review
It's impossible to deny that 2023 will go down as another eventful chapter in history. While society continues to deal with the effects of wars and natural disasters around the world, 2023 also brought a whole host of other challenges and triumphs.
From political upheavals to rapid technological advances, these are the events that will shape our lives for years to come.
As we close in on the end of the year, let’s look back on some 2023 highlights from Sky HISTORY.
The coronation of King Charles III
Despite ascending to the throne in September 2021, King Charles III had to wait until 6th May 2023 to have his coronation. It was a glamourous affair at Westminster Abbey, which incorporated several unique traditions from coronations gone by, such as the anointing spoon and the Stone of Destiny. Sometimes described as the ‘Modern Monarch’, King Charles III did update some of the language used in his coronation to be more reflective of Britain in the 21st century.
Black to School
2023 marked several major anniversaries in Black British history, such as 75 years since the Empire Windrush docked on our shores and 60 years since the Bristol Bus Boycott. To celebrate Black History Month 2023, Sky HISTORY launched the ‘Black to School’ campaign in collaboration with The Black Curriculum. The original video series aimed to get more schoolchildren aware of the rich vein of Black history that runs through our country.
Debunking 9/11 conspiracy theories
Whenever a devastating tragedy affects the world, there will be countless conspiracy theories circulated that challenge the official version of events. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 have probably generated more conspiracy theories than any other major event of our time. Over the past year, Sky HISTORY has worked to debunk the biggest conspiracy theories regarding 9/11, the collapse of Building 7 and the attack on The Pentagon.
Barbenheimer
This summer, the world of cinema was gripped by the so-called ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon, as two eagerly anticipated films hit the big screen on the same day. Oppenheimer told the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American theoretical physicist and ‘father of the atomic bomb’, and his work at the head of the Manhattan Project which ultimately led to the end of WWII. Meanwhile, Barbie told the story of, well, Barbie, the iconic doll who had an undeniable influence on the modern world.
Shipwrecks
Ross Kemp returned to Sky HISTORY in April 2023 in Ross Kemp: Deep Sea Treasure Hunter (which is now available on demand). The show saw Ross dive deeper than ever before to learn what shipwrecks such as the Mary Rose could tell us about our past. 2023 was a big year for shipwrecks for another reason as well. San Jose, a Spanish ship that sunk in 1708, is set to be raised from the seabed on the orders of the Columbian government. The ship is also known as the ‘Holy Grail of Shipwrecks’ as its many treasures are believed to be worth $17 billion.
Predictions for 2024
Here at Sky HISTORY, we love looking back at predictions from the past, especially those of Nostradamus and Baba Vanga. They got a lot right in 2023, such as a solar storm that caused a radio blackout in the United States, but it’s time to focus on what they’re predicting for 2024. Baba Vanga is predicting an alteration in Earth’s orbit which could lead to considerable climate disruption, while Nostradamus believes there could be some major changes in the British monarchy before the year is out. We’ll have to wait and see if any of their predictions come to fruition in the next 12 months.
