In music Led Zeppelin's fourth album was the biggest selling of the year and Imagine by John Lennon was the top selling single.

The Christmas number one belonged to comedian Benny Hill and his song Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West).

  • Notable births included Ali G and Borat comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, English actress Rachel Weisz, Scottish actors David Tennant and Ewan McGregor, American rapper Tupac Shakur and Irish footballer Roy Keane.
  • The big films of the year were Dirty Harry, Fiddler on the Roof, The Last Picture Show and The French Connection, with the latter winning the Oscar for best picture.
  • On television the comedy show The Two Ronnies made its debut on April 10 and ran until 1987, becoming a classic with repeats still regularly shown today.
  • Notable deaths included The Doors frontman Jim Morrison, French fashion designer Coco Chanel and American jazz musician Louis Armstrong.

1971 Star Fact: On January 1 1971 the last commercial for cigarettes was broadcast in the US. Adverts for cigarettes were banned due to increasing concerns over the health risks of smoking.