The Guinness Book of Records is published, with a preface by co-founders Norris and Ross McWhirter
187,000 books sold (after four reprints) within a year
1 million books sold across all editions and languages to date
1.5 million copies printed
The first series of Record Breakers is filmed for the BBC, hosted by Roy Castle. The first guest is Roger Bannister, talking about becoming the first man to run a mile in under four minutes
Broadcaster David Frost acquires TV rights for GWR specials
The Guinness Book of Records becomes the biggest-selling copyright book in history with sales to date totalling 23,950,000!
First licensed product produced: Guinness Game of World Records, is launched by Dennis Fischer Toys UK
A Guinness Book of Records museum opens in the Empire State Building, New York City
Norris McWhirter is awarded the CBE in the New Year’s Honours List
Alan Russell becomes editor; Norris McWhirter stays on as consultant
The 1987 edition is published in 31 languages, covering more than 3.2 billion of the world's population!
Incorporation of Guinness World Records North America, Inc
The Guinness Video of Records launches
60 millionth book sold for charity at a party in HMV Oxford Street, London, raising £60,000
Guinness Superlatives is renamed Guinness Publishing Limited
Guinness Book of Records museum opens in Hollywood
The Diana Ross Commemorative Edition is published
Norris McWhirter retires
Guinness Publishing Limited opens office in New York, USA
First original programme launched in the US called Guinness World Records Primetime
Guinness Publishing Limited is renamed as Guinness World Records (book also changes its name from Guinness Book of Records to Guinness World Records)
Guinness World Records 2000 is printed in a single run of 2,402,000 copies, achieving the record for the largest print run of a case-bound book in colour
First original programme broadcast in the UK, France and Sweden called Guinness World Records, L’Emission Des Records and Guinness Rekord TV respectively (original-branded productions go on to be available in 19 territories)
Guinnessworldrecords.com website launches
GWR is sold by Diageo (owners of Guinness) to Gullane Entertainment, owners of Thomas the Tank Engine
GWR is sold to HIT Entertainment, owners of Bob The Builder
100,000,000th copy of Guinness World Records sold!
Craig Glenday becomes Editor-in-Chief
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visits the office and receives a copy of the 50th anniversary edition from GWR CEO Alistair Richards
First Annual GWR Day takes place
The Guinness World Records 2005 Interactive DVD Game launches
Records Management team is formed in London formally offering adjudication services to customers
Records printed on Pringles crisps for the first time!
GWR Gamer’s Edition launches
GWR content on YouTube surpasses 1 million views
GWR launches on Facebook
Records Management Team becomes an international team that speaks more than 13 languages processing 1,000 claims every week from around the world
GWR is sold to the Jim Pattison Group
Guinness World Records: The Videogame launched for Nintendo Wii
GWRLive! events launch
GWR consultancy services launch
Office opens in Tokyo Japan
First GWRLive! tour (pictured)
GWR visits the White House and helps First Lady Michelle Obama launch the "Let's Jump!” campaign on the South Lawn by adjudicating the record for most people to do jumping jacks in 24 hours - multiple venues (300,265!)
GWR achieves 100 million Youtube views
Officially Amazing becomes a GWR registered trademark
Office opens in Beijing, China
1 millionth Facebook fan
Jinisi China Nights (GWR China Nights), aired in China by the state broadcaster CCTV, has peak viewing figures of 450 million people – the largest audience for GWR TV show
Office opens in Dubai, UAE
Records Management Team adjudicates over 1,000 record attempts across the world
3 millionth GWR friend recorded on Facebook
Officially Amazing kids' TV show launches in the UK on CBBC
GWR Science Show embarks on a tour of the UK
GWR begins a year of celebrations in honour of its 60th anniversary
500,000th subscriber reached on YouTube
GWR KIDS site launches
Year of the 60th Anniversary of Guinness World Records
11 millionth Facebook fan and 1 millionth YouTube subscriber logged
136 million + books sold globally to date
Guinness World Records Amazing Animals launches
Development work begins on GWR Attractions
Guinness World Records Science & Stuff and Wild Things launches
15 millionth Facebook fan and 4 millionth YouTube subscriber logged
143 million + books sold globally to date
GWR joins TikTok
Reached 10 million followers on TikTok
Reached 20 million followers on Facebook
Reached 5 million subscribers on Snapchat Discover
Reached 8 million subscribers on YouTube
Reached 15 million followers on TikTok
Reached 4M followers on Instagram