BBC - 7 moments to make you feel good about 2016

This year feels particularly eventful and there’s been plenty to get excited about on the radio. From music to sport, from charity work to space travel – here’s a chance to bask in some great feel-good stuff.

One of the most joyous things about 2016 was Craig David’s music comeback. Not only has the star burst back onto the UK scene with some absolute bangers, like his DJ Hardwell collab on No Holding Back and the amazing One More Time. But for both long-time and newer fans it was his Radio 1Xtra live performances absolutely blew us away. He even managed to slip in a cheeky Justin Bieber sample, which was rather epic.

Craig David - 1Xtra Live 2016 Highlights

The most highly anticipated comeback ever and it is killer.

That was promptly followed up by Radio 1’s Greg James bossing it at all the sports. Yep, the DJ only went and did five – yes FIVE –triathlons (or as we coined them, Gregathalons) in five days, all in the name of Sport Relief. When he completed the challenge in Norwich, Alice Levine was at the finish line to help celebrate his achievement. Greg, you’re a hero!

‘We did it!’ Greg James completes his Sport Relief Gregathlon

Alice Levine meets Greg James on the finish line of his Sport Relief Gregathlon

Earlier this year, Chris Martin and his merry men (that’s a little band called Coldplay, in case you’re unfamiliar) wowed thousands of adoring fans when they performed live at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Exeter. The event proved the band, who have been around for an incredible 20 years, could still give everyone goose bumps with heartfelt renditions of some of their biggest hits.

Coldplay at Radio 1s Big Weekend in Exeter

Coldplay play live as local boy Chris Martin leads the band on the main stage.

Before summer had properly hit we’d had top-level joy. Heartthrob Tom Hiddleston – that’s Thor’s brother Loki, by the way – did some live reading and we swooned. He was at the Globe Theatre in London to give quite the aural treat. Tom may only playfully recite a rhyme but the Hidster gives us all of the feels, and there wasn’t a Taylor Swift reference in sight.

Tom Hiddleston Remembers His First Play

Tom Hiddleston sang a little song about a motor car from "The Wind In The Willows".

Tim Peake provided a moment of national pride and joy this year, as he became the first British astronaut to fly to the International Space Station. He completed a spacewalk, ran the London Marathon from the ISS treadmill, and even found a moment to join the Chris Evans Breakfast Show. Tim answered burning questions from listeners such as: what does space smells like? What does he do on his day off? And does he ever forget he’s in space?

"It feels normal until I look out of the window"

Major Tim Peake speaks to Chris live from Space!

Singer Adele paying a visit to terminally ill cerebral palsy sufferer, Rebecca Gibney, was a beautiful moment. As an Adele fanatic, Rebecca’s mum reckoned it’d be great for her daughter to meet her idol, and that she did. It was definitely one of the sweetest, most powerful moments of the year. Her mum told us about the day Oscar-winner Adele casually popped in to give her some massive joy. Brb, we’ve just got something in our eye…

‘Adele’s coming to your house’

Superstar Adele visits 12-year-old Rebecca Gibney who has cerebral palsy.

Finished sobbing yet? Well here’s something a bit more upbeat: only a World Record-Breaking hula hooper. It’s true, Marawa the Amazing, as she’s known, was the challenger. Her aim: become the fastest to run the 100m whilst hula hooping. Watch your back, Usain…