In a year of some extremely strong number 1s, there was always going to be tears for those who fell just short. For example, Sheffield’s Human League and Heaven 17 both suffered at the hands of New Romantic poster boys Spandau Ballet. True was the song to keep them at arm’s length.
But then, in an entirely predictable postscript, the Spandaus follow-up, Gold, could only manage… er, silver. The same thing happened to Bowie. He had a number 1 with Let’s Dance, edging out Culture Club’s Church Of The Poison Mind. Then his follow-up, China Girl was stalled by The Police with Sting’s stalking song.
| Song at Number 2 | Week Ending | Song at Number 1 |
| Shakin’ Stevens – The Shakin’ Stevens EP | 1 Jan 1983 | Renee & Renato – Save Your Love |
| David Essex – A Winter’s Tale | 15 Jan 1983 | Phil Collins – You Can’t Hurry Love |
| Eddy Grant – Electric Avenue | 5 Feb 1983 | Men At Work – Down Under |
| Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) | 19 Mar 1983 | Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse Of The Heart |
| Culture Club – Church Of The Poison Mind | 16 Apr 1983 | David Bowie – Let’s Dance |
| 23 Apr 1983 | ||
| F R David – Words | 30 Apr 1983 | Spandau Ballet – True |
| 7 May 1983 | ||
| Human League – (Keep Feeling) Fascination | 14 May 1983 | |
| Heaven 17 – Temptation | 21 May 1983 | |
| Wham! – Bad Boys | 4 Jun 1983 | The Police – Every Breath You Take |
| 11 Jun 1983 | ||
| David Bowie – China Girl | 18 Jun 1983 | |
| Irene Cara – Flashdance… What A Feeling | 9 Jul 1983 | Rod Stewart – Baby Jane |
| Freeez – I.O.U. | 23 Jul 1983 | Paul Young – Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home) |
| 30 Jul 1983 | ||
| 6 Aug 1983 | ||
| Spandau Ballet – Gold | 20 Aug 1983 | KC & The Sunshine Band – Give It Up |
| 27 Aug 1983 | ||
| Madness – Wings Of A Dove | 10 Sep 1983 | UB40 – Red Red Wine |
| Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Tonight I Celebrate My Love | 17 Sep 1983 | |
| David Bowie – Modern Love | 8 Oct 1983 | Culture Club – Karma Chameleon |
| Tracey Ullman – They Don’t Know | 15 Oct 1983 | |
| 22 Oct 1983 | ||
| Lionel Richie – All Night Long (All Night) | 29 Oct 1983 | |
| 5 Nov 1983 | Billy Joel – Uptown Girl | |
| 12 Nov 1983 | ||
| Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson – Say Say Say | 19 Nov 1983 | |
| 26 Nov 1983 | ||
| Paul Young – Love Of The Common People | 3 Dec 1983 | |
| 10 Dec 1983 | Flying Pickets – Only You | |
| 17 Dec 1983 | ||
| Slade – My Oh My | 24 Dec 1983 |