How a British tabloid evolved from controversial scandal-mongering to an unlikely source of satire
In short: Launched in 1978 to challenge established rivals, the Daily Star spent decades defined by topless models and sensationalist reporting. Yet, recent years have seen a radical shift. Under new ownership, the paper has pivoted from objectifying women and manufacturing celebrity gossip to using absurdity as a tool for political accountability.
The Daily Star was established in 1978 by Trafalgar House to utilize under-capacity printing presses in Manchester, aiming to compete with the Daily Mirror and The Sun. For over 40 years, it maintained a tabloid formula that included a daily topless model feature known as a Star Bird. This tradition ended in April 2019, when the paper transitioned to publishing clothed glamour images, claiming to be the final mainstream British tabloid to drop the practice.
Throughout its history, the publication has faced significant legal and ethical scrutiny. In 1987, it lost a high-profile libel case to Jeffrey Archer, resulting in £500,000 in damages. It was also involved in a 2008 settlement with the McCann family over defamatory coverage regarding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Other controversies included the publication of a false story about a Grand Theft Auto game based on Raoul Moat's crimes in 2010 and a fabricated 2019 interview with Dwayne Johnson.
Following its 2018 acquisition by Reach plc, the paper underwent a notable tonal shift. While previously described by journalist Roy Greenslade as a publication without soul, editor Jon Clark has steered the Star toward a humour-focused, satirical direction. This new approach was epitomized in October 2022, when the paper hosted a livestream comparing the shelf life of a lettuce to the premiership of Liz Truss. When Truss resigned after six days, the Star celebrated the lettuce's victory, signaling a move toward using ridicule as a primary method for holding political figures to account.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Daily Star (United Kingdom)
- Also: Wikidata — Daily Star · CC0
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