Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a long-running British music chart television programme, made and broadcast by the BBC. It was originally shown each week, mostly on BBC One, from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. Each weekly programme consisted of performances from some of that week's best-selling popular music artists.
Although the show was officially cancelled, it continues to run as an annual Christmas special. It was also survived by a spin-off series known as TOTP2 (or Top of the Pops 2) which started in 1994 and continued to run months after its predecessor had been axed.
Top of the Pops has also been made available to television broadcasters in many different countries in the form of a franchise package. However, after some success, the majority of these have now also been cancelled.
Top of the Pops is a New Zealand music chart series that counts down the chart and has many of the artist perform live. The New Zealand series was first hosted by Alex Behan then later in 2005 was hosted by Bede Skinner and is interlinked with the UK version of the show.
In 2006, TVNZ cancelled the show, due to low ratings. However, the British version was taken up by C4 music television.
Presenter Janice Long (1982-1988) was the first full time female presenter, nearly 20 years after the show first began.
Sir Jimmy Savile was the shows first and longest running presenter stretching 20 years, leaving in 1984.
The show celebrated its 1000th edition in March 1983, featuring long time host Jimmy Savile
Frankie Goes To Hollywood's song "Relax" was banned from Top Of The Pops in 1984, it was however shown on the 20th Anniversary show and end of year show.
Lynsey De Paul was one of the guests appearing on the 10th anniversary program in 1974.
It has been announced that on July 2006 its last edition will be broadcast. At 42 years continuous run since 1964, it is the longest running weekly popular music TV show in the world.
The very first episode was show at 6:36pm on New Years Day in 1964. The pilot episode was titled, "The Teen & Twenty Record Club". Top of the UK charts at the time of the series launch were: - 1. I Want to Hold Your Hand (The Beatles) - 2. Glad All Over (The Dave Clark Five) - 3. She Loves You (The Beatles) - 4. You Were Made For Me (Freddie & The Dreamers) - 5. I Only Want to Be With You (Dusty Springfield) - 6. 24 Hours From Tulsa (Gene Pitney) - 7. Dominique (The Singing Nun) - 8. Secret Love (Kathy Kirby) - 9. Swingin' On a Star (Big Dee Irwin) - 10. Hippy Hippy Shake (The Swinging Blue Jeans)
Latest episode ever aired on July 30, 2006.
