
1987 – a year marked by triumph and disaster. As Mrs Thatcher secured a third term as PM, the Channel Tunnel began construction and Wall Street’s movie representative Gordon Gecko purred ‘Greed is good’ – Britain was battered by the Great Storm, despaired at Black Monday and was horrified by the sinking of The Herald of Free Enterprise and the King’s Cross fire. \n\nAnd while epic events unfolded in the outside world, the Top of the Pops studio provided a haven for those who wanted to escape. With a new groundbreaking twin show broadcast from the USA, Top of the Pops could sidestep the videos of MTV and bring the very biggest names to UK audiences. In Television Centre, Stock, Aitken and Waterman provided the floor-fillers as hip-hop and rap made their mark on the chart along with home-grown house. From the rock aristocracy to pure pop hits and the irresistible new funk grooves, the youth could pick their own soundtrack and pump up the volume.\n\nTerence Trent D’Arby, Curiosity Killed the Cat, PWL stablemates Rick Astley and Kim Appleby, Andy Bell, Carol Decker and Belinda Carlisle lead us through a smorgasbord year in music.
Source: BBC 4
25/02/1988
Peter Powell and Mark Goodier present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 25 February 1988 and featuring The Primitives, Morrissey, Vanessa Paradis, Rick Astley, The Sis ...
27-02-2026
BBC 4
01/03/1979
Mike Read presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 1 March 1979 and featuring The Skids, Thin Lizzy, Chic and David Essex. With dance sequences by Legs & Co.
27-02-2026
BBC 4
07/05/1999
Kate Thornton presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 7 May 1999 and featuring Phats & Small, Martine McCutcheon, The Offspring, TLC, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Cast, Ge ...
27-02-2026
BBC 4
30/04/1999
Jamie Theakston presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 30 April 1999 and featuring Martine McCutcheon, Texas, Busta Rhymes, S Club 7, Faithless, Armand Van Helden ...
27-02-2026
BBC 4
20/02/1986
Janice Long and Mike Read present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 20 February 1986. Featuring Paul Hardcastle, Diana Ross, Depeche Mode, Survivor, Public Image Limit ...
20-02-2026
BBC 4
22/02/1980
Peter Powell presents hits of the week. Guests include Shakin' Stevens, Blondie, the Beat, the Buggles, the Tourists, Fern Kinney, Cliff Richard, the Ramones, Iron Maiden and Ke ...
20-02-2026
BBC 4
23/04/1999
Gail Porter presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 23 April 1999 and featuring Whitney Houston, Phats & Small, Electronic, Ruff Driverz Presents Arrola, Honeyz, Su ...
20-02-2026
BBC 4
16/04/1999
Jayne Middlemiss presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 16 April 1999 and featuring Phats & Small, Meat Loaf and Patti Russo, TLC, The Cranberries, Glamma Kid feat ...
20-02-2026
BBC 4
24/06/1976
David Hamilton presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 24 June 1976 and featuring Pilot, Bryan Ferry, Demis Roussos, The New Seekers, The Sensational Alex Harvey Ba ...
13-02-2026
BBC 4
12/02/1987
Simon Mayo and Peter Powell present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 12 February 1987. Featuring Level 42, Ben E King, Pepsi & Shirlie, Five Star, Carly Simon, Vesta ...
13-02-2026
BBC 4
Kylie Minogue
A compilation of classic Kylie performances from the Top of the Pops studio.
05-03-2022
BBC 4
Oasis
A special edition of the show focusing on the band Oasis. First broadcast 1998.
01-07-2023
BBC 4
23/03/1983
John Peel and David Jensen present the weekly look at the pop charts, first broadcast on 23 March 1983. Featuring Joboxers, David Bowie, Orange Juice, Altered Images, Duran Dura ...
21-03-2025
BBC 4
Blur
Compilation of Blur's appearances on Top of the Pops. First broadcast 1999.
29-07-2023
BBC 4
All Saints Special
A compilation of performances from the multi-award-winning girl group on Top of the Pops.
07-05-2022
BBC 4
08/01/1976
Noel Edmonds presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 8 January 1976 and featuring Osibisa, Sailor, R&J Stone, Tony Christie, Sheer Elegance, Electric Light Orchestr ...
02-01-2026
BBC 4
Review Of The Year 2025
Clara Amfo looks back over the musical stories and highlights of the year with a mix of global stars, breakthrough artists and some of the biggest moments in music of the last 1 ...
31-12-2025
BBC 4
02/04/1999
Scott Mills presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 2 April 1999 and featuring Cartoons, Des'ree, New Radicals, Billie Piper, TLC, Mariah Carey, B*Witched and Flat ...
13-02-2026
BBC 4
09/02/1989
Mike Read and Sybil Ruscoe present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 9 February 1989 and featuring Samantha Fox, Rick Astley, Yazz, Hue and Cry, Def Leppard, Poison, T ...
06-02-2026
BBC 4