
The early 90s continued to be an interesting musical mix on the long-running pop music show. Still getting used to its new TV home at Elstree, having been relaunched at the end of the previous year, shows were a mix of ravers and indie rockers rubbing shoulders with the popstars of the day, with the emergence of live satellite performances from across the globe upping the star quota on the weekly show.\n\nDance music was still dominating the charts, The Orb and The Shamen were causing chaos and controversy on the show with their performances and lyrics. New guitar groups were starting to make waves, with Manic Street Preachers debuting with lipstick, scissor kicks and bubbles. The Wedding Present releasing a single each month of the year, and Carter USM had a number one album. In a year of only 12 new number ones, the lowest since 1962, one of the biggest sellers was duo Shakespears Sister with their gothic anthem Stay. Throw in Stereo MC's, Wet Wet Wet and Crowded House and you have tales of performing chess on the show, crashing the Eastenders set, the emergence of Take That and the shift to live singing on the show.\n\nContributors include Nicky Wire and James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers, Mr C from The Shamen, Rob Birch, Nick Hallam and Cath Coffey of Stereo MC's, Siobhan Fahey and Marcella Detroit, Marti Pellow and Graeme Clark of Wet Wet Wet, David Gedge of The Wedding Present, Alex Patterson of The Orb, Nick Seymour of Crowded House, Jim Bob and Fruitbat of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, journalist Sian Pattenden and presenter Tony Dortie.
Source: BBC 4
28/07/2000
Jamie Theakston presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 28 July 2000 and featuring Ronan Keating, Savage Garden, Placebo, Shanks & Bigfoot, Destiny's Child, Louise, ...
06-11-2026
BBC 4
21/07/2000
Jamie Theakston presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 21 July 2000 and featuring The Corrs, Marc Et Claude feat The Korgis, Steps, Aaliyah, Darude, *NSYNC, Moloko ...
06-11-2026
BBC 4
26/08/1976
Noel Edmonds presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 26 August 1976. Featuring Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Robin Sarstedt, Can, The Stylistics, Acker Bilk, The Chi-l ...
06-11-2026
BBC 4
08/11/1984
Simon Bates and Richard Skinner present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 8 November 1984. Featuring Limahl, Status Quo, Depeche Mode, Alison Moyet, Billy Ocean, Chica ...
06-11-2026
BBC 4
10/11/1983
David Jensen and John Peel present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 10 November 1983. Features Musical Youth, Adam Ant, Eurythmics, Limahl, The Cure and Billy Joel.
06-11-2026
BBC 4
30/06/2000
Jamie Theakston presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 30 June 2000 and featuring Black Legend, Lonestar, Girl Thing, Damage, David Gray, Limp Bizkit, Oasis and Ky ...
23-10-2026
BBC 4
23/06/2000
Gail Porter presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 23 June 2000 and featuring Mary Mary, Darude, Moby, Jamelia, Idlewild, Richard Ashcroft, Macy Gray and Black Leg ...
23-10-2026
BBC 4
1986 - Biggest Hits
Top of the Pops Big Hits is back with a bang for the year of 1986 where pop, new wave, rock, funk and R&B are all celebrated within this 60-minute special. The treasure troves o ...
17-10-2026
BBC 4
The Story Of 1986
How did the decline of the young guns of the early 80s, the advent of house, the big bang in the money markets and political fatigue on the left make their mark - or not - on th ...
17-10-2026
BBC 4
16/10/1980
Tommy Vance introduces the pop chart programme, including performances from Showaddywaddy, Adam & the Ants, Matchbox, the Police, Madness and George Benson. Plus, a chart rundow ...
16-10-2026
BBC 4
29/09/1988
Gary Davies and Mark Goodier present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 29 September 1988 and featuring Sinitta, U2, Hazell Dean, Alexander O'Neal, Duran Duran, Erasure ...
02-10-2026
BBC 4
21/04/2000
Jayne Middlemiss presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 21 April 2000 and featuring Craig David, Sisqo, Sash!, Oasis, Jessica Simpson, Black Box Recorder, Point Br ...
18-09-2026
BBC 4
26/05/2000
Jayne Middlemiss presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 26 May 2000 and featuring Madison Avenue, Lonestar, The Charlatans, DJ Luck & MC Neat, Madasun, Southside S ...
09-10-2026
BBC 4
The Story Of 2001
As the new millennium begins, Top of the Pops is bigger, brighter and faster. Guitar bands bring their A-game to the show, from mosh pit megastars Feeder to Wheatus’s frat ...
18-07-2026
BBC 4
02/06/2000
Jamie Theakston presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 2 June 2000 and featuring Billie Piper, Bon Jovi, Sia, Belle & Sebastian, Chrissie Hynde, Travis and Sonique.
09-10-2026
BBC 4
1986 - Biggest Hits
Top of the Pops Big Hits is back with a bang for the year of 1986 where pop, new wave, rock, funk and R&B are all celebrated within this 60-minute special. The treasure troves o ...
17-10-2026
BBC 4
The Story Of 2003
2003 was a year of wall-to-wall bangers. If it was belting, we were buying! Forget music trends - nobody was sticking to the rules. Pop was punky, with Busted breaking the mould ...
15-08-2026
BBC 4
05/01/1978
Peter Powell presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 5 January 1978 and featuring Eddie and The Hot Rods, Terry Wogan, Long Tall Ernie, The Babys, Tonight, Brotherh ...
02-01-2026
BBC 4
16/06/2000
Gail Porter presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 16 June 2000 and featuring York feat Chris Rea, Daphne & Celeste, Travis, Gabrielle, Angelic, Fat Les 2000, Keli ...
16-10-2026
BBC 4
09/06/2000
Gail Porter presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 9 June 2000 and featuring S Club 7, Stephen Gately, Pink, York feat Chris Rea, Dr Dre & Eminem, Trevor & Simon, ...
16-10-2026
BBC 4