
1996 saw mad cow disease and hostage crises dominating the news, but each week at Elstree, it was feuds and farewells that headlined the pop year. Take That said goodbye, prompting hysteria at the gates of the TOTP studios, and the Britpop battle was far from over. It was also a huge year for dance music, with the likes of Faithless and Underworld hitting the charts, helped by a certain film set in Edinburgh. There were also new stars from the world of hip-hop, as melody and hooks merged with beats to launch the careers of Fugees, Blackstreet and Mark Morrison. The summer saw football anthems and another dance craze courtesy of Los Del Rio’s Macarena, and once you've thrown in Peter Andre, Skunk Anansie, Reef, a controversial change of day and, of course, the Spice Girls, you have another classic year in the story of the UK’s biggest pop music TV show.\n\nContributors include Peter Andre, Ian Broudie of the Lightning Seeds, Skin of Skunk Anansie, Gary Stringer of Reef, John Power of Cast, Louise Wener of Sleeper, Keith Allen, Ronan Keating, Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder and Kermit of Black Grape, as well as presenter Jayne Middlemiss, broadcaster Trevor Nelson and publicist Nicki Chapman.
Source: BBC 4
25/12/1977
Noel Edmonds and David 'Kid' Jensen present the festive pop charts from 1977 with performances from Showaddywaddy, Deniece Williams, Hot Chocolate, Baccara, Brighouse and Rastri ...
25-12-2025
BBC 4
25/12/1989
Jakki Brambles, Bruno Brookes and Gary Davies present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 25 December 1989 and featuring Bros, The Beautiful South and Jason Donovan.
25-12-2025
BBC 4
25/12/1986
Peter Powell presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on Christmas Day 1986. Featuring Billy Ocean, The Communards, a-ha, Europe, Doctor and the Medics, Cliff Richard & ...
24-12-2025
BBC 4
1992 Christmas Special
The Top of the Pops Christmas Day special from 1992. Mark Franklin and Tony Dortie, together with their special guests, Sid Owen and Danniella Westbrook, review the year's chart ...
23-12-2025
BBC 4
Xmas 1978
Noel Edmonds presents a special Top of the Pops from 1978, with Darts, Abba, Boney M, Brotherhood of Man, Father Abraham, Bee Gees, Brian and Michael, Wings and Showaddywaddy.
22-12-2025
BBC 4
25/12/1990
Mark Goodier and Anthea Turner present a Top of the Pops Christmas Day special, including a review of the hits that topped the charts in 1990 and featuring performances by The B ...
19-12-2025
BBC 4
Christmas 1998
Jayne Middlemiss, Kate Thornton and Jamie Theakston present the pop chart programme's Christmas special, first broadcast on 25 December 1998. Featuring Spice Girls, Robbie Willi ...
19-12-2025
BBC 4
18/12/1998
Jayne Middlemiss presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 18 December 1998 and featuring The Beautiful South, Spice Girls, Honeyz, Ace of Base, Lutricia McNeal, Bill ...
19-12-2025
BBC 4
11/12/1998
Jamie Theakston presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 11 December 1998 and featuring Jay-Z, Manic Street Preachers, Bryan Adams and Melanie C, Brandy, LeAnn Rimes ...
19-12-2025
BBC 4
04/12/1998
Kate Thornton presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 4 December 1998 and featuring Boyzone, All Saints, Vonda Shepard, Steps, Faithless, Madonna, Will Smith and Cher.
12-12-2025
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
Oasis
A special edition of the show focusing on the band Oasis. First broadcast 1998.
01-07-2023
BBC 4
Kylie Minogue
A compilation of classic Kylie performances from the Top of the Pops studio.
05-03-2022
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
19/08/1982
David Jensen presents the weekly chart show, first broadcast on 19 August 1982. Includes appearances from Modern Romance, Haircut 100, Captain Sensible, Kids from Fame, Soft Cel ...
13-03-2018
BBC 4
Blur
Compilation of Blur's appearances on Top of the Pops. First broadcast 1999.
29-07-2023
BBC 4
05/05/1977
Noel Edmonds presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 5 May 1977 and featuring appearances from Bay City Rollers, Delegation, Mac and Katie Kissoon, Joy Sarney, Fran ...
05-05-2023
BBC 4
The Story Of 1989
As the 80s concluded with Margaret Thatcher’s tenth year in power in contrast to worldwide political change, Top of the Pops provided the perfect barometer of the UK's end ...
05-07-2024
BBC 4
20/09/1979
Weekly pop chart presented by Mike Read with performances by the Starjets, Kate Bush, Madness, the Bellamy Brothers, the Tourists, the Police, Sad Cafe, Rainbow and Gary Numan.
26-09-2025
BBC 4