
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
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
15/02/1979
Peter Powell presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 15 February 1979 and featuring The Dooleys, Generation X, Alan Price, The Pretenders, Lene Lovich, The Skids, T ...
13-02-2026
BBC 4
09/04/1999
Jamie Theakston presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 4 April 1999 and featuring New Radicals, Mariah Carey, Another Level, Phats & Small, Reef, Catatonia, Eminem ...
13-02-2026
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
08/07/1976
Tony Blackburn looks at the weekly pop chart and introduces Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, Billy Ocean, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, 5000 Volts, The Real Thing and Candy Staton.
13-02-2026
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
Blur
Compilation of Blur's appearances on Top of the Pops. First broadcast 1999.
29-07-2023
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
All Saints Special
A compilation of performances from the multi-award-winning girl group on Top of the Pops.
07-05-2022
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
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
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