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The Story of 1996



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

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