Top of the Pops returns for Christmas Special
Friday, November 21st, 2008
Top of the Pops is to return to our screens for two one-off shows over the Christmas period, despite earlier assurances from the BBC that the music show would not be brought back.
The Top of the Pops Christmas Special and New Year Special will be presented by Radio1 DJs Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates.
Cotton said, “I am beyond excited at the thought of a return to the mighty TOTP studios for these one-off shows. Reggie and I feel truly honoured to be able to introduce this year’s number one - both shows are going to be huge.”
The BBC had previously rejected calls to bring the long-running show, which was axed in 2006, into this year’s Christmas schedule. However, yesterday the corporation announced a Top of the Pops comeback with not just one but two shows over the festive period.
The news was welcomed by Jimmy Saville, who presented the show when it first went on air in 1964. “Let’s try it for Christmas, see how it works…,” he said. “When it started in 1964 it was a good programme.”
Jay Hunt, the BBC1 controller said “With shows on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, Top of the Pops has never been bigger. The shows will form the centrepiece of a massive musical offering during the festive season that we hope viewers are really going to enjoy.”
The BBC’s decision to reinstate the show was made following pressure from pop stars and politicians including Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, who said the show had been a good vehicle to promote new music and Mancunian pop duo The Ting Tings.
“The Christmas special is a fantastic thing, but it’d great if it came back for good next year,” said the band’s Jules De Martino.
The return of Top of the Pops comes a few weeks after Simon Cowell said he would like to buy the show and put it on ITV. “If the BBC wanted to do a deal, and I can get ITV to buy it and broadcast it, I’d put it on ITV,” he said.
However the BBC said the show was “not up for sale” but neither would it return for a new series.
November 25th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Wow, that photo’s a real blast from the past!
It’ll be great to have TOTP back on Christmas day - it always seemed to be more important in our household’s TV schedule than the queen’s speech (no offence your Majesty!)
I hope they stick to the original format, rather than the more pop/chat show it seemed to be turning into before it was taken off the air. Give me music, give me embarrassed teens bopping about in the camera, well aware they might be seen and suddenly not sure that’s such a good idea! I don’t know about any one else but that’s what I want with my mince pies!