TV Is Art

TV Is Art
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Now Showing

Top of the Pops

6.7
Yr 1964
Rt 40m
Status Ended
Reality
Back
Series Brief

Overview

The biggest stars, the most iconic performances, the most outrageous outfits – it’s Britain’s number one pop show.

Why fans love it

Top of the Pops premiered in 1964 and remains a primary reference point for British live music television. The reality format captured decades of domestic chart history, anchoring weekly cultural conversations around whatever track reached the number one spot at the time.

The series acted as a revolving door for presenters, featuring hosts including Steve Wright alongside a wide array of musical acts. Its longevity made it a consistent vehicle for witnessing emerging trends in sound and style, functioning as an authentic archive of evolving pop aesthetics across several different generations of viewers.

Featured Players

Cast 75

Peter Powell
as Self - Presenter
618 episodes
Jackie Brambles
as Self - Presenter
156 episodes
Liz Bonnin
as Self - Presenter
102 episodes
Steve Wright
as Self - Presenter
515 episodes
Lisa Snowdon
as Self - Presenter
102 episodes
Tony Dortie
as Self - Presenter
207 episodes
Gary Davies
as Self- Host
523 episodes
Tommy Vance
as Self - Presenter
255 episodes
Jamie Theakston
as Self - Host
310 episodes
Richard Bacon
as Self - Presenter
186 episodes
Gail Porter
as Self - Host
157 episodes
Kate Thornton
as Self - Host
51 episodes
Richard Blackwood
as Self - Host
157 episodes
Mark Goodier
as Self (voice)
523 episodes
Simon Mayo
as Self - Host
370 episodes
Edith Bowman
as Self - Host
82 episodes
Scott Mills
as Self - Host
102 episodes
Simon Bates
as Self - Host
515 episodes
Bruno Brookes
as Self - Host
53 episodes
Colin Murray
as Self - Host
51 episodes
Show all 75 cast
Alan Freeman
as Self - Presenter
317 episodes
Margherita Taylor
as Self - Host
51 episodes
Konnie Huq
as Self - Host
51 episodes
Wes Butters
as Self (voice)
51 episodes
Pete Murray
as Self - Presenter
317 episodes
Tim Kash
as Self - Host
51 episodes
Chris Moyles
as Self - Host
52 episodes
David Jacobs
as Self - Host
157 episodes
Emperor Rosko
as Self - Host
54 episodes
Ed Stewart
as Self- Host
362 episodes
Noel Edmonds
as Self- Host
309 episodes
Greg Edwards
as Self -Host
45 episodes
David Hamilton
as Self - Host
107 episodes
Paul Burnett
as Self - Host
102 episodes
Kenny Everett
as Self - Host
105 episodes
David Jensen
as Self - Host
50 episodes
Mike Smith
as Self - Host
53 episodes
Samantha Juste
as Self - Host
104 episodes
Stuart Henry
as Self - Host
54 episodes
Simon Dee
as Self - Host
106 episodes
Richard Skinner
as Self - Host
96 episodes
Andy Peebles
as Self - Host
149 episodes
Mike Read
as Self - Host
618 episodes
Paul Gambaccini
as Self - Host
53 episodes
Janice Long
as Self - Host
368 episodes
Reggie Yates
as Self - Host
188 episodes
Tony Blackburn
as Self - Host
733 episodes
Jayne Middlemiss
as Self - Presenter
263 episodes
Dave Lee Travis
as Self -Host
300 episodes
Fearne Cotton
as Self - Host
189 episodes
John Peel
as Self - Host
108 episodes
Pat Sharp
as Self - Host
107 episodes
Rufus Hound
as Self - Host
87 episodes
Zoë Ball
as Self - Presenter
54 episodes
Cilla Black
as Self
6 episodes
David 'Kid' Jensen
as Self - Host
45 episodes
Jimmy Nail
as Self
11 episodes
Billy Fury
as Self
5 episodes
Donovan
as Self
6 episodes
P. J. Proby
as Self
6 episodes
Marianne Faithfull
as Self
5 episodes
Van Morrison
as Self
6 episodes
Jo Whiley
as Self - Presenter
113 episodes
Mark Lamarr
as Self - Presenter
55 episodes
Sandie Shaw
as Self
14 episodes
Cliff Richard
as Self
7 episodes
Lulu
as Self
9 episodes
Shakin' Stevens
as Self
5 episodes
Paul McCartney
as Self
16 episodes
Kylie Minogue
as Self
6 episodes
George Harrison
as Self
11 episodes
Ronan Keating
as Self - Host
6 episodes
Roy Orbison
as Self
23 episodes
Nicky Campbell
as Self - Host
8 episodes
Meat Loaf
as Self
10 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Presenter
Jimmy Savile Dave Lee Travis Mike Read John Peel Richard Skinner Tony Dortie Noel Edmonds Tony Blackburn
Executive Producer
Andi Peters
Producer
Andi Peters Johnnie Stewart Stanley Appel Mo Fitzgibbon
Writer
Declan Bennett Alan Macfarlane Jasbinder Singh Mann
Creator
Johnnie Stewart
Director
Mo Fitzgibbon
Floor Runner
Darren J. Perry
Signal Match

Cast Similarity

Blue Peter
2 shared cast members
Shared Richard Bacon, Konnie Huq
The One Show
2 shared cast members
Shared Cliff Richard, Scott Mills
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Podcast
1 shared cast member
Shared Edith Bowman
Panorama
1 shared cast member
Shared Nicky Campbell
Top Gear
1 shared cast member
Shared Cliff Richard
South Park
1 shared cast member
Shared Meat Loaf
The Hack
1 shared cast member
Shared Konnie Huq
Futurama
1 shared cast member
Shared Donovan
The Residence
1 shared cast member
Shared Kylie Minogue
Sherwood
1 shared cast member
Shared George Harrison
Topic Overlay

Topic Keyword Similarity

The Seasons
1 shared keyword
Topics live music
Keyword Cloud

Keywords

live music
Next Signal

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Panorama
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1953
Shared people: 1
Indian Idol
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Match of the Day
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Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

BBC iPlayer
UK
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
January 01, 1964
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
40 minutes
Origin
GB
TMDB Votes
43