Member Article

TOTP fascinating facts

Top of the Pops will be more no more after the BBC announced it is axing the show at the end of July. To commemorate this institution which has helped make our CD collections so eclectic (and embarrassing), we’ve dug out the following ‘fascinating facts’:• The first TOTP was transmitted live from a converted church in Manchester at New Year’s Day 1964.• The immortal words, “It’s number one, it’s Top of the Pops” was first uttered by Sir Jimmy Saville and has since been said by over 150 presenters.• The first Number One on Top of the Pops was The Beatles with ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’.• Cliff Richard holds the record for appearing the most times on the programme. He’s graced the stage with over 160 performances.• The show famed for its sometimes dodgy miming was uncovered in 1988 during All About Eve’s live performance of ‘Martha’s Harbour’. A crew member tripped over the power switch in the studio leaving the singer, Julianne Regan, without her cue for the backing track.• Before the dawn of the video age, dance troupes were employed to entertain the audience when a band was unable to appear on the show. The original troupe ‘The Go-Jo’s’ was replaced by the famous ‘Pans People’ in ’68 who swung their hair to hippy tunes for 8 years, until replaced by younger models, ‘Ruby Flipper’. The reign of lovely long legged ladies was brought to an end in 1981 when male/female troupe ‘Zoo’ was introduced.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .