Top of the Pops (also known by its abbreviation TOTP) is a British music chart television programme. Until 2006, it was shown each week on the BBC and is now licensed for national versions around the world. The following is a list of presenters who have hosted the BBC show, including the many guest presenters over the years.
1960s–1970s Upon its inception in 1964, Top of the Pops was presented by a team of disc jockeys in rotation: Alan Freeman, David Jacobs, Pete Murray and Jimmy Savile. Savile presented the very first episode from Dickenson Road Studios in Manchester on 1 January 1964 and would continue as the longest-serving presenter until hosting his final show on 30 August 1984. Samantha Juste appeared as the disc girl for several episodes until 1967. Jacobs was replaced by Simon Dee in 1966.
Jimmy Savile (1964–1984, plus 31 December 1988, 19 October 2001, 19 September 2003 and 30 July 2006) Alan Freeman (1964–1969, plus 9 July 1981 and 31 December 1988) Pete Murray (1964–1969, plus 9 July 1981 and 31 December 1988) David Jacobs (1964–1966, plus 9 July 1981, 5 May 1983 and 31 December 1988) Samantha Juste (1965–1967) Simon Dee (1966–1969)
The start of BBC Radio 1 in 1967 brought a new influx of DJs to the presenting roster, sometimes co-presenters, although most only stayed with TOTP for a short while. Of these only Ed Stewart and John Peel would become long-term regulars, though there would be a gap before either would return as such. By 1970, only Savile and Blackburn remained of the 1960s regulars and between them they would host all the editions from January 1970 until their duopoly was broken by Ed Stewart's return in March 1971.
Tony Blackburn (1967–1979 and 1981–1983, plus 31 December 1988, 4 April 2003 and 30 July 2006)
Emperor Rosko (1967, 1974–1975) Stuart Henry (1967–1969) Dave Cash (1968) Kenny Everett (1967 and 1973, plus 31 December 1988) John Peel co-hosted a single edition in 1968, but returned more prominently in the 1980s (see below). Ed Stewart (1968, 1971–1977) David Symonds (1968) 14 December 1967 – Mike Lennox co-presented with Alan Freeman 14 March 1968 – Tom Edwards co-presented with Jimmy Savile 11 April 1968 – Lulu co-presented with Jimmy Savile 2 May 1968 – Alan Price co-presented with Alan Freeman 23 May 1968 – Micky Dolenz of The Monkees co-presented with Jimmy Savile 6 June 1968 – Davy Jones of The Monkees co-presented with Jimmy Savile
1970s–1980s Jimmy Savile (1964–1984, plus 31 December 1988, 19 October 2001, 19 September 2003 and 30 July 2006) Tony Blackburn (1967–1979, 1981–1983, plus 31 December 1988, 4 April 2003 and 30 July 2006) Ed Stewart (1968,1971–1977) Noel Edmonds (1972–1978, plus 5 May 1983) Kenny Everett (1973, plus 31 December 1988) Greg Edwards (1974) Dave Lee Travis (1973–1984, plus 30 July 2006) Emperor Rosko (1974–1975) David Hamilton (1975–1977, plus 31 December 1988) Paul Burnett (1975, 1977–1979, plus 25 December 1981 and 30 September 1982) David "Kid" Jensen (1977–1984, plus 31 December 1988) Peter Powell (1977–1988) Mike Read (1978–1989, plus 30 July 2006) Simon Bates (1979–1988) 15 December 1977 – Elton John was guest presenter 11 October 1979 – Andy Peebles presented though did not become a regular host until 1981 (see 1980s–1991 below)
1980s–1991 The close association with Radio 1 continued into the 1980s, with all TOTP presenters drawn from the ranks of DJs at the station. The list below represents the main TOTP presenters during this period with many other Radio 1 DJs, for example Liz Kershaw, Adrian Juste and Adrian John also appearing on special programmes such as Christmas broadcasts and milestones for TOTP or Radio 1. For this reason, the 30 September 1982 show celebrating Radio 1's fifteenth birthday affords Annie Nightingale, in her one and only appearance and as one of nineteen presenters that day, the honour of being the first female presenter of Top of the Pops, beating Janice Long – who would go on to present TOTP regularly for nearly six years – by three months.
Presenters were also brought in from children's television, including Children's BBC presenters Andy Crane and Simon Parkin, Blue Peters Caron Keating, and Anthea Turner and Jenny Powell who worked together on Saturday morning show UP2U.
Jimmy Savile (1964–1984, plus 31 December 1988, 19 October 2001, 19 September 2003 and 30 July 2006) Dave Lee Travis (1974–1984, plus 30 July 2006) David Jensen also known as "Kid Jensen" (1976–1984, plus 31 December 1988) Peter Powell (1977–1988) Mike Read (1978–1989, plus 30 July 2006) Simon Bates (1979–1988) Richard Skinner (1980–1985, plus 6 October 1988 and 19 January 1989) Tommy Vance (1980–1984) Steve Wright (1980–1989, plus Top of the Pops 2: 1997–2004, 2006–2007, 2008, 2009) John Peel (1981–1987, plus 14 December 1995) Andy Peebles (1979, 1981–1984) Tony Blackburn (1967–1979, 1981–1983, plus 31 December 1988, 4 April 2003 and 30 July 2006) Mike Smith (1982–1988) Janice Long (1982–1988, plus 30 July 2006) Gary Davies (1982–1991) Pat Sharp (1982–1983, also a member of British vocal duo Pat and Mick together with Mick Brown, plus 30 July 2006) Bruno Brookes (1984–1991, 1994–1995) Dixie Peach (1985–1986) Paul Jordan (1985–1986) Simon Mayo (1986–1991, 1994–1996) Nicky Campbell (1988–1991, 1994–1997) Mark Goodier (1988–1991, 1994–1996, read the Top 20 chart rundown out-of-vision: 1997–2002) Andy Crane (1988–1989) Anthea Turner (1988–1991) Sybil Ruscoe (1988–1989) Jenny Powell (1989) Jackie Brambles (1989–1991)
Special appearances:
9 July and 28 August 1980 – B.A. Robertson co-presented with Peter Powell 7 August 1980 – after hosting alone in 1977, Elton John returned to co-host with Peter Powell 14 August 1980 – Roger Daltrey of The Who co-presented with Tommy Vance 21 August 1980 – Cliff Richard co-presented with Steve Wright 4 September 1980 – Kevin Keegan co-presented with Dave Lee Travis 18 September 1980 – Olivia Newton-John co-presented with Simon Bates 25 September 1980 – Russ Abbot co-presented with Mike Read 30 October 1980 – Colin Berry co-presented with Peter Powell 9 July 1981 – Alan Freeman, David Jacobs and Pete Murray both returned after over a decade's absence to present with Jimmy Savile 25 December 1981 – Paul Gambaccini co-presented alongside Adrian Juste and former presenter Paul Burnett, with regular presenters Andy Peebles, Dave Lee Travis, Simon Bates, David Jensen, Tony Blackburn, John Peel, Steve Wright, Peter Powell, Jimmy Savile, Richard Skinner and Mike Read 25 March 1982 – footballer Garth Crooks co-presented with Peter Powell 27 May 1982 – Debbie Harry of Blondie was guest presenter with John Peel. 30 September 1982 – Radio 1 celebrated its fifteenth anniversary with a special TOTP featuring DJs Paul Gambaccini, Adrian John, Adrian Juste, Jonathan King, Alexis Korner and Annie Nightingale, as well as former presenter Paul Burnett and regular presenters Dave Lee Travis, Andy Peebles, Mike Read, David Jensen, Tony Blackburn, John Peel, Jimmy Savile, Mike Smith, Steve Wright, Tommy Vance, Richard Skinner and Peter Powell 5 May 1983 – TOTP celebrated its thousandth show with the return of Noel Edmonds and David Jacobs as well as Paul Gambaccini and regular presenters Dave Lee Travis, Steve Wright, John Peel, Gary Davies, Mike Smith, Peter Powell, Simon Bates, Tommy Vance, Richard Skinner, Mike Read, Tony Blackburn, David Jensen, Andy Peebles, Janice Long, Jimmy Savile and Pat Sharp 29 December 1983 – Adrian John guest presented with Tommy Vance, Richard Skinner, Peter Powell and Gary Davies 25 December 1984 – no regular presenters featured with performers linking between songs 27 December 1984 – Lenny Henry 25 December 1985 – Jonathan King was guest presenter alongside John Peel, Janice Long, Dixie Peach, Steve Wright and Gary Davies 5 May 1988 – Adrian John co-presented with Bruno Brookes 11 August 1988 – Liz Kershaw was guest presenter with Bruno Brookes 6 October 1988 – Richard Skinner returned after three years to co-present with Simon Mayo 20 October 1988 – Caron Keating of Blue Peter co-presented with Steve Wright 17 November 1988 – Susie Mathis co-presented with Gary Davies 8 December 1988 – Caron Keating co-presented with Nicky Campbell 31 December 1988 – TOTP's 25th anniversary saw the return of Jimmy Savile, David Jacobs, Pete Murray, Alan Freeman, Kenny Everett, David Jensen, Tony Blackburn, David Hamilton and Peter Powell along with Paul Gambaccini alongside regular presenters Simon Bates, Mark Goodier and Mike Read 19 January 1989 – Richard Skinner co-presented with Bruno Brookes 23 February 1989 – Susie Mathis co-presented with Bruno Brookes 9 March 1989 – Lenny Henry co-presented with Hale and Pace and Nicky Campbell for Comic Relief. All would go on to hold the golden microphone in the mid-1990s (see below) 16 March 1989 – Rod McKenzie was guest presenter with Radio 1 breakfast show colleagues and TOTP presenters Simon Mayo and Sybil Ruscoe 15 June 1989 – Simon Parkin of the Children's BBC Broom Cupboard co-presented with Mark Goodier 29 June 1989 – Tim Smith was an uncredited co-presenter with Anthea Turner 27 July 1989 – Simon Parkin co-presented with Mark Goodier 28 December 1989 – Paul Gambaccini was guest presenter of a special end-of-decade show with Mike Read
The 1991 Gulf War caused the episode due to be transmitted on 17 January 1991 to be rescheduled for Saturday 19 January.
1991–1994 revamp: The break away from Radio 1 and Television Centre When production moved to the BBC Elstree Centre in Hertfordshire, a new team of young presenters were introduced in place of the Radio 1 DJs. Tony Dortie and Claudia Simon had been working for Children's BBC, with Dortie having presented Saturday morning magazine UP2U (with former TOTP presenters Jenny Powell and Anthea Turner) in the summers of 1988 and 1989 and Simon being one of the presenters of BFT in 1990. Elayne Smith was an underground club DJ and compere who started hosting Channel 4 late-night variety show The 291 Club just a few weeks before the revamp. Smith left after just two episodes to concentrate on The 291 Club and was replaced in March 1992 by Femi Oke who was working at BBC Radio 5, whilst 17-year-old Mark Franklin was picked from local radio station BBC Radio Wiltshire. With a new theme tune and set of titles modelled on a weathervane, the first show was presented by Mark Franklin and Tony Dortie on 3 October 1991 with the first live performance Erasure's "Love to Hate You".
Performance rules were altered so that acts had to sing live whether they wanted to or not and performances reflected the current album charts and American Billboard Hot 100 as well as the UK Singles Chart. Two presenters from the team always hosted each episode until July 1992 when Tony Dortie and Mark Franklin began to host some shows individually. By October 1992, the rest of the team had been dropped completely.
Mark Franklin (1991–1994) Tony Dortie (1991–1994) Elayne Smith (7 November and 5 December 1991) Claudia Simon (1991–1992) Adrian Woolfe(1991–1992) credited on-screen as Adrian Rose Steve Anderson (1991–1992) Femi Oke (1992)
Special appearances: 2 April 1992 – Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse were guest presenters under the alias of Smashie and Nicey 18 June 1992 – Bob Geldof guested as a co-presenter with Mark Franklin 17 December 1992 – Mr Blobby guested as a co-presenter with Tony Dortie 25 December 1992 – Sid Owen and Danniella Westbrook of EastEnders made guest appearances with Tony Dortie and Mark Franklin 25 December 1993 – Patsy Palmer of EastEnders made a guest appearance with Tony Dortie and Mark Franklin 4 January 1994 – Smashie and Nicey returned to present a special 30th birthday show 20 January 1994 – Joe Elliott of Def Leppard guested as a co-presenter with Tony Dortie
On Thursday 11 June 1992, BBC One screened England's Euro 92 0–0 draw with Denmark so TOTP was moved to Saturday 13 June, broadcast at 5:30pm.
1994: Return of the Radio 1 DJs