Top of the Pops 2
| Top of the Pops 2 | |
|---|---|
 Logo introduced in 2006 |
|
| Format | Archive chart music |
| Narrated by | Mark Radcliffe (2009–) Johnnie Walker (1994–97) Steve Wright (1997–2009) |
| Theme music composer | Tony Gibber (2006–) CCS (1998–2006) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 502 (as of 23 June 2010) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Mark Hagen (1999–) Ric Blaxill (1994–98) Rory Sheehan (1998) |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC Two |
| Picture format | 16:9 576i (2006, 2010–) 4:3 576i (1994–2010) |
| Original run | 17 September 1994 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Top of the Pops 2 (also known as TOTP2) is a British television music show broadcast on BBC Two, showing archive footage from the long-running Top of the Pops show, some dating back to the 1960s when the programme first aired on British television.
Contents |
[edit] Original format
The show was originally hosted by BBC Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker. Colleague and fellow DJ Steve Wright took over in 1997 and hosted until being replaced by Mark Radcliffe in 2009.
The presenters themselves never appear in-vision but provide a voice-over commentary and introduction to each piece. In 2003 the BBC started to run a daily version of TOTP2 in which celebrities chose their favourite archive performances. These celebrities, typically comedians, have included Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer, Phill Jupitus and Jack Dee. There have also been a number of TOTP2 specials in which a "greatest hits" show dedicated to one musician or band is put together from both archive and new footage.
[edit] Rest
In 2004, the incoming controller of BBC Two, Roly Keating, announced that the programme was to be "rested". The last showing of TOTP2 was intended to be the TOTP2 Christmas Special shown on Christmas Eve 2005 at 19:30 on BBC Two. But they did start to re-run TOTP2 on Dave from 2004 to 2008 with edited versions and also on Yesterday in 2010. Edited re-runs of TOTP2 resumed airing on Dave in April 2011.
[edit] Return
On 30 September 2006, TOTP2 returned to BBC Two. The new show format was similar to the earlier TOTP2, but also included live/original BBC performances. The first 50-minute special included Nelly Furtado, Jamelia and Razorlight, before it reverted to a 30 minute weekly format at 20:00.[1]
It is broadcast in the 4:3 aspect ratio like the majority of its archive material, though the first two episodes were in the 16:9 aspect ratio to accommodate new performances. The BBC planned to replace the main Top of the Pops on Christmas Day 2008 with TOTP2 with some live performances and archive footage to be shown including the 2008 Christmas number one (UK single), these plans were later scrapped due to complaints by viewers. This led to Simon Cowell to ask the BBC if he could buy the rights to TOTP so it could be shown on ITV1. The BBC later refused Simon Cowell's offer and announced that they would show TOTP on Christmas Day on BBC One as well as the TOTP2 specials on BBC Two.
On 27 June 2009, TOTP2 returned unexpectedly to celebrate the life of Michael Jackson, who had died two days earlier, this is the last episode to be presented by Steve Wright.
On 23 December 2009, the TOTP2 Christmas 2009 special was presented by Mark Radcliffe.
On 19 February 2010, BBC Four aired a TOTP2 Latino special.
On 10 May 2010, a TOTP2 80s Special aired, in conjunction with the BBC's Eighties season, this marked TOTP2's 500th edition. Two other episodes were broadcast for the 1980s season, A Wham! special on 23 May 2010 and a Duran Duran special on 28 May 2010.
A repeat edition was shown on 23 June 2010 on BBC Four, showing archive performances from John Lennon to coincide with the Christopher Eccleston Drama.
On 9 July 2010, a repeat edition of the Rolling Stones special aired on BBC Four.
A brand new edition was broadcast on Saturday 25 September 2010, a 'School Days Special', featuring Alice Cooper and Busted.
TOTP2 returned again the festive period in 2010, with the TOTP2 Christmas Special 2010, which aired on Tuesday 21 December 2010 on BBC Two, again presented by Mark Radcliffe, who digs deep into the Top of the Pops archives to bring some festive performances from Slade, The Pogues, Elton John, Take That, Coldplay and Abba. It was shown in 16:9 for the first time since 2006.
Also on 1 January 2011, a repeat of the TOTP2 80s Special was aired at 1.15am on BBC Two.
On Saturday 26 March 2011, a repeat of the TOTP2: Country Jukebox Special will be aired at 12.10am on BBC Four
On Sunday 24 April 2011, a repeat of the TOTP2: Bee Gees Special, which first aired in 2001 on BBC Two, aired at 11.25pm on BBC One. This was the first episode of TOTP2 to be shown on BBC One.
On Sunday 10 September 2011, a repeat of the TOTP2 Goes Disco! Special, which first aired in 2007, was aired at 12.15am on BBC Two. The episode featured the likes of the Bee Gees, along with Gloria Gaynor, Liquid Gold, Sylvester, the Village People, the Weather Girls and the Three Degrees. Also, Chic, George McCrae, Hi-Tension, Heatwave, the JALN Band, Earth Wind and Fire, Tina Charles, the Gibson Brothers, and Edwin Starr, Blondie, Yazz, Boney M, Linx, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Infernal.
On Saturday 29 October 2011, the TOTP2 Halloween Special, originally transmitted in 2007, was re-shown.
Over the autumn of 2011, the BBC upgraded the TOTP2 website to show a basic programme guide for both past and new episodes aired.
[edit] Christmas 2011
The TOTP2 Christmas 2010 special was repeated on 17 December 2011 on BBC Two.
Also, a brand new Top of the Pops Christmas Special was aired on Wednesday 21 December 2011 at 7.30pm on BBC Two, where Mark Radcliffe delved into the BBC archive to find old and recent Christmas music. The episode featured previously lost footage of David Bowie performing The Jean Genie from Top of the Pops in 1973, some rarely seen footage of Ringo romping in the snow performing his solo hit It Don't Come Easy as well as classic festive songs by Slade, Shakin' Stevens and the Pogues with Kirsty MacColl. Also featured was a tribute to Amy Winehouse, who died that year.
[edit] 2012
A series of three shows have been comissioned, compiling some of the BBC's rare 60s archive hits.
The first episode will feature some of the BBC's rare 60s archive hits by the likes of The Foundations, Julie Driscoll, Sandie Shaw, Procol Harum and more from Top of the Pops and other BBC shows of the time. The first show will air on 28th January 2012 at 11.35pm, on BBC Two. The series of episodes will be narrated by Mark Radcliffe.
[edit] References
- ^ Todd, Ben (24 September 2006). "EXCLUSIVE: TOP OF THE POPS BACK ON TV". Sunday Mirror. http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17808872%26method=full%26siteid=62484%26headline=exclusive%2d%2dtop%2dof%2dthe%2dpops%2dback%2don%2dtv-name_page.html. Retrieved 2006-12-24.
[edit] External links
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