BBC4 broadcast oddest ever programme

Ah, that's the TOTP I knew and loved. The audience is actually alive. In 76 they were almost statues apart from the ones turning around to look at the camera when they shouldn't (though who could blame them when Paul Nicholas is singing 'Reggae As It Used To Be' which is neither Reggae as it used to be or infact Reggae at all). Even in 79 they are mostly static which is bizarre as there was some great music that kids actually liked by then. I guess it was a producers decision that there would be no more dead people allowed to come in

From what I've read, that was decision of Michael Hurll, producer from 1980 to 1987, who decided to introduce a 'party atmosphere' into the show, so presumably we'll be able to see that transformation next year with the BBC Four repeats of 1980 (I presume it was a gradual change and not a sudden change from one show to the next).

Thing is, the early 70s was pretty lively. What happened running up to '76 to make it so dull, other than the lack of exciting music?



...and in '75 they still seem alive even with a more slushy soul number....

The various documentaries they've made have made much of the audience members being inactive and speculating on why. It's clearly a direction thing - everyone didn't just suddenly decide to liven up overnight in 1981, Hurll brought in cheerleaders and flags and balloons and all the rest and paid as much attention to directing the audience as he did the acts, often placing them on the stage with them. The more interesting question as posed above is what decision was taken in 75/76 to calm things down! The most recent BBC4 repeat even had the crowd SITTING DOWN to watch Legs and Co. You do wonder what they were thinking of.

I believe 1980 sees changes to the format after the end of the Musicians Union strike with the chart being moved away from the start of the show, but we have to wait until 1981 to see the infamous party atmosphere - happy to be corrected on that though. I just hope we get that far...

The immediate post-strike episodes from August 1980 are a rather weird mix becuase the main set also includes a seated audience, although they clearly try in other aspects to add a bit of excitement. It's a bit of an odd format though because there are some episodes which only have one or two studio performances and a load of interviews and even a news section. From the beginning of 1981 they get the audience to stand up and by the middle of 1981, when Yellow Pearl arrives as the theme, we have the Pops we know and love.

The 900th edition of the show in July 1981, which, if BBC Four gets that far, we won't actually be able to see because of the appearance of the show's original presenter.


Slightly off topic, but I wonder if those 1981 opening titles would pass the epilepsy test these days?

As another aside, the BBC is still commissioning TOTP for World Service radio. You can find the latest edition hidden away in the Africa programming here.

It's also recently appeared in the schedules of the version of the World Service available on the UK, on Fridays at 9.05am, but only online for some reason - it splits away from the version on DAB, which airs an arts programme instead.

Recent episodes (though not currently the latest one) are available via iPlayer Radio at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p029zl67

The BBC had massive financial problems in 1975 - hence why Radio 1 and 2 started simulcasting in the afternoons - and loads of shows had massive budget cuts. That certainly affected Pops so presumably they could no longer afford to employ someone to gee up the audience or do lots of retakes. A lot of shows from the late seventies have pretty ropey production values.

1. In terms of the audience sitting down to watch Legs and Co, Danny Baker and the rest of the audience are a lot more lively here:



Than in this routine, with a similar set-up in 1977:



Says a lot when the only person in the stall showing any type of emotion is Tony Blackburn!

2. The seeds of the party atmosphere are sown even in that first post-MU strike episode in August 1980.



You have the audience given balloons, Lulu and Rosie from Legs and Co join the band on the stage, with the other four dancers in the audience area behind - eventually persuading the crowd to get up dancing by the end of the song. Have they earned their ticket as much as Peter Powell reckons is your call btw, the same episode sees the first appearance of two of the most regularly-spotted cheerleaders, aka Kelly Marie's dancers!

The party atmosphere vibe slowly builds up over the subsequent months and into 1981. Which I for one hope we get to see.