Top of the Pops was once the must-watch television show but after a number of changes BBC bosses decided to pull the plug.
Airing from 1964 until 2006, the smash BBC music show hosted live performances from artists all over the world. With the likes of Nirvana, Blur and David Bowie taking to its Thursday evening stage.
The weekly half-hour show acted as the one-stop shop for music fans to get their fill on everything from gossip, chart placements and new tracks. It would play host to some of the biggest acts in the world.
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Dusty Springfield opened the first episode on January 1, 1964, with her track I Only Want To Be With You, alongside legends The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. This marked the start of a 2,271-episode run spanning four decades and producing multiple television specials, including an annual Christmas showcase.
With the legendary reputation the show produced for itself, so came unforgettable moments. Nirvana's performance of Smells Like Teen Spirit went down as one of the most unusual sets ever as they made a mockery of the show's prerequisite of pretending to play their instruments live. What followed was a comedic set with the band members ridiculously flailing around the stage as their lead singer, Kurt Cobain, warped his voice for the entirety of the gig.
Bringing theatrics to the show, Kate Bush's performance of Wuthering Heights was tipped as the performance that put her on the map. Following her appearance on the show, the at the time 19-year-old shot to the top of the charts around the world, even knocking Abba's Take A Chance On Me off the top spot.
When performers weren't taking over the stage, the in-house dance troupes were. In a lucrative role, a group would choreograph and perform routines behind the artists and eventually, became stars in their own right. 1964 introduced the all-girl group The Go-Jos who were most notably known for "white boots to the knee and short skirts."
Though successful, the show was not without its controversies. Top of the Pops became a huge part of British culture and its relevance, which is why it came as a shock when they shunned a quintessentially British indie band Sex Pistols from appearing on the show. After the release of the controversial track God Save The Queen were lyrics slammed the monarchy, the BBC blocked the song were possible.
Keith Flint of The Prodigy fame also found himself on the banned list. In 1996, the band's track Firestarter was released and quickly banned by the BBC. Despite the platform refusing to showcase him, Keith managed to prove there was a success beyond the show and that artists could thrive without it.
With problems starting to arise, the glory days of the show soon started to dwindle as they moved toward the turn of the century. Synonymous with the BBC for several decades, the TOTP drifted apart from the broadcaster as it crept into the 90s. Labelled the 'Year Zero' overhaul, the show attempted a shakeup after being deemed 'uncool', a decision which some mark as "the beginning of the end".
The revamp would see the introduction of voiceovers and rotating presenters. The title sequence was also changed along with their theme tune.
In an attempt to appease American audiences, acts were also allowed to send in pre-recorded performances, much to the dismay of British fans and those in the studio. Miming had always been allowed and acted as a backing track for artists but was scrapped entirely, forcing the musical guests to sing live.
From 2003, TOTP's viewing figures fell below three million, more than half their usual audience and with this, came another radical overhaul.
All New Top of the Pops was created in an attempt to draw back viewers, changing the half-hour show to an hour and hosting more up-and-coming tracks instead of the usual chart-toppers. However, fans were left unimpressed with the new format, with reviews calling the show a "waste of time" and "embarrassingly bad".
One reviewer said: "You can splash the words ALL-NEW around all you want, but it still won't alter the fact that this was a total waste of the viewers' time."
Another added: "I have watched TOTP for 25 plus years - please go back to the old format. I, for one, will not be watching this rubbish again."
Regarded as the final nail in the coffin, a move to Sunday evenings on BBC Two meant it was only a matter of time before the show was axed. June 20, 2006 was the final episode of the once massively celebrated show.
The last episode didn't feature live performances or hosts, instead, producers opted for archive footage of some of the show's most memorable and loved performances. For the penultimate episode, Snow Patrol was the last act to perform live as Girls Aloud took the closing title spot as the last act to be visually seen by audiences.
Former presenter Fearne Cotton has since shared her disbelief the show ever went off the air. She said: "After the show had finished, I sort of campaigned “Please can we bring it back?” Why is there no decent music TV? I just don’t understand it. I know times change and things move on, but I do feel bereft over that one still. It was such a big part of my week and something I would never miss."
Top of the Pops ended almost two decades ago but reruns of the show are still played on the BBC, most notably its Christmas specials alongside its Comic Relief show. BBC Four regularly hosts some of the best episodes and continues to draw in several hundred thousand viewers.
The show may have officially ended but for a lot of fans and artists alike, they can't shake the nostalgia of Top of the Pops. Pet Shop Boys singer Neil Tennant has said newcomers to the industry are missing out on that feeling of "being crowned the kings of pop."
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