Top Of The Pops: The Story Of 1980

Top Of The Pops: The Story Of 1980 is the title of a documentary produced by the BBC in 2015. The programme continues the Top of the Pops history documentaries which started with The Story of 1976.

The programme is narrated by Mel Giedroyc and was first broadcast on BBC Four on 02 January 2015

Subjects discussed

 * changes to come
 * strikes, industrial action in UK, Thatcher government, unemployment
 * TOTP studio props and techniques
 * TOTP Orchestra
 * Eurovision
 * Johny Logan / OMD clash
 * wide range of musical styles
 * Dexy's Midnight Runners/Madness clothing/look
 * TOTP glamour / escapism from real world
 * early synth-pop (08 May 1980)
 * disco music
 * BBC cuts TOTP orchestra, MU dispute
 * new look TOTP / new producer Michael Hurll
 * nuclear threat
 * guest presenters / interviews
 * record business recession
 * 'New romantics' / Blitz kids
 * death of John Lennon
 * Christmas no.1
 * 1981 preview

Interviewees

 * Philip Oakey (The Human League)
 * Andy McCluskey & Paul Humphreys (OMD)
 * Adam Ant
 * Suggs (Madness)
 * Shaun Tilley (broadcaster)
 * Pete Paphides (writer)
 * Bazalgette / Smith (The Vapors)
 * Johnny Logan (ESC winner)
 * Richard Skinner
 * Kevin Rowland (Dexy's)
 * Joanne Catherall / Susanne Sulley (The Human League)
 * Mungo Jerry
 * Kelly Marie
 * Bob Grover (The Pirhanas)
 * Mike Martin (stand-in)
 * John Helmer (The Pirhanas)
 * Sally Lindsay (St. Winifreds School Choir)

Featured performances (TOTP studio)

 * Madness - My Girl
 * Rupert Holmes - Escape
 * Genesis - Turn It On Again
 * Vapors - Turning Japanese
 * Prima Donna - Love Enough For Two
 * Johny Logan - What's Another Year
 * Dexy's Midnight Runners - Dance Stance / Gino
 * Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Messages
 * The Human League - Rock 'n' Roll
 * Liquid Gold - Dance Yourself Dizzy
 * Kelly Marie - Feels Like I'm In Love
 * Ramones - Baby I Love You
 * Gibson Brothers - Mariana
 * Motorhead - Ace of Spades
 * Gary Numan - This Wreckage
 * Spandau Ballet - To Cut a Long Story Short
 * Adam and the Ants - Dog Eat Dog / Ant Music
 * John Lennon - Starting Over (Legs & Co.)
 * St. Winifreds School Choir - There's No-One Quite Like Grandma