Pick of the Pops

Pick of the Pops is the title of a long-running radio show currently broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and hosted by Paul Gambaccini. The programme plays selections form the charts from two different years for the particular week of broadcast.

The program was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on 4 October 1955 and successively moved to Radio 1 from its inception in 1967 until 1972. During this period it focussed on chart newcomers, new releases, LPs and the Top 10. Its most famous presenter was Alan Freeman who took over in1961 and continued until 1972.

Freeman revived the show on London's Capital Radio 1982 to the end of 1988 as Pick of the Pops – Take Two, playing selections from the current chart and one particular year in the past. From 1994 to 1997 he revived it again as Pick of the Pops – Take Three.

The show returned to BBC Radio 2 on 05 April 1997, with Freeman now counting down two archive charts each Saturday afternoon. he presented his last show on 01 April 2000, with Dale Winton taking on over on the 8th and continuing until October 2010. Tony Blackburn then took over the show from November 2010 until his dismissal from the BBC in February 2016. Mark Goodier took over for a few months before its current presenter Paul Gambaccini took over in July 2016.

Theme
The theme music has traditionally been a recording of the song At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal.