Top Of The Pops

Television Show
Host	(Incomplete) Jimmy Savile (1964–1984) David Jensen (1976–1984) Mike Read (1978–1989) Simon Bates (1979–1988) Steve Wright (1980–1989) John Peel (1981–1987) Janice Long (1982–1988)
Filmed	BBC Television Centre, London, UK (Other locations also used)
Years Active	1 January 1964 – 30 July 2006 (Weekly format)
Associated Acts	The Smiths, Morrissey
Official Website	http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00704hg

History

Top Of The Pops (common acronym TOTP) is a British popular music television programme, broadcast on the BBC from 1964 to present.
It's format follows the UK singles chart top 40, of which the current positions are announced throughout the show.
It's presenters were BBC Radio One DJ's for most of it's run, including Janice Long and John Peel.
Artists traditionally performed their current release 'live' on stage in front of a studio audience, although for many of it's years the songs were actually played from the track of the recorded single, and the musicians mimed. For this reason, Morrissey performed all of The Smiths appearances without the use of a theatrical microphone.
Broadcasts were usually transmitted from the studios of BBC Television Centre, located in west London, England. The audience were provided admittance free of charge on a ticket allocation.
The show had a great impact on the sale of singles, with performers chart position customarily rising following an appearance, watched by large audiences each Thursday evening.
In 1996 the show was moved to Friday evenings in an attempt to retrieve greater viewing figures.
The show was broadcast weekly until viewing figures declined significantly in the early 2000's, and after moving from BBC1 to BBC2, the decision was made to axe the regular show in 2006.
Since then only occasional 'specials' have been made, such as the Christmas TOTP, which is ongoing and is aired each Christmas Day afternoon.