The Stone Roses On TOTP, 1989
The Thursday evening Top Of The Pops programme became an institution for generations of music fans, and provided un-rivalled exposure for countless new bands, but the BBC has again ruled out a return for the show which was axed in 2006, however BBC Head Of Popular Music Andy Parfitt has revealed the corporation is now looking to develop a new flagship music show.
Currently, the BBC’s musical coverage is limited to summer festivals and Jools Holland’s ‘Later…’ series, and speaking to a Broadcasting Press Guild, Parfitt has said they are now looking to expand on the current output. “It would be great if we could get a new popular music-based programme with a new format, a new kind of offer that really worked for the audience,” he said.
“The work is on to try and find a format but we are not trying to relaunch or reinvent Top of the Pops. That is kind of a red herring. Should we be looking for a programme? Of course we should and we are.
Would it be a good thing to try and persevere and work with producers to identify a new format? Yes. That’s what television does all the time.”
After suffering a gradual fall in ratings, Top Of The Pops aired it’s last show in the July of 2006, and now returns annually for a Christmas Special.