Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

The Story of 1980

1980 saw a new generation of British pop arrive, while the show saw the TOTP orchestra laid off, the studio audience double, new sets built and a range of celebrity co-hosts.

1980 was the year that both pop music and TOTP changed. A new generation of British pop arrived with Dexy's, Adam Ant, The Human League and OMD. The show changed as the veteran TOTP orchestra was laid off, the studio audience doubled in size, new sets were built and a range of celebrity co-hosts from Elton John to Kevin Keegan to Russ Abbott arrived.

This documentary explores these dramatic changes in Top of the Pops, British pop and British society with a cast including Adam Ant, The Human League, OMD, Kevin Rowland, Coronation Street actress Sally Lindsay (who appeared with St Winifred's School Choir), Kelly Marie, Ray Dorset, Johnny Logan, The Vapors, The Piranhas and Richard Skinner.

1 hour

Last on

Sat 13 Jan 2024 02:05
BBC Four

More episodes

Previous

New Year's Eve 2014

Next

1980 - Big Hits

See all episodes from Top of the Pops

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Blondie

    Atomic

  • CCS

    Whole Lotta Love

  • UB40

    Food For Thought

  • Madness

    My Girl

  • Rupert Holmes

    Escape (The Pina Colada Song)

  • Genesis

    Turn It On Again

  • The Vapors

    Turning Japanese

  • Prima Donna

    Love Enough For Two

  • Johnny Logan

    What's Another Year

  • Booker T. & The M.G.'s

    Green Onions

  • Dexys Midnight Runners

    Dance Stance

  • Dexys Midnight Runners

    Geno

  • Madness

    Nightboat to Cairo

  • The Human League

    Being Boiled

  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

    Red Frame White Light

  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

    Messages

  • The Human League

    Rock n Roll

  • Liquid Gold

    Dance Yourself Dizzy

  • Mungo Jerry

    In The Summertime

  • Kelly Marie

    Feels Like I'm In Love

  • Ramones

    Baby I Love You

  • The Shadows

    Ghost Riders In The Sky

  • Leo Sayer

    More Than I Can Say

  • Gibson Brothers

    Mariana

  • Motörhead

    Ace of Spades

  • Sky

    Toccata

  • Madness

    Baggy Trousers

  • UB40

    The Earth Dies Screaming

  • The Piranhas

    Tom Hark

  • The Piranhas

    Space Invaders

  • Elias & His Zig‐Zag Jive Flutes

    Tom Hark

  • Gary Numan

    This Wreckage

  • ABBA

    The Winner Takes It All

  • Spandau Ballet

    To Cut A Long Story Short

  • Adam and the Ants

    Dog Eat Dog

  • Adam and the Ants

    Ant Music

  • John Lennon

    Imagine

  • John Lennon & Yoko Ono

    (Just Like) Starting Over

  • Pink Floyd

    Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2

  • St. Winifred's School Choir

    There's No-one Quite Like Grandma

  • Duran Duran

    Planet Earth

Credits

Producer Matt O'Casey
Director Matt O'Casey
Executive Producer Mark Cooper

Broadcasts

Featured in...