This article needs additional citations for verification .(March 2013) |
Genre | Music |
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Running time | 120 minutes |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Language(s) | English |
Home station |
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Hosted by |
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Produced by |
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Executive producer(s) | Tom Du Croz (2015–2018, 2020–present) Richard Power (2018–2019) |
Recording studio | Broadcasting House, London (1955–1972, 1989–1992, 1997–2006, 2024–present) Wogan House, London (2006–2024) Maida Vale Studios (2023–24) |
Original release | 4 October 1955 – present |
Audio format | Stereophonic |
Opening theme | "At the Sign of the Swingin' Cymbal" by Brass Incorporated |
Website | www |
Pick of the Pops is a long-running BBC Radio programme; it was based originally on the Top 20 from the UK Singles Chart and was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on 4 October 1955. [1] It transferred to BBC Radio 1 (simulcast on BBC Radio 2) from 1967 to 1972. [2] The show returned to the BBC in 1989 and its current production run started on BBC Radio 2 in 1997.
Its longest-serving presenters were Alan Freeman from 1961 to 1962 and from 1964 to 2000 and Dale Winton from 2000 to 2010. It is currently being hosted temporarily by Gary Davies. Mark Goodier will return to the show as its new permanent presenter from July 2024, following the death of Steve Wright.
Initially, the show did not feature chart music, but in September 1957, Alan Dell introduced the format of running through the charts of the week; he played the top tens from various music papers, plus entries to the top 20s.
David Jacobs broadcast the first averaged BBC Top 20 to the helm on Saturday 29 March 1958. Alan Freeman took over in September 1961, taking the show to a regular Sunday slot in January 1962. The programme ended in September 1972, while the Top 20 continued as part of Solid Gold Sixty.
Freeman, who became the show's longest-serving presenter, had been a radio announcer in Melbourne, Australia. He arrived in Britain in 1957 and joined the Light Programme in 1960 to present Records Around Five. That same year, he replaced David Jacobs as presenter of Pick of the Pops, which was then part of a Saturday evening programme called Trad Tavern, named after traditional jazz, which had a following at the time. Pick of the Pops became a separate programme in January 1962; [3] it was produced by Derek Chinnery.
Denys Jones (producer 1961–72) and Freeman split the programme into four sections: chart newcomers, new releases, LPs and the Top 10. [3] The programme attracted large audiences, as the BBC had "needle time" restrictions and could play relatively few commercially available recordings each week. Freeman continued with the show when it moved to Radio 1 and stayed until the programme ended on 24 September 1972. [4]
Freeman revived Pick of the Pops on London station Capital Radio in 1982. This format was broadcast on Capital until 1988, as Pick of the Pops – Take Two, combining the new chart (Top 15s compiled successively by Record Business, the NME and MRIB) with a chart from the past. In 1989, Freeman returned to Radio 1 where the show featured three past charts each week; it was produced by Phil Swern until March 1992 and by Sue Foster for the rest of 1992. [5] Freeman stood down from the programme in 1992, after stating then that he would not present the show again and signed off with The Beatles' "The End".
However, Freeman revived the show on Capital Gold in April 1994 as Pick of the Pops – Take Three. [6]
Pick of the Pops returned to the BBC as an independent production by Unique Broadcasting on BBC Radio 2 on 5 April 1997, with Freeman now counting down two archive charts each Saturday afternoon, featuring the top 10s and interspersing trivia about the records, again researched by producer Swern. Fluff featured the years 1956 to 1992.
Due to poor health, Freeman retired from radio broadcasting after presenting his last edition of the show on 1 April 2000. He was replaced by Dale Winton, who joined him on this edition. Winton first presented the show solo on 8 April 2000. [7] The regular weekly edition ended on 28 August 2004, with limited broadcast of special editions on Bank Holidays.
Pick of the Pops then returned every week in September 2005, on a Sunday afternoon, again presented by Winton. The BBC then moved the show to a Saturday lunchtime slot in April 2009, where it remains today. [8]
Winton presented his final Pick of the Pops on 30 October 2010, stepping down due to other commitments. During his tenure, years between 1957 and 1999 were featured.
On 24 September 2010, it was announced that Tony Blackburn would replace Winton. His first show aired on 6 November 2010. Although the show was pre-recorded during the Winton era, from 29 January 2011 the show was mostly broadcast live, which allowed Blackburn to interact with listeners through emails and text messages. In August 2015, Tom Du Croz joined Swern as a producer. Blackburn was dismissed by the BBC on 25 February 2016, having presented his last edition of the show five days earlier which featured 1966 and 1974. Blackburn featured the years 1956 to 2001. Blackburn was dismissed by the BBC in February 2016. [9]
Following Blackburn's dismissal, Mark Goodier became a presenter temporarily between 27 February and 2 July 2016 [10] Goodier later returned to Pick of The Pops as its permanent host from July 2024. [11]
Paul Gambaccini became a presenter of Pick of the Pops on 9 July 2016, still produced by Swern and Du Croz. Du Croz was later replaced by Heather Wall but returned in 2020. At the start of his tenure as a presenter, Gambaccini featured music from the Billboard charts, along with the UK top 20, but this ended in 2017. Mark Goodier presented the 6 January and 24 February 2018 editions as Gambaccini was absent due to weather disruption and illness. Early in the Covid-19 pandemic, the show was voice-tracked due to Gambaccini being unable to travel to Wogan House.
No editions were broadcast on 10 April 2021 and 17 April 2021 due to the death and funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Noel Gallagher guest hosted the show on 29 May 2021, to mark his birthday, becoming the first celebrity guest host in the show's history, playing music from the chart dated 25 May 1967 (his birth year) and 2 June 1979. [12] Gary Davies guest hosted the show on 21 and 28 August 2021 and 2 July 2022.
During this time on the show Gambo played fewer 1960s and early 1970s charts from 2020 onwards due to the change in Radio 2 music policy; the 1950s were last featured in 2017. Instead he played more mid to late 1990s and early 2000s charts during this time as host. His featured years were 1958-2006. He played 1982 and 1987 most during his era, both featuring over 30 times over a 7 and half year period.
Gambaccini announced his departure from the show on 12 August 2023, and his final show was broadcast on 7 October, featuring charts from October 1970, the week he first came to the UK, and October 1993. This show was also the last to be produced by Swern, who left the show after over 30 years.
On 10 August 2023, it was announced that Steve Wright would become the new host from 14 October. His first regular show on 21 October featured charts from 1984 and 1990. [13] Wright provided longer links than Gambaccini or Winton as he told listeners facts about the acts & bands in the top 20, along with the featured year. Wright died on 12 February 2024, whilst still the incumbent host with 1978 and 1986 being his final rundown on 10 February. Steve featured the years 1966 to 2002 during his tenure.
Gary Davies has presented the show since 17 February 2024, following Wright's sudden death, he featured the years Wright joined BBC Radios 1 and 2; 1980 and 1996 respectively. Davies will currently present the show until July 2024. Featured years have been between 1968 and 2003
It was announced on 15 April 2024, that Mark Goodier will be taking over from Wright on a permanent basis from July 2024, this is following his decision to leave Greatest Hits Radio. [14]
Between 1961 and 1966, the theme tune was "At the Sign of the Swingin' Cymbal" written and performed by Brian Fahey and his Orchestra. In 1966 it was replaced with "Quite Beside The Point" by the Harry Roberts Sound but was reinstated in 1970, with a new recording by Brass Incorporated.
Dale Jonathan Winton was an English radio DJ and television presenter. He presented the shows Supermarket Sweep from 1993 until 2001 and again in 2007, the National Lottery game show In It to Win It between 2002 and 2016 and the 2008 series of Hole in the Wall. Winton also presented Pets Win Prizes (1995–96) and The Other Half (1997–2002).
Antony Kenneth Blackburn is an English disc jockey, singer and TV presenter.
Paul Matthew Gambaccini is an American-British radio and television presenter and author in the United Kingdom. He has dual United States and British nationality, having become a British citizen in 2005.
Michael David Kenneth Read is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter.
Stephen Richard Wright was an English disc jockey, radio personality, and occasional television presenter, credited with introducing the morning zoo format to British radio with a humorous collection of personalities. He presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon for 12 years on BBC Radio 1 and 23 years on BBC Radio 2, two of the BBC's national radio stations. He continued to present his Sunday Love Songs on Radio 2 until his death and, in October 2023, he took over as the host of the long-running Pick of the Pops chart show. On BBC Television, Wright hosted Home Truths, The Steve Wright People Show, Auntie's TV Favourites, Top of the Pops and TOTP2.
Alan Leslie Freeman MBE, nicknamed "Fluff", was an Australian-born British disc jockey and radio personality in the United Kingdom for 40 years, best known for presenting Pick of the Pops from 1961 to 2000.
Smashie and Nicey are comedy characters who first appeared in the early 1990s TV sketch show Harry Enfield's Television Programme. They were played by the comedians Paul Whitehouse and Harry Enfield respectively.
Gary Davies is a British broadcaster. From 1982 to 1993 he was a BBC Radio 1 disc jockey and a regular presenter of Top of the Pops.
Mark Goodier is a British radio disc jockey best known for his time on BBC Radio 1 between 1987 and 2002. He had two spells presenting the station's Top 40 singles chart, from 1990 to 1992 and from 1995 until 2002. He also had a stint on Radio 1 Breakfast during 1993.
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