Tag Archives: Dave Lee Travis

Apr142017

“A reminder of a world that doesn’t care” – Top of the Pops, 20 August 1981

Steve Binnie1981 • TV • Top Of The Pops

An unusual choice for Top of the Pops presenter this week as we find ourselves watching the first edition ever to be hosted by an actual scarecrow! Ah no, sorry, false alarm, it’s just Dave Lee Travis in a big straw hat. No BBC Four showing this week then, so it’s the Phantom Taper to the rescue once more with a 1990s recording from UK Gold, complete with tell-tale raggedy stripe down the right-hand side of the picture, the remnants of old-fashioned analogue encryption. Yes, they used to charge money to let people watch old TOTP back in the ’90s. Wonder why nobody’s thought of doing that again? A channel showing nothing but the Hairy Cornflake’s editions would surely raise a two- or even three-figure sum. Until then, we’ll make do.

See the full top 75 for this week on the Official Charts Website.
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“Too much fighting on the dance floor” – Top of the Pops, 2 July 1981

Finally! After months and months of recycling the same tired joke, the powers that be at TOTP have finally taken my advice and commissioned a proper theme tune and title sequence. Don’t tell anyone though, because it’s still under wraps … read more

30 June 2016 Steve Binnie1981 • TV • Top Of The Pops1981 • Bad Manners • Barry Biggs • Dave Lee Travis • Legs & Co • Linx • Michael Jackson • Quincy Jones • Rainbow • Specials • Spotify • Third World • Top of the Pops

“Blow up the TV, blow up the car” – Top of the Pops, 21 May 1981

If you had fond memories of late April and early May 1981 and were looking forward to reliving those memories via the BBC Four reruns of Top of the Pops, you’re probably feeling pretty short changed by now. What with … read more

4 May 2016 Steve Binnie1981 • TV • Top Of The Pops1981 • Adam Ant • Beat • Chas & Dave • Dave Lee Travis • Duran Duran • Human League • Kim Wilde • Legs & Co • Quincy Jones • Shakin' Stevens • Smokey Robinson • Spotify • Stray Cats • Teardrop Explodes • Top of the Pops • Tottenham Hotspur • Toyah • Undertones

“Look at it from my angle” – Top of the Pops, 23 April 1981

There’s an almighty gap in the BBC Four reruns here as we skip three whole episodes, starting with this Dave Lee Travis-fronted edition. No doubt the Daily Mail would be disgusted to realise that people ever watched it on its … read more

3 April 2016 Steve Binnie1981 • TV • Top Of The Pops1981 • Barry Manilow • Bucks Fizz • Dave Lee Travis • Eddy Grant • Freeez • Gillan • Keith Marshall • Legs & Co • Level 42 • Matchbox • Queen • Roger Taylor • Saxon • Spotify • Star Sound • Top of the Pops

“Bless my cotton socks, I’m in the news” – Top of the Pops, 19 February 1981

Doesn’t time fly? We’re certainly powering through the run on BBC Four now they’ve started showing two editions every week, and as they’re still skipping the ones hosted by Dave Lee Travis it’s possible to get through a short month … read more

9 February 2016 Steve Binnie1981 • TV • Top Of The Pops1981 • Adam Ant • Dave Lee Travis • Fred Wedlock • Girlschool • Joe Dolce • Legs & Co • Madness • Motorhead • Rainbow • Spotify • Stray Cats • Talking Heads • Teardrop Explodes • Top of the Pops • Toyah • Visage

“I saw it with my own two eyes” – Top of the Pops, 15 January 1981

Two episodes into the 1981 run on BBC Four and everyone’s already confused. Since the repeats started with 1976 back in 2010 it’s been once a week, generally on Thursdays at 7:30 as it used to be in the old … read more