Top of the Pops Season 18, Episode 53: The Hits of 1981

1

Episode 1

Dave Lee Travis and Tommy Vance introduce a special edition, featuring some of the top records of 1980. Including performances from Ottawan, The Jam, The Detroit Spinners, and Kelly Marie.

45 min

2

Episode 2

Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, with performances from The Look, Chas and Dave, The Beat, Matchbox, The Nolans and Racey, and a dance sequence from Legs & Co.

40 min

3

Episode 3

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Gary Numan, Dire Straits, Phil Collins, and Mac Davis. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

40 min

4

Episode 4

Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, with performances from The Look, Spandau Ballet, XTC, Adam and the Ants, Bad Manners and Blondie.

40 min

5

Episode 5

Tommy Vance introduces the pop programme, featuring Slade, The Stranglers, Sheila Hylton, Susan Fassbender, John Lennon, The Gap Band, Phil Collins, Madness and Ultravox, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

40 min

6

Episode 6

Simon Bates introduces the pop programme, featuring Joe Dolce, The Stray Cats, The Passions, Rainbow, Blondie, Spandau Ballet, Cliff Richard, Dire Straits, XTC and John Lennon, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

40 min

7

Episode 7

Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring The Pretenders, Barbara Jones, Kelly Marie, Freeez, Beggar and Co, Coast to Coast, Slade and John Lennon, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

40 min

8

Episode 8

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Rainbow, Headgirl (motorhead & Girlschool), Stray Cats, and Visage. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

35 min

9

Episode 9

Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Status Quo, Kim Wilde, Madness, Kiki Dee, Coast to Coast, The Passions, Roxy Music and Joe Dolce, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

40 min

10

Episode 10

Mike Read introduces the pop programme, featuring Duran Duran, Shakin Stevens, Phil Collins, The Who, Adam and the Ants, Toyah, Motorhead & Girlschool, Joe Dolce, Talking Heads and The Teardrop Explodes, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

40 min

11

Episode 11

Tommy Vance introduces the pop programme, featuring The Teardrop Explodes, Kim Wilde, Linx, Status Quo, Kelly Marie, Freeez, Beggar & Co, Landscape, Talking Heads, Kiki Dee, Coast to Coast and Roxy Music, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

40 min

12

Episode 12

Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Sharon Redd, Bucks Fizz, Colin Blunstone & Dave Stewart, Toyah, The Who, Phil Collins, Shakin Stevens, Visage, Roxy Music and Duran Duran, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

30 min

13

Episode 13

Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring Graham Bonnet, Hazel O'Connor, Tony Capstick, Gillan, Lene Lovich, Bad Manners, Shakin' Stevens, Linx, Landscape, the Polecats and Kim Wilde, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

30 min

14

Episode 14

Simon Bates introduces the pop programme, featuring Stiff Little Fingers, Liquid Gold, Light of the World, Children of Tansley School, Sugar Minott, Lena Zavaroni, Spandau Ballet, Shakin' Stevens, Stevie Wonder, The Nolans and Bucks Fizz, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

30 min

15

Episode 15

Mike Read introduces the pop programme, featuring Keith Marshall, Bucks Fizz, Public Image, Eddy Grant, Linx, Saxon, Graham Bonnet, Gillan, The Whispers and Shakin' Stevens, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

30 min

16

Episode 16

Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Bad Manners, Girlschool, Department S, The Beat, The Cure, The Nolans, UK Subs, The Jacksons, Whitesnake, Spandau Ballet, Sugar Minott, Bucks Fizz and Ennio Morricone, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

40 min

17

Episode 17

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Matchbox, Roger Taylor, Barry Manilow, and Keith Marshall. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

40 min

18

Episode 18

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Madness, Sheena Easton, Ennio Morricone, and Quincy Jones. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

40 min

19

Episode 19

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Stray Cats, Keith Marshall, Eddy Grant, and Reo Speedwagon. Introduced by Peter Powell.

40 min

20

Episode 20

Tommy Vance introduces the pop programme. Includes appearances from Thin Lizzy, Department S, Tenpole Tudor, Sheena Easton, Kim Carnes and Adam and the Ants, plus a dance performance by Legs and Co.

20 min

21

Episode 21

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Shakin' Stevens, Toyah, The Teardrop Explodes, and The Human League. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

40 min

22

Episode 22

Simon Bates introduces the pop programme, featuring The Polecats, UB40, Hazel O'Connor, Coast to Coast, Adam & the Ants and Kim Carnes, plus a dance performance from Legs & Co.

35 min

23

Episode 23

Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring Siouxsie & the Banshees, Imagination, Phil Collins, Squeeze, The Jam, Toyah and Adam & the Ants, plus a dance performance from Legs & Co.

35 min

24

Episode 24

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Hazel O'connor, Elaine Paige, Ultravox, and Enigma. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

35 min

25

Episode 25

Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Linx, Phil Collins, Odyssey, The Specials, Imagination and Smokey Robinson, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

35 min

26

Episode 26

Simon Bates introduces the pop programme, featuring The Evasions, Randy Crawford, Depeche Mode, Elaine Paige, Kirsty MacColl and Gillan, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

32 min

27

Episode 27

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Third World, Quincy Jones, Linx, and Michael Jackson. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

35 min

28

Episode 28

A special live edition of the chart show, celebrating the 900th episode. A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Supremes, The Dave Clark Five, Randy Crawford, and Tom Tom Club. Introduced by Jimmy Savile, Alan Freeman, David Jacobs, & Pete Murray.

35 min

29

Episode 29

Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Spandau Ballet, Saxon, Dexys Midnight Runners, Third World, Kate Bush, Bad Manners and The Specials, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

32 min

30

Episode 30

Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring the Vapors, Tight Fit, Gidea Park, Sheena Easton, Visage and the Specials, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

35 min

31

Episode 31

Steve Wright introduces the pop programme, featuring Kim Wilde, The Undertones, Duran Duran, Bill Wyman, Stevie Wonder, Spandau Ballet, The Specials and Shakin' Stevens, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

35 min

32

Episode 32

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Sheena Easton, Lobo, Reo Speedwagon, and Tight Fit. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

35 min

33

Episode 33

Simon Bates introduces the pop programme, featuring Duran Duran, Soft Cell, Aneka, Shakin' Stevens, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Electric Light Orchestra and Bill Wyman, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

35 min

34

Episode 34

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Human League, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Randy Crawford, and Lobo. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

35 min

35

Episode 35

Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring Startrax, Ultravox, Cliff Richard, The Rolling Stones, Aneka and Genesis, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

35 min

36

Episode 36

Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring The Teardrop Explodes, OMD, Modern Romance, Dollar, Soft Cell, Gary Numan and Funkapolitan, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

35 min

37

Episode 37

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Cliff Richard, Randy Crawford, Imagination, and Ottawan. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

40 min

38

Episode 38

Steve Wright introduces the pop programme, featuring performances from Gidea Park, Beggar & Co, Sheena Easton, Godley and Creme, The Pointer Sisters, Bucks Fizz and Adam & The Ants, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

40 min

39

Episode 39

Simon Bates introduces the pop chart programme, featuring performances from Slade, Depeche Mode, Madness, Imagination, Alvin Stardust, Linx and Adam & The Ants, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.

40 min

40

Episode 40

Weekly pop chart programme presented by Mike Read, first broadcast on 1 October 1981. Includes appearances from The Tweets, Toyah, Altered Images, Gidea Park, The Creatures, Bad Manners, Dollar and Adam & The Ants, plus a dance sequence by Legs & Co.

40 min

41

Episode 41

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin, Shakin' Stevens, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, and Tight Fit. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

40 min

42

Episode 42

David 'Kid' Jensen presents the TOTP hits of the week, first broadcast on 15 October 1981. Includes appearances from BA Robertson & Maggie Bell, Squeeze, Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin, This Year's Blonde, Toyah, The Creatures and Bad Manners. Also includes a dance sequence by Legs & Co.

40 min

43

Episode 43

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Human League, The Four Tops, Gillan, and The Jam. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

35 min

44

Episode 44

Simon Bates presents appearances from Altered Images, Trevor Walters, Haircut 100, Squeeze, Olivia Newton John, OMD, BA Robertson & Maggie Bell, and Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin.

35 min

45

Episode 45

Peter Powell presents the weekly pop chart show, first broadcast on 5 November 1981. Includes appearances from The Dukes, Jets, ABC, Modern Romance, The Police, Rush, Julio Iglesias, Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin, and The Four Tops.

40 min

46

Episode 46

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Omd, The Fureys With Davey Arthur, Air Supply, and Daryl Hall & John Oates. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

35 min

47

Episode 47

Steve Wright presents the pop chart show, first broadcast on 19 November 1981. Includes appearances by Modern Romance, The Pretenders, Fun Boy Three, ABC, Trevor Walters, Julio Iglesias, Diana Ross, Soft Cell and Zoo.

35 min

48

Episode 48

Mike Read presents the pop chart show, first broadcast on 26 November 1981. Includes appearances by Kim Wilde, Jets, Toyah, Kool & The Gang, Earth Wind & Fire, Cliff Richard, Ultravox, and Queen & David Bowie.

35 min

49

Episode 49

David 'Kid' Jensen presents the pop chart show, first broadcast on 3rd December 1981. Includes appearances from Bad Manners, Soft Cell, Duran Duran, Fun Boy Three, Godley & Creme, The Human League, Julio Iglesias and Zoo.

32 min

50

Episode 50

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Madness, Ken Dodd, Bucks Fizz, and Abba. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

35 min

51

Episode 51

Simon Bates presents the pop charts show, first broadcast on 17 December 1981. Includes appearances from Duran Duran, Godley & Creme, the Snowmen, Cliff Richard, Rod Stewart, Status Quo, the Human League and Zoo.

35 min

52

Episode 52

David 'Kid' Jensen presents the weekly pop chart show, first broadcast on 24 December 1981. Includes appearances from Bucks Fizz, Dollar, Roy Wood & Wizzard, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Altered Images, the Human League and Zoo.

40 min

53

The Hits of 1981

Mike Read presents the hits of 1981, in a show first broadcast on 31 December 1981. Includes appearances from Adam & the Ants, John Lennon, Roxy Music, Aneka, The Police, The Specials, Joe Dolce, Julio Iglesias, Bucks Fizz, Soft Cell and The Human League.

40 min