Top Of The Pops back again for Christmas

12:31 | Friday December 9, 2011

By Paul Williams

Top Of The Pops is returning to TV screens for its annual Christmas Day appearance with a studio line-up exclusively comprising UK artists.

Although the show was axed after more than 42 years as a weekly fixture in July 2006, it has continued to have a presence on the BBC One December 25 schedules ever since and this year is no exception with the programme due to go out that day between 2 and 3pm.

Being recorded this Monday (December 12) at BBC Television Centre in London, the hour-long programme will include among its performers Example, Pixie Lott, Rizzle Kicks, Ed Sheeran, The Wanted and Will Young. Professor Green featuring Emeli Sande, Olly Murs, Noah & The Whale, The Vaccines and whoever wins The X Factor final on Sunday will also feature.
The way the calendar falls this year with December 25 on a Sunday means the Official Charts Company’s Christmas chart will come out on Christmas Day itself and Top Of The Pops is due to unveil who is number one on the countdown just before the Queen’s Christmas Message is screened.

The programme will be hosted by Fearne Cotton and Radio 1 Top 40 host Reggie Yeates who said: “Hosting the yearly specials of Top Of The Pops with Fearne Cotton is one of the highlights of my year; it’s always such a thrill to present such a loved show.”
Cotton added: “I’m so happy Top of the Pops is back for another Christmas special. It’s a wonderful tradition that I’m so proud to be part of. Great bands, live music and a sprinkling of fake snow thrown in to the mix! It’ll be lovely teaming up with my old mate Reggie Yates again, too. See you Christmas Day.”

In addition to the Christmas Day special, BBC Two will screen what is being billed as an affectionate tribute to the first ever Top Of The Pops host Sir Jimmy Savile who died in October just two days before what would have been his 85th birthday. Sir Jimmy Savile at the BBC: How About That Then? will include archive material from the legendary music show and will go out on what was its traditional airtime of 7pm on a Thursday on December 28.