The 1960s Episode Guide

During the 1960s, television rapidly established itself as a mainstream medium, with new genres and formats being developed and explored. Music television was among these emerging areas. While ITV had already launched a successful music programme, Ready Steady Go!, featuring contemporary artists performing their latest hits, the BBC was actively seeking ways to compete. Spurred in part by internal pressure — even from the children of BBC executives — the BBC commissioned a new music programme: Top of the Pops. Originally intended as a six-week trial, the show would go on to become a cultural phenomenon.

The programme’s first producer, Johnny Stewart, held the role of executive producer from its inception in 1964 until 1973. Stewart implemented a clear editorial policy: only chart “climbers” — songs rising in popularity — were eligible to appear on the programme. At the time, it was common for singles to enter the charts at a low position and gradually ascend to number one. This approach also helped reduce the pressure from public relations representatives eager to promote less successful or declining tracks.

Top of the Pops was initially broadcast from a converted church studio on Dickinson Road in Manchester. The format was simple but effective: a countdown of the Top 30 records, performances from rising chart acts, and links provided by well-known BBC radio personalities. The first episode, aired in 1964, was hosted by Jimmy Savile, with later episodes featuring Pete Murray, David Jacobs, and Alan Freeman. These presenters became regular faces throughout the decade, with additional contributions from Tony Blackburn and a young John Peel. Although the show was often unrehearsed and chaotic, it quickly resonated with a youthful audience, earning an extended contract.

As the show gained popularity, it encountered opposition from the Musicians’ Union (MU), which argued that mimed performances were displacing live musicians from television work. Keen to maintain good relations with the MU — which had influence across BBC’s radio and television programming — the BBC agreed to incorporate live music. An in-house orchestra was formed, capable of replicating the original chart recordings, and solo artists such as Lulu and Tom Jones performed with this ensemble. Full bands were also encouraged to perform live.

Due to space constraints in Manchester, the programme relocated on 20 January 1966 to Studio TC2 at BBC Television Centre in London. This move marked a stylistic evolution for Top of the Pops, aligning it more closely with the fashionable and experimental spirit of the “Swinging Sixties.” Dance troupe Pan’s People became a signature feature, and audience members could compete in studio dance competitions to win prizes such as vinyl records. The show became more sophisticated in both look and feel, culminating in its first colour broadcast on 24 November 1969 — allowing viewers to see their favourite artists in full, vibrant colour – if they had a colour TV set.

Despite its growing popularity, archiving practices at the time were regrettably short-sighted. BBC documentation reveals that Johnny Stewart ordered all episodes from June 1967 onward to be recorded and archived. However, prior to this, it was common for Top of the Pops episodes — like many other BBC programmes — to be wiped or destroyed, under the assumption that they held no long-term value. As the show was chart-based and not considered exportable, no provision was made for rebroadcasts. Consequently, most episodes before 1973 are lost. The earliest surviving full episode is the Boxing Day 1967 episode. Surviving material from the 1960s consists primarily of short tele-recorded clips rather than complete broadcasts.

Under Johnny Stewart’s leadership, Top of the Pops firmly established itself as a flagship music programme. However, as the 1960s came to a close, both the show and the music scene were poised for significant change…