TOTP2

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Top of the Pops 2

Logo introduced in 2006
Format Archive chart music
Narrated by Steve Wright (1997-Present)
Johnnie Walker (1994-1997)
Theme music composer Tony Gibber (2006-Present)
Country of origin Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Language(s) English
No. of episodes 487+ (as of 7 October 2006)
Production
Producer(s) Ric Blaxill (1994-1998)
Rory Sheehan (1998)
Mark Hagen (1999-Present)
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel BBC Two
Original run 17 September 1994 – Present
External links
Official website
IMDb profile

TOTP2 (Top of the Pops 2) is a British television music show broadcast on BBC Two, showing archive footage from the long-running Top of the Pops show, some dating back to the early 1960s.

Contents

[edit] Original format

The show was originally hosted by BBC Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker until colleague and fellow DJ Steve Wright took over in 1997.

Wright himself never appears in-vision but provides a voice-over commentary and introduction to each piece. In 2003 the BBC started to run a daily version of TOTP2 in which celebrities chose their favourite archive performances. These celebrities, typically comedians, have included Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer, Phill Jupitus and Jack Dee. There have also been a number of TOTP2 specials in which a "greatest hits" show dedicated to one musician or band is put together from both archive and new footage.

[edit] Rest

Logo used between 2002-2003
Logo used between 2002-2003

In 2004, the incoming controller of BBC Two, Roly Keating, announced that the programme was to be "rested". The last showing of TOTP2 was intended to be the TOTP2 Christmas Special shown on Christmas Eve 2005 at 19:30 on BBC Two. But they have started to re-run TOTP2 on UKTV G2, now Dave since 2004 with edited versions.

[edit] Return

On 30 September 2006, TOTP2 returned to BBC Two. The new show format was similar to the earlier TOTP2, but also included live/original BBC performances. The first 50-minute special included Nelly Furtado, Jamelia and Razorlight, before it reverted to a 30 minute weekly format at 20:00.[1]

It is unusual for a modern BBC programme, in that it is broadcast in the 4:3 aspect ratio. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that it reuses archive material, the vast majority of which is in that format. The first two episodes were in the 16:9 aspect ratio, however, to accommodate new performances.

It now appears that the show will not continue in this form, but will still broadcast occasional specials.

[edit] Trivia

The show's researchers unearthed a film of a band with young Rick Wakeman playing keyboards. The band was billed as Yes, although they were actually Strawbs. Wakeman left Strawbs to join Yes in 1971.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Todd, Ben. "EXCLUSIVE: TOP OF THE POPS BACK ON TV", Sunday Mirror, 24 September 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-24. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Top of the Pops
List of performances • List of performers • The magazine
Presenters
Top of the Pops 2 • Top of the Pops Reloaded