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Smashing Hits! The 80s Pop Map of Britain and Ireland

Series 1

Episode 3

Duration: 59 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC FourLatest broadcast: on BBC Four

Two 80s icons explore the distinct sounds that came out of different parts of Britain and Ireland in one of pop's golden decades.

Midge Ure, lead singer of Ultravox and one of the men behind Band Aid, and Kim Appleby, who had a string of hits with her sister Mel in the Stock, Aitken and Waterman-produced band Mel and Kim, go on a journey back in time to the 80s to figure out why certain cities produced their own diverse tunes.

It's a fascinating tale. Emerging from the ashes of punk, British and Irish music ripped up the pop rule book in the 80s and topped the charts worldwide. But there was no definitive 'British' pop sound. Innovative chart-toppers were being produced by artists hailing from all over the UK and Ireland.

In this third and final episode, Midge and Kim visit London and Manchester, the two cities that did battle with each other for musical pre-eminence as 80s music turned towards the new sounds of dance.

Star interviewees include Denise Pearson from Five Star, Soul II Soul's Jazzie B, Mark Moore of S'Express, Shaun Ryder from The Happy Mondays and Peter Hook of New Order.

It's a tale of how studio technology changed music, with British bands putting their own unique spin on dance to produce contrasting northern and southern sounds. Show less

Contributors

Presenter:
Kim Appleby
Presenter:
Midge Ure
Re-recording mixer:
James Routh
Production Coordinator:
Sally Townend
Production Manager:
Joanne Lees
Director of photography:
Mark Stokes
Assistant Producer:
Jessika Barcynski
Executive Producer:
Andrew Sheldon
Director:
Rick Goodwin
Series Producer:
Paul Murray
Assistant Producer:
Joel Gellard
On-line editing:
Andy Brown
Camera Operator:
Paul Teverini
Production Company:
True North Productions

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