Original version

BBC Four

BBC 4

Top of the Pops

Music: Classic Pop & Rock

BBC One

The biggest stars, iconic performances and outrageous outfits in Britain's best pop show.

The biggest stars, the most iconic performances, the most outrageous outfits – it’s Britain’s number one pop show.

The Story of 1977

Top of the Pops: The Story of 1977

BBC Two

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

BBC Two Northern Ireland

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Four HD

David Vincent

Mark Cooper

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

06/01/2012

BBC One - Top of the Pops, The Story of 1977

How Top of the Pops in 1977 was stormed by punk and new wave acts such as the Jam.

Documentary exploring Top of the Pops in 1977, as it was stormed by punk and new wave acts such as the Stranglers and the Jam, as well as disco, reggae, pub rock and plastic pop.

Following BBC Four's Top of the Pops 1976, the next stop is 1977 - in some ways a year zero for Britain's most iconic music programme. As the country veered between strikes and street parties, pop bastion Top of the Pops was stormed by punk and new wave acts such as the Stranglers and the Jam. Yet Top of the Pops at first seemed unaware of the changes afoot and the way in which the show is made was beset by working practices that are perhaps symptoms of the way in which Britain could be said 'not to be working'. 

Jeans were getting tighter, hair shorter and the tunes louder, but it was an incredibly diverse year. Disco was also a dominant force with Donna Summer's I Feel Love, alongside the reggae of Bob Marley and the Wailers, the pub rock of Eddie and the Hot Rods and the plastic pop of Boney M. British pop that year was in a state of flux - unpredictable and exciting.

Appearing on Top of the Pops in 1977 is explored in the documentary by artists such as the Adverts, John Otway, members of Darts, JJ Burnel from the Stranglers and Paul Cook from the Sex Pistols, with insights from the Top of the Pops production team, Nicky Wire from the Manics and journalists Alexis Petridis and Pete Paphides.

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Top of the Pops

The Story of 1977

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Four

About BBC Four