TOTP back for Christmas

Posted December 14, 200717 yr

TOTP back for Christmas

15:33 | Friday December 14, 2007

By Anna Winston

A raft of music specials at Channel Four and the return of Top of the Pops will ensure that music stays high on the Christmas curriculum for another year.

Top of the Pops will return on Christmas Day for a one hour special at 1.30pm after the corporation considered last year’s special to be a success.

A line-up of ten live performances from Kaiser Chiefs, Girls Aloud, the Proclaimers, Kate Nash, Katie Melua and Robyn, amongst others, will form the core of the show, which will be presented by Fern Cotton and Reggie Yates.

Other sections of the show will include packages featuring clips of the BBC’s various music programmes from 2007 and the traditional unveiling of the Christmas number one.

BBC head of music entertainment Mark cooper says, “It is harder to do in a way because traditionally it relied on the mothership of the weekly show and we don’t have that anymore but as a way of looking back over the year, and given its place in the nation’s affections, it feels like a really good time for it to return.

The future of the show is still uncertain and its appearance in Christmas schedules in years to come will depend on its performance.

Cooper says, “It’s going to be interesting this year because it’s another year on from the demise of the weekly show so if that means it will be more watched or less watched I don’t know.”

“It’s hard to predict anything with Top Of The Pops, it will depend partly how the show performs this year. It has to earn its place every year.”

Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny will wrap up the year on BBC Two in its traditional New Year’s Eve slot, featuring Paul McCartney, Kaiser Chiefs, Kylie, Madness, Seasick Steve, Mika and Raul Midon.

Meanwhile Channel Four and T4 have scheduled in a large number of pre-recorded live concerts, including The Three Tenors, Kylie and Amy Winehouse.

The concerts complement a number of original programmes including a pilot for new show The Mixtape on December 22 and the final of MobileAct Unsigned on December 23.

Scissor Sisters Live at Wembley Arena on December 22 precedes Jake’s Adventures in Dollywood, broadcast on December 26, while Girls Aloud’s appearance on the Friday Night Christmas Project on December 22 is followed by a repeat of their Loud and Lovely show at Wembley Arena on Christmas Eve.

Channel Four music editor Cath Lovesey says, “It really is a time for feel-good, accessible, broad music. It’s not the most taxing viewing, but it’s a great way of reviewing the year.

“For us it’s not always about getting the big figures, it’s about doing something unexpected and I wouldn’t expect to see Dolly Parton or Jake Shears on any other channel on Boxing Day.”

Elsewhere, ITV is hosting Britain Sings Christmas on December 22, and the channel will see in the New Year with Take That broadcasting live from London’s O2 arena.