TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 -
1981
Thursday 1st January 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops '80 Hits of the Year 7:10 -
Hosted by Dave Lee Travis, Tommy Vance
Theme -
Status Quo -
Ottawan -
Madness -
The Jam -
Billy Preston & Syreeta -
The Detroit Spinners -
UB40 -
Kelly Marie (with dancers) -
Hot Chocolate -
The Boomtown Rats -
Stevie Wonder -
Abba -
The Pretenders -
Whole Lotta Love theme (playout record and end credits)
BBC2 Joyce Grenfell 1910 -
Tribute show with Cleo Laine
BBC2 Genesis At The Lyceum 10:50 -
Thames The Helen Reddy Show 11:35 pm -
Grampian The Lena Martell Show 10:20 – 10:50 pm
Tyne Tees Paul Anka: Music My Way 11:35 pm – 12:10 am
In Monte Carlo
Friday 2nd January 1981
LWT Russ Abbot And His Very Own Show 7:45 -
Billie Jo Spears
Berni Flint
Saturday 3rd January 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
content unknown
BBC1 Heroes Of Rock N Roll 10:35 pm -
BBC2 Arena: Chelsea Hotel 10:20 -
Nico, Jobriath
ATV Tiswas
The Stray Cats
ITV Search For A Star
Venus and Mars (pop group)
Border Alright Now 10:00 – 10:30 am
content unknown
Yorkshire 3-
Alvin Stardust
Sunday 4th January 1981
BBC1 Kate 10:55 -
Kate Bush with Peter Gabriel
ITV Rock For Kampuchea 11:00 pm -
Queen
The Clash
The Pretenders
Wings
The Specials
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Rockpile With Robert Plant
Ian Dury & The Blockheads
The Who
Rockestra
Ulster Ulster Entertains
The Chieftains
Dana
Monday 5th January 1981
BBC2 Something Else (Hammersmith)
Adam & The Ants -
Linx
BBC2 Gilbert O’Sullivan 8:10 -
Barbara Dickson
Thames The Monte Carlo Show
Cher
Tuesday 6th January 1981
BBC1 The Crystal Gayle Show Repeat
BB King
Judy Collins
The Statler Brothers
BBC2 Jake Thackray And Songs 10:15 – 10:50 pm
Richard & Linda Thompson
Thames Unforgettable! 3:45 – 4:15
Hosted by Alan Freeman
Dave Berry
The Swinging Blue Jeans
Wednesday 7th January 1981
BBC1 Nationwide
Includes Nominations For The British Rock N Pop Awards
BBC2 Sixteen Up: Fair Cop? 6:05 -
John Cooper-
Thursday 8th January 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Richard Skinner
No theme
Racey -
Adam & The Ants -
The Look -
Barry Manilow -
Chart 30 -
The Beat -
Sad Cafe -
Matchbox -
Chart 19 -
Chas & Dave -
The Specials -
The Nolans -
Bad Manners -
Chart 10 -
John Lennon -
Queen -
Thames The Jim Davidson Show 7:30 -
Chas & Dave
Scottish On The Road With Duke Ellington 11:30 pm – 12:25 am
Anglia I Am The Blues 11:20 pm – 12:20 am
Friday 9th January 1981
BBC1 Peter Skellern 10:15 -
Saturday 10th January 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
Adam Ant
BBC1 Parkinson
Suzi Quatro
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11:10 -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
John Martyn & Phil Collins -
John Otway -
The Skids -
The Joe Jackson Band -
The Jack Bruce Band -
Visage -
ATV Tiswas
Matchbox
Phil Collins
ITV Search For A Star
Quill (rock band)
Sunday 11th January 1981
BBC1 16 Up (repeat 7 January 1981)
Monday 12th January 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 6:50 -
The Q-
BBC2 Barry Manilow 8:00 -
Live At Wembley, Part One
Thames The Monte Carlo Show
Neil Sedaka
Tuesday 13th January 1981
BBC2 Jake Thackray And Songs
Ralph McTell
Thames Unforgettable
The Merseybeats
Jigsaw
Wednesday 14th January 1981
Granada Live From Two
Bryan Ferry, Sandie Shaw, Paul Jones, Mickie Most, Paul Rafferty
The Hot Jazz Duo
Anglia Alright Now 5:15 – 5:45 pm
Southern Runaround
Duncan McKay
Thames Where’s Jack (1968 movie) Theme sung by Mary Hopkin
Thursday 15th January 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Dave Lee Travis
No Theme
Susan Fassbender -
Gary Numan -
Light Of The World -
Dire Straits -
Stevie Wonder -
Phil Collins -
UFO -
Chart 30 -
Mac Davis -
Ultravox -
Chart 20 -
Queen -
Chart 10 -
John Lennon -
Yarborough & Peoples -
Thames Afternoon Plus
Alan Price
Anglia Willie Dixon 11:15 pm – 12:15 am
Southern Jazz The Inimitable Art
documentary
Friday 16th January 1981
BBC1 Peter Skellern
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7:20 -
Hosted by Rik Mayall, Rob Rohner
content unknown
Granada Once Upon A Time
children's stories read by Mark Wynter
Saturday 17th January 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
content unknown
BBC1 Jim’ll Fix It
Madness
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11:35 pm -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
Adam & The Ants -
Huang Chung -
Angel City -
Paul Gambaccini reviews movie Times Square
The Flatbackers -
The Reluctant Stereotypes -
The Specials -
ATV Tiswas
Blondie -
The Look -
Bad Manners -
Visage -
The Boomtown Rats -
Lenny Henry -
LWT Search for a Star
Gordon Haskell
Sunday 18th January 1981
BBC2 The Red Arrows
Five Minute Documentary With Music By Sky
LWT 20th Century Box (repeat)
Spandau Ballet
LWT Oscar Peterson 11:30 pm – 12:30 am
Ray Charles
Monday 19th January 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 7:00 -
UB40 At Keele University
BBC2 Barry Manilow
Live At Wembley, part two
Thames The Monte Carlo Show
Petula Clark
ATV Today
Bryan Ferry interview
Tuesday 20th January 1981
BBC2 Harty
Hot Gossip (with two new members)
BBC2 Jake Thackray And Songs
Maddy Prior Band
Thames Unforgettable
Billy J Kramer
Craig Douglas
Wednesday 21st January 1981
BBC1 Parkinson
Bette Midler
ATV Starburst
Petula Clark
Mud
ITV Honky Tonk Heroes 9:00 -
Drama set in British Country and Western Bar, written By Ray Connolly
Yorkshire The Lena Martell Show 11:30 pm – 12:00 am
Thursday 22nd January 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Peter Powell
No theme
The Look -
Blondie -
Spandau Ballet -
Racey -
XTC -
Visage -
Yarborough & Peoples -
Adam & The Ants -
Chart 30 -
Honey Bane -
Chart 20 -
Bad Manners -
Chart 10 -
John Lennon -
The Gap Band -
Friday 23rd January 1981
BBC1 Peter Skellern
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show
content unknown
Thames Once Upon A Time (Children’s Stories)
As read by Mark Wynter
ATV Frank Sinatra: A Tribute 11:05 pm – 1:00 am
Saturday 24th January 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
The Quick
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 12:00 -
Mike Oldfield (Rockpop, Dortmund, 19 December 1980)
Roxy Music (Rock Pop, Dortmund)
Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons (Sydney)
ATV Tiswas
The Specials
LWT Search For A Star
Twice As Nice (singers)
Danny Owen (singer)
Afrique (group)
Sunday 25th January 1981
ATV The Muppet Show
Debbie Harry -
Monday 26th January 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 7:00 -
The Motels
BBC2 Grace Kennedy 8:30 -
Gerard Kenny
Border The Sound of...
Vince Hill
Tuesday 27th January 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill At One
Grace Kennedy
BBC2 Jake Thackray And Songs
Alex Glasgow
Thames Unforgettable
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Marty Wilde -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Frank Ifield -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Granada Ballyskillen Opera House: Alas Poor Yorick 7.30 -
Lulu
Yorkshire The Entertainers: Elkie Brooks 11:30 pm – 1:00 am
Wednesday 28th January 1981
BBC2 Sixteen Up
Report on the death of Malcolm Owen of The Ruts
ATV Starparade 2.45 -
James Last
Mirielle Mathieu
Katerina Valente
Rafaella Carra
The Bellamy Brothers
Thames Starburst 8.00 -
Ray Ellington
ATV Late Night Country Music 12.10 -
Dolly Parton
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Thursday 29th January 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Tommy Vance
NB The Daily Mirror have Dire Straits as appearing
No theme
Slade -
John Lennon -
The Stranglers -
Madness -
Sheila Hylton (with The Cimarons) -
Ultravox -
The Gap Band -
Diana Ross -
Chart 30 -
Phil Collins -
Chart 20 -
Susan Fassbender -
Chart 10 -
John Lennon -
Heatwave -
Thames The Jim Davidson Show 7.30 -
Chas & Dave -
Friday 30th January 1981
BBC1 Peter Skellern
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show
Hosts -
Gen X -
BBC2 Friday Night Saturday Morning 11:30 pm -
Harry Chapin
Granada Once Upon A Time 12.10 -
Mark Wynter
Southern The Pirhanas 10:35 – 11:05 pm
Documentary about their American tour
Saturday 31st January 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
The Skids
BBC2 Arena: Today Carlshalton Beeches…Tomorrow Croydon 10:45 -
John Peel Documentary
The Prefects -
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 12:00 -
Dire Straits (Rock Pop, Dortmund)
Talking Heads (Rock Pop, Dortmund)
ATV Tiswas
The Pretenders
Elaine Paige
LWT Search For A Star Final 5.15 -
Annie Noel & John Morgan (jazz singers)
Paul Rafferty (singer)
ITV The Bing Crosby International Golf Tournament 11.30 pm -
Pat Boone
Sunday 1st February 1981
ATV The Muppet Show
Johnny Cash -
Monday 2nd February 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College
NB This show was scheduled to be John Martyn At Chelsea College but was cancelled
The Skids At Chelsea College
BBC2 Grace Kennedy
ITV It's A Musical World 11.40 pm -
Introduced by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent
Elkie Brooks
Tuesday 3rd February 1981
BBC2 Jake Thackray And Songs
Shusha
BBC2 Russell Harty
David Essex
Thames Unforgettable
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Marmalade -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Don Lang -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Granada The Ballyskillen Opera House
The Bachelors
Wednesday 4th February 1981
BBC1 Variety Club Awards 7:25 -
Hazel O’Connor (best film actress)
BBC1 Captain Beaky World Of Words And Music (repeat)
Petula Clark
ITV The Entertainers 3.45 -
Dennis Waterman (as a singer)
ATV Starburst 8:00 -
Billy J Kramer And The New Dakotas
The Merseybeats
Dave Berry
Don Mclean
Granada Live From Two
DJ Show: David Jacobs, Tony Blackburn, Mike Read, John Peel
Harry Chapin W.O.L.D
Paul Rafferty Man Behind The Scene
Spookey There's Cyclone
Thursday 5th February 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Simon Bates
No theme
The Stray Cats -
Blondie -
Spandau Ballet -
Fred Wedlock -
Rainbow -
Dire Straits -
XTC -
Chart 30 -
Cliff Richard -
The Passions -
Chart 20 -
Joe Dolce Music Theatre -
Chart 10 -
John Lennon -
BBC2 The Mike Harding Show 10.15 -
Live At The Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Thames Afternoon Plus 2.00 -
The Mike Westbrook Band
Thames The Jim Davidson Show 7.30 -
Sue Wilkinson – You’ve Got To Be A Hustler
STV Elkie Brooks In Concert 11.30 -
Friday 6th February 1981
BBC1 Peter Skellern 10:15 -
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.20 -
Nash The Slash
BBC2 Friday Night…Saturday Morning
Baby Grand
Saturday 7th February 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
content unknown
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 10:45 -
NB Possibly David Hepworth's first appearance
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
Freeze -
Russ Ballard -
Creedence Clearwater Revival -
Glenn Baker -
Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons -
The Jags -
The DB's -
ATV Tiswas
Honey Baine
Fred Wedlock
Joe Dolce
Tyne Tees Saturday Shake Up
The Beatles -
LWT Punchlines!
Lulu
Yorkshire 3-
The Wurzels
Sunday 8th February 1981
LWT Star Parade
The Bellamy Brothers
Mirriele Matthieu
ITV The Monte Carlo Show
Neil Sedaka
The Hudson Brothers
Monday 9th February 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 7:00 -
The Roches At Loughborough University
BBC2 Grace Kennedy
Marvin Hamlisch
Tuesday 10th February 1981
BBC2 Jake Thackray And Songs 10.15 -
Jake Thackray
Pete Scott
Thames Unforgettable 3.45 -
The Marvelettes
Vanity Fare
Thursday 12th February 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Richard Skinner
No theme
The Pretenders -
Ultravox -
Barbara Jones -
Coast To Coast -
Gillan -
George Benson -
Chart 30 -
Freeez -
Slade -
Chart 20 -
Beggar & Co -
Kelly Marie (and dancers) -
Chart 10 -
John Lennon -
Thames The Jim Davidson Show
Linda Lewis
BBC2 The Mike Harding Show
Live At The Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Scottish Mike Oldfield In Concert 10:30 – 11:00 pm (also seen at The Blues Band In Concert)
Friday 13th February 1981
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7:20 -
The Passions -
Graham Fellows
BBC1 Peter Skellern 10:15 -
Granada Clapperboard
Pop Stars Turned Actors with David Essex
Saturday 14th February 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
content unknown
BBC1 The Best Of Yarwood
The Nolan Sisters
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
Michael Des Barres -
Midnight Flyer with Maggie Bell -
Paul Gambaccini & Anne Nightingale review Dance Craze movie
The Beat -
Camel -
Trevor Rabin -
The Sound -
ATV Tiswas
Slade (Noddy and Dave) -
ITV Duets For Piano And Voice 11:30 pm – 12:35 am (Made By RTE, Ireland)
Tony Hatch And Jackie Trent
Granada Blood Sweat And Tears
Tyne Tees Saturday Shake Up 9.00 am -
Kiki Dee
Madness
Elton John
Benedict Taylor
Sunday 15th February 1981
ATV The Muppet Show 5.00 -
Buddy Rich
LWT Star Parade: 11:30 pm -
James Last
John Denver
The Richie Family
Monday 16th February 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 7.05 -
B A Robertson At Preston Polytechnic
BBC2 …Won’t Change Places 9.00 -
Marti Webb special with Rod Argent, Paul Nicholas
ITV Monday Matinee: The Last of the Secret Agents?
Nancy Sinatra
Tuesday 17th February 1981
BBC2 Maggie 6:15 -
Theme By B A Robertson
BBC2 Harty
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas West End musical special
Wednesday 18th February 1981
BBC2 16 Up 6.10 -
John Cooper-
Thursday 19th February 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Dave Lee Travis
No theme
Teardrop Explodes -
Rainbow -
Fred Wedlock -
Headgirl (Motorhead / Girlschool) -
Toyah -
The Stray Cats -
Chart 30 -
Talking Heads -
Chart 20 -
Visage -
Adam & The Ants -
Chart 10 -
Joe Dolce Music Theatre -
Host says hello to Adam and The Ants
Madness -
BBC2 The Mike Harding Show 10.20 -
Mike Harding
STV Ian Gillan In Concert 10.30 -
Friday 20th February 1981
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7:25 – 8:00 pm
Nash The Slash
Graham Fellows
BBC2 Playhouse: Bobby Wants To Meet Me 9:30 -
Play about Bob Dylan fan at music paper who gets the chance to meet his idol backstage at Earl’s Court in 1978
Saturday 21st February 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
XTC
BBC1 Jim’ll Fix It
Shakin’ Stevens
BBC1 Parkinson
Marvin Hamlisch
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11:30 pm -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
Jeff Beck -
Grand Prix -
Jimi Hendrix -
999 -
The Spliff Radio Show -
John Cougar -
ATV Tiswas
Chas and Dave
Tyne Tees Saturday Shake Up
Ian Gillan
Gordon Giltrap
Coast To Coast
Sunday 22nd February 1981
ATV The Muppet Show 5.30 -
Paul Simon
Monday 23rd February 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 6:30 -
Gillan At Oxford Polytechnic
BBC2 Grace Kennedy 8:30 – 9:00 pm
Ulster Good Evening Ulster 6.00 -
The Blades
Granada Darts In Concert 12:00 – 12:45 am
Wednesday 25th February 1981
BBC1 Nationwide 5:55 -
The British Rock N Pop Awards
Hosted by Dave Lee Travis, Sue Lawley (The New Theatre, London)
Hot Chocolate
Madness
Adam & The Ants
Hazel O’Connor
Yoko Ono (On Phone)
David Bowie – Wins Award
BBC1 16 Up 6.00 -
John Cooper-
Thursday 26th February 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Peter Powell
Status Quo -
Roxy Music -
Beggar & Co -
Kim Wilde -
The Passions -
Madness -
Kelly Marie -
Coast To Coast (Do) The Hucklebuck (repeat 12th February 1981)
Ultravox -
Chart 30 -
Freeez -
Chart 20 -
Kiki Dee -
Chart 10 -
Joe Dolce -
BBC2 The Mike Harding Show
Yorkshire George Hamilton IV
Friday 27th February 1981
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show
Hosted by Rob Rohrer, Jackie Speckley
Stiletto
Saturday 28th February 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
Shakin’ Stevens
Showaddywaddy
Status Quo
BBC1 Jim’ll Fix It
Adam & The Ants
BBC1 Little And Large
The Stray Cats
BBC1 Parkinson (300th show)
Wall Street Crash
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11.35 pm -
Naked Lunch -
U2 – 11 O’Clock Tick Tock, I Will Follow
Garland Jeffrey & The Rumour -
April Wine -
BLT -
Jeff Beck -
Illustration -
Iron Maiden -
Granada Oscar Peterson In Concert
ATV Tiswas
Sheena Easton (participates in 'Beat The Benny')
Jake Thackray
Tyne Tees Saturday Shake Up
Coast To Coast
Sunday 1st March 1981
LWT Star Parade
Guys n Dolls
Roger Whittaker
Monday 2nd March 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 6:35 -
John Martyn At Sterling University
BBC2 Say It With Baby Grand 10:15 -
Andy Fairweather Low
ATV Rockstage 11:15 pm -
NB The show is also broadcast in stereo on some ILR stations. Different ITV stations show different shows to ATV
Compilation of forthcoming shows -
Tuesday 3rd March 1981
BBC1 (Midlands) Look Hear 6.50 -
Toyah
The Selecter
The Lazers
Granada After All That: This 11.05 -
Usher's Well (folk group)
Wednesday 4th March 1981
Granada Live From Two
Clodagh Rodgers
Thursday 5th March 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Mike Read
no theme
Duran Duran -
Talking Heads -
Adam & The Ants -
Toyah -
Shakin' Stevens -
Headgirl (Motorhead / Girlschool) -
Phil Collins -
Kool & The Gang -
Chart 30 -
Teardrop Explodes -
Chart 20 -
The Who -
Chart 10 -
Joe Dolce Music Theatre -
Coast To Coast -
BBC2 The Mike Harding Show 10.20 -
Scottish Elkie Brooks In Cncert 10.30 -
Friday 6th March 1981
BBC1 (Midlands) Look Hear 10.15 -
Toyah
The Selecter
The Lazers
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show
content unknown
Granada Live From Two
Miles Copeland Talks About Spying
Saturday 7th March 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
10cc -
BBC1 Jim'll Fix It 6.40 -
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
BBC1 Parkinson 9:45 -
Pete Townshend
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11.45 pm -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
Echo & The Bunnymen -
Spandau Ballet -
Randy Meisner -
Pretty Boy Floyd -
Carl Green & The Scene -
The DB’s -
Rupert Hine & The Menace -
ATV Tiswas 10:30 am -
Roger Daltrey, Kenney Jones
Tyne Tees Saturday Shake Up 12.00 -
Shakin' Stevens
Coast To Coast
How to be a DJ article with Radio Tees' Mark Page
Sunday 8th March 1981
BBC1 16 Up
John Cooper-
ATV The Muppet Show 5.30 -
Mac Davis
LWT Star Parade
James Last Special
Cliff Richard
Abba
Nana Mouskouri
Roger Whittaker
Monday 9th March 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 6.10 -
Siouxsie & The Banshees At Warwick University
BBC2 Marti 8.q15 -
Billy Preston, Hope, & Marti Caine With You I’m Born Again
BBC2 Say It With Baby Grand 10.20 -
Andy Fairweather-
ATV Rockstage 11.15 pm -
Sad Café (Theatre Royal, Nottingham)
Tuesday 10th March 1981
BBC1 (Midlands) Look Hear 6.50 -
Toyah
The Urge
Weapons of Peace
Granada After All That: This 12.05 -
content unknown
Wednesday 11th March 1981
BBC1 A Song For Europe ‘81 8.05 -
Choosing the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest from eight songs
Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up
Liquid Giold
Gary Benson
Leziee Carling
Headache
Unity
Boyond
Gem
ATV Vic Damone In Concert
ATV Starburst
The Drifters
Amii Stewart
Gerard Kenny
Thursday 12th March 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Tommy Vance
NB This is a collection of promos and repeats due to industrial action with the host appearing in front of a green screen
NB The Daily Mirror has The Polecats as appearing
Teardrop Explodes -
Kim Wilde -
Linx -
Kelly Marie -
Freeez -
Status Quo -
Beggar & Co -
Landscape -
Talking Heads -
Chart 30 -
Kiki Dee -
Chart 20 -
Coast To Coast -
Chart 10 -
Roxy Music -
BBC2 Sky at Westminster Abbey 8.10 -
BBC2 The Mike Harding Show 10.20 -
Friday 13th March 1981
BBC1 Abba In Concert 8:05 -
Live at Wembley 1979
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.25 -
The Original Mirrors
Granada After All That: This 11.00 -
content unknown
Saturday 14th March 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop o9.30 am -
Sad Cafe
BBC1 The Little and Large Show 8.05 -
Crystal Gayle
BBC1 Mississippi Days And Southern Nights 11:25 pm -
Glen Campbell
Tanya Tucker
Rita Coolidge
John Hartford
BBC1 Parkinson
Petula Clark
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 12.25 -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
Bruce Springsteen -
Paul Gambaccini wears a radiation suit to review No Nukes movie
Human Sexual Response -
Nine Below Zero -
The Cuban Heels -
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
Toyah Wilcox
Tyne Tees Saturday Shake Up 12.00 -
The Stray Cats
LWT The Monte Carlo Show
Anne Murray
Rod McKeun
Yorkshire 3-
Berni Flint
Sunday 15th March 1981
BBC1 16 Up 10.45 -
John Cooper-
BBC2 Made 10.15 pm -
ATV The Muppet Show 5.30 -
Shirley Bassey
LWT George Hamilton IV
Monday 16th March 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 6.15 -
After The Fire
BBC2 Marti Caine 8:15 -
Leo Sayer
BBC2 Say It With Baby Grand 10.20 -
Andy Fairweather Low
Granada What’s On 6.00 -
Elvis Costello -
ATV Rockstage 11.15 pm -
Average White Band (Theatre Royal, Nottingham)
Tuesday 17th March 1981
BBC1 (Midlands) Look Hear 6.50 -
Toyah
The Playthings
Brooklyn
BBC1 Omnibus 10:40 -
Stevie Wonder: Innervisions
Granada After All That: This 11.30 -
content unknown
Wednesday 18th March 1981
ATV Starburst
Leo Sayer
Granada Live From Two
Miles Copeland Talks About Spying
Thursday 19th March 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Peter Powell
Sharon Redd -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Dave Stewart & Colin Blunstone -
The Who -
Stevie Wonder -
Phil Collins -
Host has two members of the audience holding a bottle of champagne and a bottle of orange juice to help introduce the next act
Bucks Fizz -
Visage -
Chart 30 -
Duran Duran -
Chart 20 -
Toyah -
Chart 10 -
Roxy Music -
Friday 20th March 1981
BBC1 Cliff In London 8:15 -
Live at the Apollo, Victoria, 1980
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show
One of the presenters is Graham Fellows (Jilted John / John Shuttleworth)
content unknown
Saturday 21st March 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
BA Robertson
The Look
BBC1 The Little and Large Show
Shakin’ Stevens
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 10:15 -
Joni Mitchell -
ATV Tiswas
Status Quo
LWT The Monte Carlo Show
Kris Kristoffreson
Sunday 22nd March 1981
BBC2 Blow Up Movie with the Yardbirds
Monday 23rd March 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill
Peggy Lee
BBC2 Marti Caine
Kiki Dee
The Korgis
Thames A Royal Gala -
NB The Palace Theatre, Manchester
10Ccc with the Halle Orchestra
ATV Rockstage
Elkie Brooks
Wednesday 25th March 1981
BBC1 George Burns In Nashvile??? 11:20 pm -
Loretta Lynn
The Gatlin Brothers
Thursday 26th March 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Richard Skinner
no theme
The Polecats -
Kim Wilde -
Graham Bonnett -
Hazel O'Connor -
Tony Capstick -
Gillan -
Linx -
Lene Lovich -
Bad Manners -
Charts 30 -
The Whispers -
Charts 19 -
Landscape -
Charts 10 -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Bucks Fizz -
Friday 27th March 1981
BBC1 Barry Manilow World Tour 1981 8:00 -
Wembley, January 1981
ITV The Extraordinary People Show
The Nolans
Saturday 28th March 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
Squeeze -
The Tourists
The Teardrop Explodes
BBC1 Parkinson (repeat)
Cliff Richard
Sammy Cahn
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test
Introduced by Anne Nightingale
Stereo simulcast on Radio One
Live From Rockpalast, Essen, West Germany
The Who 9:35 -
The Grateful Dead -
ATV Tiswas
NB the final show with Lenny Henry, Chris Tarrant, Bob Carolgees, John Gorman
The Barron Knights
HTV The Monte Carlo Show
David Essex
Helen Reddy
LWT The Monte Carlo Show
Sacha Distel
Granada Paul Anka Music -
Sunday 29th March 1981
BBC2 Oh Lucky Man, movie with Alan Price
LWT Star Parade
Boney M
Lynsey DePaul
Monday 30th March 1981
BBC2 Marti
Tony Christie
Wall Street Crash
BBC2 Say It With Baby Grand
Andy Fairweather Low
ATV Rockstage
Squeeze
Tuesday 31st March 1981
BBC1 (Midlands) Look! Hear! 6:45 -
Hosted by Toyah Wilcox
Weapon Of Peace, The Hawks
BBC2 Hooked! (fishing show)
Frankie Vaughan
Thursday 2nd April 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops7:20 -
Hosted by Simon Bates
Stiff Little Fingers -
Dave Stewart & Colin Blunstone -
Light Of The World -
Liquid Gold -
Stevie Wonder -
The Jacksons -
Children Of Tansley School -
Sugar Minott -
Lena Zavaroni -
Chart 30 -
Spandau Ballet -
Chart 20 -
Bucks Fizz -
Chart 10 -
Shakin Stevens -
The Nolans -
BBC2 Jazz On A Bright Summer’s Day
West 58 Street Stompers
Friday 3rd April 1981
BBC1 Barry Manilow World Tour 1981 part two 8.05 -
Saturday 4th April 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
content unknown
BBC1 The Eurovision Song Contest 1981 8.00 -
UK Entry and winner: Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11:55 pm -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
Fischer Z -
Roger Taylor (Queen) -
Wings -
Whitesnake -
David Hepworth -
Spirit -
Stiff Little Fingers -
The Selecter -
BBC2 Arena: Did You Miss Me…? 11:00 -
Gary Glitter Documentary
LWT The Monte Carlo Show
Charles Aznavour
Sunday 5th April 1981
BBC1 George Burns In Nashville??? 11.20 pm -
BBC2 International Pro-
Glen Campbell
LWT Star Parade 11.30 pm -
James Last
Barry Manilow
Boney M
Johnny Ray
Monday 6th April 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4.20 -
B.A. Robertson -
Bucks Fizz -
Coast to Coast -
BBC2 Marti Caine 8.15 -
Showaddywaddy
BBC2 Say It With Baby Grand 10.20 -
Andy Fairweather Low – Wide Eyed And Legless
ATV Rockstage 11.15 pm -
Girlschool
Motorhead
Tuesday 7th April 1981
BBC1 (Midlands) Look Hear
Toyah
Grace
The Dancing Did
BBC2 Billie Jo Spears 9:00 -
Billie Jo Spears
The Hillsiders
Wednesday 8th April 1981
BBC1 Lena 8.00 -
Lena Zavaroni
Lulu
BBC1 Won't I Change Places 10.55 -
Marti Webb, Paul Nicholas, Rod Argent
Thames The Andy Williams Show
Thames Liberace: Live In Las Vegas 8.00 -
Thursday 9th April 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Mike Read
no theme
Linx -
Bucks Fizz -
Saxon -
Keith Marshall -
David Bowie -
Rosemary from Legs and Co 21st birthday
Graham Bonnett -
Public Image Ltd -
Eddy Grant -
Gillan -
Charts 30 -
The Whispers -
Charts 20 -
Hazel O'Connor -
Charts 10 -
Shakin’ Stevens -
BBC2 Wall Street Crash
in concert
Friday 10th April 1981
Granada After All That: This 11.30 -
content unknown
Saturday 11th April 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Music Show 8.25 -
Vic Damone
BBC1 Saturday Night At The Mill 11:00 -
B A Robertson interviewed by Jenny Hanley (Robertson keeps taunting Hanley with “your turn” after answering questions)
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 10:15 -
Hosted by Annie Nightingale
Philip Lynott (with Huey Lewis, Billy Bremner, Brian Downey) -
Gary US Bonds -
Paul Gambaccini -
Roger Taylor -
David Hepworth -
The Gang Of Four -
Sunday 12th April 1981
ATV The Muppet Show 5.30 -
Judy Collns
Monday 13th April 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4.20 -
Matchbox -
Dave Edmunds -
Duran Duran -
BBC2 Marti Caine 8.15 -
Judie Tzuke
BBC2 Say It With Baby Grand 10.20 -
Andy Fairweather Low
ATV Rockstage
Joe Jackson
Martha & The Muffins
Tuesday 14th April 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill
Vic Damone
BBC1 (Midlands) Look! Hear! 6.50 -
Toyah
The Bureau
The Reluctant Stereotypes
BBC2 Gladys Knight & The Pips part one 9:00 -
in concert at The New London Theatre
Granada Moondogs Matinee 4.15 -
The Moondogs
The Pretenders
Slade
Granada After All That: This 11.30 -
content unknown
Wednesday 15th April 1981
BBC1 Nationwide 5:55 -
Includes The TSB Rock School Finals
BBC1 Lena
Lena Zavaroni
Sheeba – Horoscopes
Thames The Andy Williams Show
Thursday 16th April 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Peter Powell
The Jacksons -
Bad Manners -
Spandau Ballet -
Girlschool – Hit 'N' Run
Sugar Minnot -
Department S -
The Beat -
Whitesnake -
UK Subs -
Ennio Morricone -
Chart 30 -
The Cure -
Chart 20 -
The Nolans -
Chart 10 -
Bucks Fizz -
The Jacksons -
BBC1 Frankie & Johnny 1967 Elvis Presley movie
Thames The Kenny Everett Video Cassette 7:30 -
David Essex -
Hot Gossip -
B A Robertson – Saint Saens
Friday 17th April 1981 Good Friday
BBC1 Swap Shop Star Awards 1981 4:40 -
Adam & The Ants
Thames ABBA Words And Music 5:10 -
Concert footage and conversation
Saturday 18th April 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Music Show
Anne Murray
BBC1 Saturday Night At The Mill 10:25 -
The Shadows
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 12:40 -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
The Scars -
David Hepworth -
Joe Walsh -
Lounge Lizards -
Krokus -
Rockpile with Robert Plant -
Wilko Johnson's Solid Senders -
LWT Children’s Royal Variety Show 6:10 -
Adam & The Ants
LWT The Monte Carlo Show
Rod McKeun
Monday 20th April 1981 Bank Holiday
BBC1 Paradise Hawaiian Style 1965 Elvis Presley Movie
BBC1 Kenny Rogers Easter By The Sea 10:50 -
Kenny Rogers
BBC2 Say It With Baby Grand
BBC2 Pam Ayres Egg-
The Albion Band
BBC2 Harty
Compilation With Rod Stewart In Belfast, Shakin’ Stevens
LWT Shirley McLaine At The Lido
Tom Jones
ATV Rockstage
OMD, Lene Lovich
Tuesday 21st April 1981
BBC1 The Big Time: Sheena Easton, The Making Of A Star
Sheena Easton update
BBC2 Gladys Knight & The Pips part two 9:00 -
Granada Moondogs Matinee 4:20 -
Roger Daltrey
Chas & Dave
Wednesday 22nd April 1981
BBC1 Lena 8:30 -
Lena Zavaroni
Kiki Dee
Thursday 23rd April 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Dave Lee Travis
Level 42 -
Matchbox -
Eddy Grant -
Roger Taylor -
Gillan -
Barry Manilow -
Saxon -
Chart 30 -
Keith Marshall -
Chart 20 -
Freeez -
Chart 10 -
10 The Nolans -
9 The Whispers -
8 Graham Bonnett -
7 The Jacksons -
6 Landscape -
5 Stevie Wonder -
4 Sugar Minott -
3 Shakin' Stevens -
2 Ennio Morricone -
1 Bucks Fizz -
Starsound -
Thames The Kenny Everett Video Cassette
Kate Bush – in sketch
Hot Gossip -
Cliff Richard – in sketch
The Pretenders – Louie Louie
Saturday 25th April 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Show
Val Doonican
Marti Webb – I’ve Been In Love Too Long
Stéphane Grappelli
BBC1 Saturday Night at the Mill
Petula Clark meets the real Maria Von Trapp
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 12:15 -
NB A French special 'Le Test de l'Ancien Sifflet Gris'
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
Liitle Bob Story -
Herve Muller -
Jean Luc-
Jean Michel Jarre -
Telephone -
Charlelie Couture -
Trust -
LWT The Cannon and Ball Show (first in series)
content unknown
Sunday 26th April 1981
ATV The Monte Carlo Show
Demis Roussos
Monday 27th April 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4:20 -
The Look Three Steps Away
Shakin Stevens You Drive Me Crazy
Bad Manners Just a Feeling
BBC2 The Nolans 9:00 – 9:35 pm
ATV Rockstage
The Lambrettas
Tuesday 28th April 1981
Granada Moondogs Matinee
The Searchers -
Godley & Crème -
BBC2 Don Williams In Concert 9:00 -
The New Theatre, London
Wednesday 29th April 1981
BBC1 Lena
Lena Zavaroni
Gilbert O’Sullivan -
Thursday 30th April 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Jimmy Savile
Thin Lizzy -
Madness -
The Beat -
Sheena Easton -
Department S -
Ennio Morricone -
Spandau Ballet -
Quincy Jones -
Teardrop Explodes -
Chart 30 -
Ten Pole Tudor -
Chart 20 -
Human League -
Chart 10 -
Bucks Fizz -
Thames The Kenny Everett Video Cassette
Hot Chocolate – I’m Losing You, Errol Brown in sketch
Hot Gossip -
Saturday 2nd May 1981
BBC1 Val Doonican Music Show 8:20 -
Glen Campbell
Billie Jo Spears
BBC1 Diana Ross 10:10 -
Live At The Forum, Los Angeles, with Michael Jackson
LWT The Cannon and Ball Show
Anne Murray
LWT The Monte Carlo Show
Cleo Laine
Sunday 3rd May 1981
Granada On The Road: 25 Today! 5:30 -
NB also seen as Remember This (25 Years Of Light Entertainment)
The Beatles – Cavern Clip 1962, Ken Dodd Clip Etc
The Animals
Peter Sellers (several takes of ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ From The Music Of Lennon & McCartney)
Mick Jagger
Gene Vincent
Jerry Lee Lewis
The Rolling Stones
Dusty Springfield
Little Richard
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Monday 4th May 1981 Bank Holiday
BBC1 Multi Coloured Music Show 5:55 -
Roxy Music
The Stray Cats
Adam & The Ants
The Police
Status Quo
Dire Straits
The Pretenders
BBC2 The Nolans (repeat)
ATV Rockstage
Madness
The Modettes
Tuesday 5th May 1981
BBC2 Crystal Gayle 9:00 -
The New London Theatre
Donovan
BBC2 Boom Boom Out Go The Lights 9:45 -
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11:35 pm -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
Paul Brady -
Naughty Culture -
Rose Tattoo -
David Hepworth -
Iam Gomm -
Jim Capaldi & The Contenders -
Granada Moondogs Matinee
content unknown
Wednesday 6th May 1981
BBC1 Lena
Lena Zavaroni
Nana Mouskouri
Thursday 7th May 1981
BBC1 Scene -
Ian Dury
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
NB This edition is a live broadcast as the Bank Holiday earlier in the week meant that the charts arrived a day late and the producers wouldn’t have the chance to produce and record a regular show on Wednesday for transmission the following day
Hosted by Peter Powell
Kim Wilde -
The Stray Cats -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Keith Marshall -
Chas & Dave & Tottenham F.C. -
Eddy Grant -
Starsound -
The Undertones -
Chart 30 -
Reo Speedwagon -
Chart 20 -
The Nolans -
Chart 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
Starsound -
Thames Afternoon Plus
The Drifters
Thames The Kenny Everett Video Cassette
Cliff Richard – Move It (archive clip), Take Another Look
Hot Gossip -
Friday 8th May 1981
BBC2 A World of Jazz
The Stan Getz Quartet
The Mel Lewis Big Band
The Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble
Saturday 9th May 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Show
Kevin Johnson
Cleo Laine
LWT Cannon And Ball 7:40 -
Lulu
Monday 11th May 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop
Small Ads -
Keith Marshall -
The Beat -
BBC1 Alan Price 11:05 -
Alan Price
Madeline Bell
ATV Rockstage
Any Trouble
Matchbox
Tuesday 12th May 1981
BBC1 Pete Sayers Entertains
Frank Ifield
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11:30 pm -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
The Plastics -
Brian Eno & David Byrne -
Holly & The Italians -
Bob Marley & The Wailers -
Adam and the Ants -
David Hepworth -
Marianne Faithfull -
Paul Gambaccini -
Granada Moondogs Matinee
The Boomtown Rats
Suzi Quatro
Wednesday 13th May 1981
BBC1 Lena
Lena Zavaroni
Anne Murray
Thursday 14th May 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 6:55 -
NB Only twenty minutes long due to the FA Cup Final replay. The show was originally
scheduled for 7.20 -
Hosted by Tommy Vance
no theme
Thin Lizzy -
Sheena Easton -
Department S -
Charts 30 -
Kim Carnes -
Charts 19 -
Ten Pole Tudor -
Charts 9 -
Adam & The Ants -
Thames The Kenny Everett Video Cassette 9:30 -
NB Shifted to a later time slot due to the FA Cup Final replay
Chas and Dave -
Hot Gossip -
Elton John -
Friday 15th May 1981
BBC2 World of Jazz 11.30 -
Abdullah Ibrahim Dollar Brand Group
Didier Lockwood Sextet
Miriam Makeba
Harold Hanter Trio
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
The Piranhas
The Blue Meanies
Richie Close and Band
Saturday 16th May 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Show 8.10 -
Val Doonican
Ray Charles
The Chieftains
BBC1 Saturday Night At The Mill 11:25 pm -
Bill Wyman
LWT The Cannon and Ball Show 8.35 -
Alan Price
LWT The Monte Carlo Show 11.00 pm -
Glen Campbell
Sunday 17th May 1981
ATV The Muppet Show (repeat)
Petula Clark
Monday 18th May 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4.20 -
Toyah
BBC1 Alan Price 11:05 -
Protest songs from the sixties
ATV Rockstage
The Stranglers
Hazel O’Connor
Tuesday 19th May 1981
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11.30 pm -
NB A Texas special
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
Billy Preston -
Christopher Cross -
Johnny Winter -
Delbert McClinton -
Sir Douglas Quintet -
Joe 'King' Carasco -
Joe Ely -
Granada Moondogs Matinee 4.20 -
The Moondogs
Rockpile
David Bowie
Wednesday 20th May 1981
ATV It's A Musical World 2.45 -
Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent
David Gates
Thursday 21st May 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Dave Lee Travis
The Undertones -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Smokey Robinson -
Toyah -
Chas & Dave & Tottenham F.C. -
Teardrop Explodes -
The Stray Cats -
Human League -
Kim Wilde -
Chart 30 -
The Beat -
Chart 20 -
Duran Duran -
Chart 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
Quincy Jones -
Thames The Kenny Everett Video Cassette 7.30 -
Dire Straits – Skate Away
Hot Gossip -
ATV Here and Now!
Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth
Yorkshire The Monte Carlo Show 11.00 pm -
Anne Murray
Rod McKeun
Friday 22nd May 1981
BBC2 World of Jazz 11.30 -
Clips of the Montreux Jazz Festival
Naoya Matsuoka Big Band, Monty Alexander Trio, George Coleman Octet
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
Public Skool
The Salford Jets
Leo Sayer
Saturday 23rd May 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Show
Lena Zavaroni
LWT The Cannon and Ball Show
Ritz
LWT In Concert Special
Mel Torme and Della Reese
Grabada The Monte Carlo Show 10.55 pm -
David Essex
Debbie Boone
Sunday 24th May 1981
BBC1 Goldie and Liza Togetehr 10.55 -
Liza Minnelli
ATV The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
Anthony Newley
Monday 25th May 1981 Bank Holiday
BBC1 Disney Time 5.15 -
hosted by Kenny Everett
BBC1 Rod Stewart 10:30 -
Live At The Forum, Los Angeles
Thames Loretta Lynn 11:30 pm -
ATV Brenda Lee In Concert 10.20 -
Tuesday 26th May 1981
BBC2 Pete Sayers Entertains
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11:35 pm -
Introduced by Anne Nightingale
The Clarke / Duke Project In Concert At BBC TV Theatre, Shepherd's Bush, London
Granada Moondogs Matinee 4.20 -
The Moondogs
Elton John
ATV Crossroads
NB It’s about this time that a recording studio is attached to the Motel, leading to a visit by pop singer Kate Loring (Kate Robbins). She records the song ‘More Than In Love’ and is a hit on an ATV owned record company. The recording studio is never mentioned again.
Wednesday 27th May 1981
BBC1 Alan Price 10:15 -
in concert in Manchester
BBC2 Did You See... 7.30 -
Robin Deneslow looks at rock music on televisdion
Thursday 28th May 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Simon Bates
no theme
The Polecats -
Champaign -
UB40 -
Ten Pole Tudor -
Vangelis -
Enigma -
Hazel O'Connor -
Charts 30 -
Coast To Coast -
Charts 20 -
Kim Carnes -
Charts 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
George Harrison -
Friday 29th May 1981
BBC1 Des O’Connor Tonight
Marti Webb
BBC2 A World Of Jazz 11.30 -
Bill Evans Trio
Mingus Dynasty
Betty Carter
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
The Expressos
Shakin' Stevens
Showaddywaddy
Tyne Tees The Pasadena Roof Orchestra 10.10 -
Saturday 30th May 1981
BBC2 Val Doonican Show 8.50 -
Val Doonican
Rita Coolidge
Wall Street Crash
“Toots” Theilemans
LWT The Cannon and Ball Show
content unknown
LWT In Performance 11.35 pm -
Benny Goodman documentary
Sunday 31st May 1981
LWT A Tribute To Bob Marley 2.00 -
Yorkshire Star Parade 2.00 -
Boney M
Lynsey De Paul
James last and his Orchestra
Monday 1st June 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4.20 -
999 -
Paul Shane & The Yellowcoats with Ruth Madoc -
Suzi Quatro -
Tuesday 2nd June 1981
BBC2 Pete Sayers Entertains
Pete Rowan
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11:30 pm -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale, David Hepworth
Adam & The Ants -
The Eurythmics -
The Beat -
Real To Real -
Nick Mason -
Shakin’ Pyramids -
John Cooper-
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz 4:20 -
Hosted by Lyn Spencer, Alastair Pirrie
Theme by Ray Jackson of Lindisfarne
Chas and Dave -
Adam and the Ants -
Kiki Dee -
Showaddywaddy -
Wednesday 3rd June 1981
BBC1 Showaddywaddyshow 7:30 -
Showaddywaddy
Kiki Dee
BBC1 Alan Price 10:30 -
Alan Price
Georgie Fame
Granada The Video Entertainers 8:00 -
Alan Price
Lisa Stansfield
Poacher
Tammy Cline
Thursday 4th June 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Richard Skinner
no theme
Siouxsie & The Banshees -
Shakin Stevens -
Kate Robbins & Beyond -
Squeeze -
Imagination -
The Jam -
Michael Jackson -
Charts 30 -
Toyah -
Charts 20 -
Phil Collins -
Charts 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
Odyssey – Going Back To My Roots (audience dancing and end credits)
Tyne Tees Check It Out 11.00 -
Girlschool
Friday 5th June 1981
BBC1 Des O’Connor Tonight
Grace Kennedy
BBC2 A World of Jazz
Clips from the Montreux Jazz Festival
Mel Lewi, Big Band, Dexter Gordon with Hampton Hawes and Kenny Clarke, Champion Jack Dupree
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
Andy Fairweather-
Carlene Carter
Rockpile
Granada After All That: This 12.05 -
Motivation
Saturday 6th June 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Show
Val Doonican
Pat Boone
Sunday 7th June 1981
ATV The Muppets 5.30 -
Leo Sayer
LWT George Hamilton IV (repeat)
Monday 8th June 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop
Showaddawaddy -
The Dooleys -
Tenpole Tudor -
Tuesday 9th June 1981
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11:35 pm -
Introduced by Anne Nightingale
Jack Bruce and friends including David Sancious, Clem Clemson, Billy Cobham at University of Surrey
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz 4.20 -
Lynsey DePaul -
Tony's One Man Band
Adam and The Ants -
Stewart Copeland -
Jona Lewie -
Wednesday 10th June 1981
BBC1 Back To The Egg 7:45 -
Wings Special
NB It takes the BBC two years to show this 1979 special
Granada The Video Entertainers
Gilbert O’Sullivan
Jade
Thursday 11th June 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Jimmy Savile
Bucks Fizz -
Hazel O'Connor -
Landscape -
Elaine Paige -
Coast To Coast -
Ultravox -
Chart 30 -
Randy Crawford -
Chart 20 -
Enigma -
Chart 10 -
Smokey Robinson -
ITV Here Today
Fred Wedlock
Friday 12th June 1981
BBC1 Des O’Connor Tonight (repeat)
The Three Degrees
BBC2 A World of Jazz
Clips from the Montreux Jazz Festival
Art Blakey Drum Summit, Guy Lafitte and Bill Coleman, Klaus Doldinger, Passport
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
The Moondogs
The Tourists
Sunday 14th June 1981
LWT George Hamilton IV
Monday 15th June 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4.20 -
Polecats -
Fassbender-
Coast to Coast -
Tuesday 16th June 1981
BBC1 Ask Aspel
Toyah
BBC2 Rhythm On Two 9.00 -
Diz Dizley
Stephane Grappelli
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11:30 pm -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale, David Hepworth
Stiff Little Fingers -
The Tubes -
Jim Steinman -
Spirit -
TV Smith’s Explorers – Have Fun, The Perfect Life
The Psychedelic Furs -
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz 4:20 -
Kim Wilde -
Hot Gossip -
David Essex -
Wednesday 17th June 1981
BBC1 The Music Of Wall Street Crash (repeat)
Granada Live From Two
Two Members Of Sky – Tuba Smarties
Granada The Video Entertainers
Elaine Paige
Tammy Cline
Madeline Bell
Thursday 18th June 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Peter Powell
no theme
Linx -
Phil Collins -
Odyssey -
Kool & The Gang -
Champaign -
Siouxsie & The Banshees -
Charts 30 -
The Specials -
Charts 20 -
Imagination -
Charts 10 -
Smokey Robinson -
Granada Celebration 10:30 -
New Order (debut TV Appearance)
Friday 19th June 1981
Granada Get It Together (repeat)
The Vapours
The Inmates
Sunday 21st June 1981
ITV Royal Progress
Garth Hewett
LWT The South Bank Show 10:30 -
Rhythm & Blues -
LWT George Hamilton IV
Monday 22nd June 1981
ITV Now For Nookie
Clodagh Rodgers
Tuesday 23rd June 1981
No Old Grey Whistle Test
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz
Chas and Dave -
Linda Nolan -
Suzi Quatro -
Wednesday 24th June 1981
BBC2 Let The Music Talk 8:05 -
Alex Pascall Talks To Eddy Grant, The Real Thing
Granada The Video Entertainers
Patti Boulaye
Eve Graham
Thursday 25th June 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Simon Bates
No theme
Gillan -
Elaine Paige -
Kirsty MacColl -
Evasions -
Charts 30 -
Randy Crawford -
Charts 20 -
Depeche Mode -
Charts 10 -
Michael Jackson -
Quincy Jones -
BBC1 A Love Letter To Jack Benny 9:25 -
Frank Sinatra
Friday 26th June 1981
Granada Get It Together (repeat)
XTC
After The Fire
Modern Romance
Saturday 27th June 1982
LWT In Concert Special: Engelbert Humperdinck
ATV Murphy’s America
Rod Stewart, Pat Boone talk about Hollywood
Sunday 28th June 1981
LWT George Hamilton IV
Monday 29th June 1981
ITV Now For Nookie
contents unknown
Tuesday 30th June 1981
BBC2 Ain’t Many Angels 7:35 -
Musical By Ken Howard And Alan Blakley
No Old Grey Whistle Test
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz
Dave Edmunds with The Stray Cats -
Toyah Wilcox -
Rick Wakeman -
Southern Day By Day 6:00 -
The Tubes Interviewed By Chris Peacock
Wednesday 1st July 1981
BBC1 Three Of A Kind (first edition)
Toni Basil
Granada The Video Entertainers
Tony Christie
The Dooleys
ATV It’s A Musical World
Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent
Barbara Dickson
Thursday 2nd July 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Dave Lee Travis
Bad Manners -
Third World -
The Specials -
Quincy Jones -
Barry Biggs -
Chart 30 -
Linx -
Chart 20 -
Rainbow -
Chart 10 -
10 Champaign -
9 Red Sovine -
8 Kate Robbins -
7 Imagination -
6 Elaine Paige -
5 Smokey Robinson -
4 Odyssey -
3 Bad Manners -
2 The Specials -
1 Michael Jackson -
Friday 3rd July 1981
BBC1 Grace Kennedy (repeat of BBC2 show)
Granada Get It Together (repeat)
Saturday 4th July 1981
BBC1 Pop Quiz 6:15 -
Panel: Roger Taylor (captain), Suzi Quatro & Cozy Powell vs Paul Jones (captain), Chris Neil & David Grant
LWT In Concert Special -
Yorkshire The Monte Carlo Show
Kris Kristofferson
Sunday 5th July 1981
Yorkshire In Concert
Mike Oldfield
Monday 6th July 1981
BBC2 Sing Country 9:00 -
Tammy Wynette
Marty Robbins
ITV Now For Nookie
contents unknown
Tuesday 7th July 1981
BBC1 Goin’ Coconuts 7:25 -
Donny & Marie Osmond
BBC2 Rhythm on 2
Don Lusher, Laurie Holloway, Kai Winding
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11:30 pm -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale, David Hepworth
Duran Duran – Anyone Out There
Live Wire -
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers -
Billy Squire -
Paul Gambaccini -
Richard Strange -
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz
Madness -
Ying Tong John -
Toni Basil -
Thames The Jim Davidson (repeat)
The Joe Fenton Four (reggae band)
Wednesday 8th July 1981
BBC1 Three Of A Kind 8:30 -
Amii Stewart
Granada The Video Entertainers
Poacher
Thursday 9th July 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
NB The 900th edition, also the first edition with the new opening credits and Yellow Pearl theme by Midge Ure and Phil Lynott which is now also used for the chart run down
Hosted by Jimmy Savile
Phil Lynott is thanked for the new theme by Savile
Kirsty MacColl -
1960s clips -
Randy Crawford -
Alan Freeman and Pete Murray join the host, excerpt of the 1967 Boxing Day Top Of The Pops trailer
Montage of stills and clips from past shows (set to M -
Mary Hopkin and Sandie Shaw with Pete Murray
Tom Tom Club -
David Jacobs joins the host and introduces the next clip
Bob Marley & The Wailers -
Paul & Linda McCartney send a birthday cake, Alan Clarke and Tony Hicks of The Hollies with the host
Chart 30 -
Motorhead -
Bill Wyman joins the host, The Rolling Stones -
Chart 20 -
Imagination -
Alan Freeman goes through the first top twenty board from 1st January 1964
Chart 10 -
Adam Ant with host and introduces the number one
The Specials -
Savile gives the other hosts commemorative trophies
Starsound -
Friday 10th July 1981
BBC1 Grace Kennedy (repeat of BBC2 show)
Marvin Hamlisch
BBC1 Chance To Sit Down
Drama about ballet with Cherry Gillespie, ex-
BBC1 Satchmo
Louis Armstrong tribute
Granada Get It Together (repeat)
The Nick Straker Band
The Purple Hearts
The Boomtown Rats
Richie Close and Band
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz (repeat)
Chas and Dave
Kiki Dee
Showaddywaddy
Saturday 11th July 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer 9:30 -
Hosted by Peter Powell
Kiki Dee
BBC1 Pop Quiz
Panel: Tim Rice (Captain), Clem Burke, Billy Currie vs Rick Wakeman (Captain), Mike Berry, John Peel
LWT Guitar 11:30 pm -
Mason Williams
ATV Murphy’s America
Tammy Wynette, Ray Stevens talk about country music
Sunday 12th July 1981
ATV The Muppet Show (repeat)
Alice Cooper
Monday 13th July 1981
BBC2 Sing Country 9:00 – 9:50 pm
Jerry Lee Lewis
Carl Perkins
Frank Ifield
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz (repeat)
Adam & The Ants, Chas and Dave, Kiki Dee, Showaddywaddy
ITV Time For Nookie
Lulu
Tuesday 14th July 1981
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test
NB Last show from Television Centre
Hosted by Anne Nightingale, David Hepworth
Joe Jackson Band -
The Au Pairs -
Slow Children -
David Hepworth reviews recent rock books
The Byrds -
Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty -
Joy Division -
Jim Carroll Band -
Thames White Light
content unknown
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz
The Heartbeats -
Kate Bush -
Bucks Fizz -
Wednesday 15th July 1981
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
Sheena Easton (as a part of a For Your Eyes Only special feature)
Granada The Video Entertainers
Madeline Bell
Gilbert O’Sullivan
Elaine Paige
Thursday 16th July 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Peter Powell
Saxon -
Third World -
Depeche Mode -
The Jacksons -
Dexy's Midnight Runners -
Kate Bush -
Charts 30 -
Bad Manners -
Charts 20-
Spandau Ballet with Beggar and Co -
Charts 10 -
The Specials -
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
Hazel O’Connor
Friday 17th July 1981
BBC1 Grace Kennedy (repeat of BBC2 show)
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
Rita Coolidge
Saturday 18th July 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer 9:30 -
The Jam -
BBC1 Pop Quiz 6:35 -
Panel: Jake Burns (Captain), Robert Plant & Dave Edmunds Vs Bev Bevan (Captain), Helen Shapiro & Graham Gouldman.
ATV Let’s Rock 11:35 pm -
NB Jack Good tells the Daily Mirror "I'd love to do the Six-
Prod: Jack Good
Lulu
Joe Brown
Alvin Stardust
Shakin’ Stevens
Billy ‘GBH’ Hartnell
Sunday 19th July 1981
LWT 20th Century Box
Revolution in Rock
John Lydon, The Police play live, Andy Summers, The Belle Stars, Charlie Gillett, Joe Strummer, Chris Hill, Terry Hall, Phil Oakey, Elvis Costello plays live
Monday 20th July 1981
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
Marion Montgomery and Laurie Holloway
BBC2 Sing Country
Jimmy C Newman
ITV Now For Nookie
Vince Hill
Tuesday 21st July 1981
BBC1 Ask Aspel
Paul Nicholas
ATV Years Of Lightning: 1963 7:00 -
Clips of The Beatles, The Searchers
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz
The Shakin’ Pyramids -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Wednesday 22nd July 1981
BBC1 Three Of A Kind
Hank Marvin
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
Alan J Lerner
Thursday 23rd July 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Richard Skinner
The Vapors -
Sheena Easton -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Reo Speedwagon -
Abba -
Tight Fit with Emperor Rosko -
Charts 30 -
Visage -
Charts 20 -
Gidea Park -
Charts 10 -
The Specials -
Starsound -
BBC1 The Good Old Days
Vince Hill
BBC2 The Six-
Paul Jones
Shakin’ Stevens
Friday 24th July 1981
BBC1 Grace Kennedy (repeat of BBC2 show)
Saturday 25th July 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer
Guest Presenter: Pauline Black (The Selecter)
Spandau Ballet
BBC1 Pop Quiz
Panel -
BBC1 Summertime Special
Bucks Fizz
LWT Russ Abbot’s Saturday Madhouse
The Three Degrees
ATV Let’s Rock
Lulu
Joe Brown
Alvin Stardust
Shakin’ Stevens
Sunday 26th July 1981
LWT 20th Century Box
The Rise of the Independents
Safari Records, Stiff Records, Cherry Red, Spartan Records
The Belle Stars, The Extroverts, John Lydon, Orange Juice, Toyah, Graham Lewis (Wire)
Monday 27th July 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 10:15 -
BBC1 Sing Country
Johnny Cash and June Carter
Tuesday 28th July 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 10:15 -
Dave Edmunds, Duran Duran
BBC1 News
Mike Oldfield Royal Wedding anthem
BBC2 Vic Damone Says ‘Make Someone Happy’
NB A Six Fifty-
BBC2 Rhythm on 2
The Tony Evans Big Band
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz
Chas & Dave -
Ray Jackson -
Bonnie Langford nd Paul Nicholas -
Madness -
Kiki Dee -
Thames Diana Ross Special 11:00 -
Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas
Wednesday 29th July 1981 Public Holiday (Royal Wedding)
BBC2 A Musical Railway Celebration
The Five Penny Piece
BBC2 A Stylish Affair (Six Fifty-
Mike McGear
BBC2 Louis Armstrong Anniversary Concert
ITV Saturday Night Fever 7:15 -
Thursday 30th July 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 10:15 -
The Look
Shakin' Stevens
Bad Manners
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Steve Wright
Duran Duran -
Kim Wilde -
Depeche Mode -
Bill Wyman -
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra -
Charts 30 -
The Undertones -
Charts 20 -
Stevie Wonder -
Spandau Ballet with Beggar & Co -
The Specials -
Shakin Stevens -
The Jacksons -
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
Chris Deburgh
B A Robertson
Clifford T Ward
Friday 31st July 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 10:15 -
The Beat, Keith Marshall
BBC1 Grace Kennedy (repeat of BBC2 series)
BBC2 Fundamental Frolics 9:00 -
MENCAP Benefit Show
Elvis Costello – Gloomy Sunday
Jon Anderson
Neil Innes
Alan Price
LWT George Hamilton IV
Saturday 1st August 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer
David Essex
The Nolans
BBC1 Pop Quiz
Panel -
BBC1 Summertime Special
Dollar
BBC1 My Kind Of Music 10:50 -
Lulu
Shakin’ Stevens
ATV Let’s Rock
Lulu
Shakin’ Stevens
Joe Brown
Sunday 2nd August 1981
LWT 20th Century Box
The rise of record producers
Martin Rushent, Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, George Martin. Charlie Gillett, Suzi Quatro, Mickie Most, John Lydon, Nigel Gray, Phil Oakey (Human League), Vangelis
LWT The Palace Presents 11:40 pm -
Hosted by Jack Jones (all editions)
Roger Miller
Monday 3rd August 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 10:10 – 10:30 am (repeat)
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
George Melly, Kenny Baker, Ronnie Scott
BBC2 Peggy Lee Entertains
NB Recorded at Pebble Mill, Birmingham
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz (repeat)
Suzi Quatro, Chas and Dave
Southern Runaround
The Shakin' Pyramids
Tuesday 4th August 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 10:15 – 10:35 am (repeat)
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
Ralph McTell
BBC2 Rhythm on 2 (repeat)
George Shearing
Tyne Tees Razzamatazzz
Kirsty MacColl -
Darts -
ATV Years Of Lightning: 1967 (Shown On Thames)
Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger
ATV Years Of Lightning: 1970
Wednesday 5th August 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 9:40 – 10:00 am (repeat)
BBC1 The Six Fifty-
Georgie Fame & Annie Ross
Thames The Big Top Special
Pat Boone
Showaddywaddy
Thursday 6th August 1981
BBC1 Looking Good, Feeling Fit
Kate Bush (in a dance studio)
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Jimmy Savile
Dexy's Midnight Runners -
Sheena Easton -
Ten Pole Tudor -
Lobo -
Human League -
REO Speedwagon -
Chart 30 -
Gidea Park -
Chart 19 -
Tight Fit -
Chart 9 -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Visage -
Friday 7th August 1981
BBC1 Humphrey Lyttelton and His Band
LWT George Hamilton IV
Saturday 8th August 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer
Guest Hosted by Suzi Quatro
Duran Duran
BBC1 Pop Quiz
Panel -
BBC1 Summertime Special
Shakin’ Stevens
ATV Let’s Rock 11:35 pm -
Lulu
Alvin Stardust
Shakin' Stevens'
Freddie Fingers Lee
Billy GBH Hartman
Bogdan
Den Hegarty
Sunday 9th August 1981
LWT 20th Century Box
Lover’s Rock
Carol Thompson, Bernadette Cheer, Leonard Ching boss of Ital Records, Sugar Minott, Donna Roadman and Lorna Pier
Monday 10th August 1981
BBC2 Anne Murray And Her Music 9:00 -
Ralpn McTell
Tuesday 11th August 1981
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
NB New Orleans Jazz Special
Dr John
The Chris Barber Band
BBC2 Elvis Lives 8:35 -
Tyne Tees Razzamatazzz
Depeche Mode -
Terry Gilliam, David Rappaport and couple of others from Time Bangits -
Dollar -
Thames The Jim Davidson Show
The Dooleys
Wednesday 12th August 1981
BBC1 Marti Caine 8:15 -
Billy Preston
BBC1 A Little Night Music 11:10 -
John Martyn
BBC2 Stiff Little Fingers and U2 10:10 -
Live At Queen’s University, Belfast
Thames The Big Top Variety Show
Joe Brown
Sacha Distel
Thursday 13th August 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Simon Bates
Duran Duran -
Royal Philharmonic Orch With Louis Clark -
Soft Cell -
Kim Wilde -
Bill Wyman -
Startrax -
Charts 30 -
Aneka -
Charts 18 -
ELO -
Charts 8 -
Shakin’ Stevens -
UB40 -
Friday 14th August 1981
BBC1 The Monkees
BBC1 Barbara Dickson And Her Band
Saturday 15th August 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer
Shakin’ Stevens
Hazel O’Connor
BBC1 Speedway Elvis Presley movie
BBC1 Summertime Special
The Nolans
BBC1 My Kind Of Music
Gilbert O’Sullivan -
ATV Let’s Rock
Lulu
Den Heggarty
Joe Brown
Alvin Stardust
LWT The Palace Presents
Hosted by Jack Jones
Sunday 16th August 1981
LWT 20th Century Box
Rockabilly
With Dave Edmunds, The Shakin' Pyramids, The Cyclones
ITV Elvis -
Monday 17th August 1981
BBC2 Iris Williams 9:00 -
Gerard Kenny
George Shearing
Tuesday 18th August 1981
BBC2 Six Fifty-
The Hee Bee Gee Bees
Tyne Tees Razzamatazzz
Coast To Coast -
Hank Marvin -
The Shadows -
Wednesday 19th August 1981
BBC1 Marti Caine (repeat)
The Korgis
Kiki Dee
BBC1 A Little Night Music 11:10 -
Richard & Linda Thompson
Thames The Big Top Variety Show
David Essex
Bucks Fizz
Thursday 20th August 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Dave Lee Travis
NB The Daily Mirror had REO Speedwagon as appearing. Producer Michael Hurll admits to the Daily Mirror that he was dreading The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra getting to number one as they would have to make a live appearance and he wouldn’t know how to stage them in the studio
Enigma -
Human League -
U2 -
Siouxsie & The Banshees -
UB40 -
Randy Crawford -
Chart 30 -
Ten Pole Tudor -
Chart 19 -
Lobo -
Chart 10 -
Shakin’ Stevens -
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra -
BBC2 Folk 9:00 -
17th Cambridge Folk Festival
John Sebastian
The Chieftains
Thames The Andy Williams Show
Friday 21st August 1981
BBC1 The Model Shop 1969 movie with Spirit
BBC1 The Monkees (repeat)
BBC1 Tom Paxton 10:15 -
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
Stutz Bearcats
Kevin Peek (of Sky who also composed the show’s theme tune)
Shakin' Stevens
Saturday 22nd August 1981
BBC1 The Monkees
BBC1 Summertime Special
Joe Brown -
Kate Robbins
BBC1 Pop Quiz
Panel -
ATV Let’s Rock
Lulu
Joe Brown
Shakin’ Stevens
The Cats
The Bopettes
Alvin Stardust
Shakin’ Stevens
Sunday 23rd August 1981
LWT 20th Century Box
Box Goes East (Essex)
Depeche Mode, Naked Lunch, Mickey Jupp, Chris Hill (DJ and record label boss)
LWT My Way 6:55 -
Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens)
Monday 24th August 1981
BBC1 Toyah At The Rainbow 6:50 -
Tuesday 25th August 1981
Tyne Tees Razzamatazzz
Chas and Dave -
Ray Cooper -
Adam Ant -
Bad Manners -
Wednesday 26th August 1981
BBC1 Marti Caine
Showaddywaddy
Joe (South African singing group)
BBC1 A Little Night Music
The Blues Band
Thursday 27th August 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:25 -
Hosted by Richard Skinner
Startrax -
Cliff Richard -
Soft Cell -
The Nolans -
The Rolling Stones -
ELO -
Charts 30 -
Ultravox -
Charts 18 -
Genesis -
Charts 11 -
Aneka -
Modern Romance – Everybody Salsa (audience dancing and end credits)
BBC2 Folk
Donovan
The Roches
Friday 28th August 1981
BBC1 The Five Penny Piece (repeat)
Saturday 29th August 1981
BBC1 The Monkees
BBC1 Pop Quiz
Panel -
BBC1 Summertime Special
Lulu
Showaddywaddy
BBC1 My Kind Of Music
Alan Price
BBC2 If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium movie with Donovan
Sunday 30th August 1981
BBC1 To The Count Of Basie
Count Basie tribute
Annie Ross
LWT 20th Century Box
Pop videos with Visage (Steve Strange, Chris Cross), Pete Townshend
Monday 31st August 1981 Bank Holiday
BBC1 Jim’ll Fix It
Bucks Fizz
BBC2 Iris Williams
Gerard Kenny
Tuesday 1st September 1981
Granada Get It Together (first in new series)
Cliff Richard
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again 9:30 -
Neil Innes
Wednesday 2nd September 1981
BBC1 Marti Caine (repeat)
Judie Tzuke
Thursday 3rd September 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:15 -
Hosted by Peter Powell
Modern Romance -
John Foxx -
UB40 -
Bucks Fizz -
The host presents Jill 'Miss Radio One Roadshow'
Teardrop Explodes -
Gary Numan -
Dollar -
Charts 30 -
Pointer Sisters -
Charts 20 -
OMD -
Charts 10 -
Soft Cell -
Gary Numan says hello
Funkapolitan -
BBC2 Folk
Cambridge Folk Festival
The Macalmans
Steeleye Span
Jake Thackray
Saturday 5th September 1981
BBC1 Summertime Special
Barbara Dickson
The Dooleys
BBC1 My Kind Of Music
Barbara Dickson
Colin Blunstone
ATV Tiswas 10:30 am -
Hosted by Sally James, Den Heggarty, Gordon Astley, Fogwell Flax
content unknown
Sunday 6th September 1981
BBC1 Gary Numan Farewell Show 4:25 -
Live at Wembley Arena
Monday 7th September 1981
BBC1 A Little Night Music
Davey Graham
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz (repeat)
Thames The Monte Carlo Show
David Essex
Helen Reddy
Tuesday 8th September 1981
Granada Get It Together
content unknown
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again
Neil Innes
Thursday 10th September 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
NB A very noisy audience sound mix makes the show sound like an airport lounge
Hosted by Jimmy Savile
Linx -
Cliff Richard -
The Hollies (with Graham Nash) -
Randy Crawford -
Alvin Stardust -
Imagination -
Chart 30 -
The Rolling Stones -
Chart 20 -
Ottawan -
Chart 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
Soft Cell -
Ultravox – The Thin Wall (playout record, audience dancing)
BBC2 Folk
John Cooper-
Fred Wedlock
Friday 11th September 1981
Southern Candy movie with Ringo Starr
Saturday 12th September 1981
BBC1 The Monkees
BBC1 Summertime Special
Dana
ATV Tiswas
Rick Wakeman
Ultravox
Chas and Dave
Sunday 13th September 1981
BBC1 Did You Miss Me (repeat of Arena show)
Gary Glitter
LWT The Palace Presents
Hosted by Jack Jones
Monday 14th September 1981
BBC1 A Little Night Music 11:25 -
The M Factor With Robin Scott
BBC2 Dolly Parton On Tour 9:00 -
ITV Come Taste The Wine
Anita Harris, The Wurzels
Tuesday 15th September 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill
Kiki Dee
Granada Get It Together
Chas and Dave
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again
Neil Innes
Wednesday 16th September 1981
Granada Live From Two
Barry Mason two Songs
Thames The Andy Williams Show (repeat)
Thursday 17th September 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Steve Wright
Gidea Park -
OMD -
Beggar & Co -
Sheena Easton -
Teardrop Explodes -
Hi Gloss -
The Tweets -
Godley & Creme -
Charts 29 -
Bucks Fizz -
Charts 19 -
The Pointer Sisters -
Charts 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
Dollar -
BBC2 Schools Prom
Ronnie Scott
BBC2 Folk
Dave Van Ronk
Ossian
Derek Brimstone
Friday 18th September 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill
Steeleye Span
Saturday 19th September 1981
ATV Tiswas
content unknown
Sunday 20th September 1981
BBC1 Rolf’s Here Ok? 6:01 -
The Polecats
Tuesday 22nd September 1981
Granada Get It Together
Alvin Stardust
The Polecats
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again
Neil Innes
Wednesday 23rd September 1981
Thames The Andy Williams Show (repeat)
Henry Mancini
Thursday 24th September 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill At One
Donovan
BBC1 Top Of The Pops7:20 -
Hosted by Simon Bates
Slade -
Alvin Stardust -
Depeche Mode -
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin -
Linx -
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie -
Japan -
Heaven 17 -
Charts 30 -
Imagination -
Charts 20 -
Madness -
Charts 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
Police -
BBC2 Scene: Food, Food, Glorious Food (schools programme)
Kate Bush
Thames Thanks A Million… And More!
NB A Thames Telethon update show
The Drifters
Friday 25th September 1981
BBC2 Something Else 6:55 -
Angelic Upstarts
Tygers of Pan Tang
BBC2 Songs of Europe 8:15 – 9:25 pm
A Eurovision Song Contest special with clips from Dana, Abba, Sandie Shaw etc
BBC2 World’s End (first of thirteen)
Theme By Alan Price
Saturday 26th September 1981
BBC1 The Monkees (repeat)
ATV Tiswas
Toyah Wilcox
Sunday 27th September 1981
BBC1 Rolf’s Here OK?
Coast To Coast
Monday 28th September 1981
BBC1 A Little Night Music
Neil Ardley & Barbara Thompson
BBC2 Des O’Connor Tonight
Lena Zavaroni
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records (first of third series)
Neil Innes -
Kenny Everett introduces next weeks' show
Thames The Monte Carlo Show
Dionne Warwick
Tuesday 29th September 1981
Granada Get It Together 4:20 -
Adam & The Ants
The Black Cats
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again
Neil Innes
Thursday 1st October 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Mike Read
The Tweets -
Godley & Creme -
Sheena Easton -
Teardrop Explodes -
The Creatures -
Ottawan -
Toyah -
Bad Manners -
Altered Images -
Charts 30 -
Gidea Park -
Charts 20 -
Dollar -
Charts 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
Tight Fit -
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test
Futurama Rock 80, The Queen’s Hall, Leeds
Classix Nouveaux -
Acrobats Of Desire -
The League Of Gentlemen -
Young Marble Giants -
The Not Sensibles -
Vice Versa (With Martin Fry) -
Hazel O’Connor & The Megahype -
Friday 2nd October 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack
content unknown
BBC2 Something Else (made by Paul Weller)
The Jam
The Questions
Dolly Mixture
Thames White Light
content unknown
Saturday 3rd October 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop (first in new series)
BA Robertson
ATV Tiswas
Bad Manners
Human League
ATV Portrait of a Legend: Olivia Newton-
Sunday 4th October 1981
BBC2 Barbara Mandrell And The Mandrell Sisters
Dolly Parton
LWT The Palace Presents
Lou Rawls
Vikki Carr
Eddie Fisher
Monday 5th October 1981
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records
Neil Innes -
John Cooper-
Tuesday 6th October 1981
Granada Get It Together
Top Secret
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again
Neil Innes
Wednesday 7th October 1981
Granada Live From Two
Eddi & Sunshine – Another Tear Falls
Thursday 8th October 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Dave Lee Travis
Madness -
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin -
Barry Manilow -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Slade -
Elvis Costello & The Attractions -
Japan -
Tight Fit -
Chart 30 -
Human League -
Chart 20 -
Depeche Mode -
Chart 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle 11:35 pm -
Futurama Rock 80, The Queens Hall, Leeds
The Flowers -
Boots For Dancing -
Music For Pleasure -
The Soft Boys -
Guy Jackson -
Athletico Spizz 80 -
Echo & The Bunnymen -
Friday 9th October 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack
The Barron Knights
BBC2 Something Else (Bristol)
The Beat
Talisman
Thames White Light
content unknown
Saturday 10th October 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
Dr Hook
Toyah
BBC1 Parkinson
Andy Williams
ATV Tiswas
Sheena Easton
Sunday 11th October 1981
BBC1 Barara Mandrell
Andre Crouch
Kenny Rogers
Monday 12th October 1981
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records 10:20 -
Neil Innes -
Ivor Cutler
Tuesday 13th October 1981
Granada Get It Together
content unknown
Wednesday 14th October 1981
BBC1 Happy Birthday Las Vegas
Tony Bennett, Anthony Newley, Liberace, Neil Sedaka, Wayne Newton
Thames The Andy Williams Show
Thursday 15th October 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Dave Jensen
NB The Last appearance by Legs and Co, but there is no mention of it
Gary Glitter -
Toyah -
B A Robertson & Maggie Bell -
Altered Images -
The Tweets -
Godley & Creme -
The Exploited -
Squeeze -
Charts 30 -
The Creatures -
Charts 20 -
Bad Manners -
Charts 9 -
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin -
This Year's Blonde -
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test
Futurama Rock 80, The Queens Hall, Leeds
Durrutti Column -
Artery -
The Frantic Elevators (with Mick Hucknall) -
Or Was He Pushed? -
I’m So Hollow -
Blah Blah Blah -
Eaten Alive by Insects -
Altered Images -
Friday 16th October 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack
content unknown
BBC2 Something Else (Bangor)
The Raincoats
Fay Ray
Thames White Light 5:15 -
content unknown
Granada Live From Two
Tommy Steele
The Polecats – Rock With The Caveman, Singing The Blues
Saturday 17th October 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
content unknown
ATV Tiswas
Robert Plant
Cozy Powell
Sunday 18th October 1981
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell
Glen Campbell
Alabama
LWT The Palace Presents
Hosted by Jack Jones
Monday 19th October 1981
BBC2 Des O’Connor Tonight
The Nolans
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records
Neil Innes
Tuesday 20th October 1981
BBC2 Russel Harty
Grace Kennedy
Granada Get It Together
Kirsty MacColl
Madness
Secret Affair
Granada Live From Two
Andy Williams
Wednesday 21st October 1981
BBC1 Parkinson
George Shearing
ATV Starburst
Chas and Dave
Thursday 22nd October 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Jimmy Savile
This Year's Blonde -
Human League -
Barry Manilow -
Four Tops -
Elvis Costello & The Attractions -
Gillan -
The Police -
Chart 30 -
The Jam -
Chart 20 -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Chart 9 -
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin -
Rod Stewart -
Granada Celebration
Fairport Convention Live
Friday 23rd October 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack
content unknown
BBC1 (South East) On The Town 10:15 -
Randy Edelman
BBC1 (local) Lulu 10:15 -
Live At Blazers, Windsor
BBC1 (West) Radio One Goes West 10:15 -
content unknown
BBC2 Something Else
Kirsty MacColl
Dodo Vision
Thames Just For Fun 1963 movie with Bobby Vee, The Crickets Etc
Thames White Light
Ian Dury
Linx
Granada Live From Two
Andy Williams
Saturday 24th October 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
Karen Carpenter
Human League
BBC1 Parkinson
Mel Torme
ATV Tiswas
content unknown
ATV Portrait of a Legend: Kris Kristofferson
Sunday 25th October 1981
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell
Charlie Daniels
LWT Darts In Concert (repeat)
Monday 26th October 1981
BBC2 Des O’Connor
Cleo Laine
Tuesday 27th October 1981
BBC2 The Other Music
The folk revival from 1945 to now
Steeleye Span, The Watersons, Alan Lomax
Wednesday 28th October 1981
ATV Starburst
Lonnie Donegan
Ray Ellington
Thursday 29th October 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Simon Bates
Altered Images -
Rod Stewart -
The Fureys With Davey Arthur -
Olivia Newton-
Trevor Walters -
B.A.Robertson & Maggie Bell -
Haircut 100 -
Charts 30 -
OMD -
Charts 20 -
Squeeze -
Charts 8 -
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin -
Friday 30th October 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack
content unknown
BBC2 Something Else (Aberdeen)
The Delta Five
Toyah
Granada Get It Together
Gary Glitter
Thames White Light
Saturday 31st October 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
Petula Clark
Shakin’ Stevens
BBC1 Parkinson
Toyah
Peter Skellern
ATV Tiswas
Gillan
LWT Johnny Carson
Sammy Davis Jr
ATV Portrait of a Legend: Andy Williams
Sunday 1st November 1981
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell
Hoyt Axton
Charlie Pride
Monday 2nd November 1981
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records
Neil Innes
Vivian Stanshall
Tuesday 3rd November 1981
BBC2 Russell Harty 8:30 -
Elvis Costello -
Granada Get It Together
Toyah Wilcox
Mandy Webb
Wednesday 4th November 1981
ATV Starburst
Randy Crawford
Stutz Bear Cays
Thursday 5th November 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Peter Powell
Modern Romance -
The Police -
The Dukes -
Rush -
The Jets -
ELO -
A plug by the host for the new Radio One calendar
Charts 30 -
Julio Iglesias -
Charts 20 -
ABC -
Host chats to Grant Santino dance champion
Charts 10 -
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin -
Four Tops -
BBC2 Happy Endings
First of six shows written and starting Peter Skellern
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11:30 pm -
Futurama Rock 80, The Queen's Hall, Leeds
Tribesman -
Blurt -
Danse Society -
Naked Lunch -
Clock DVA -
Souxsie & The Banshees -
Friday 6th November 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack
content unknown
BBC2 Something Else (Central London)
Depeche Mode
Orange Juice
BBC2 Newsnight
The Rolling Stones Interviewed In Orlando, Florida
BBC2 Friday Night Saturday Morning
Elkie Brooks
Thames White Light
Granada Celebration
John Lennon: Dream Weaver, Creation Of The Everyman Theatre’s Musical About Lennon
LWT Johnny Carson
Sheena Easton
LWT The Palace Presents
Hosted by Jack Jones
Saturday 7th November 1981
BBC 1 Parkinson
Ian Dury
ATV Tiswas
The Jam interview
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
LWT Tonight With Johnny Carson
Sheena Easton
Sunday 8th November 1981
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell
Paul Anka
T G Shepperd
LWT The South Bank Show
Elvis Costello In Nashville
Monday 9th November 1981
BBC2 The Des O’Connor Show
Mirielle Matthieu
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records
Neil Innes
Tuesday 10th November 1981
Granada Get It Together
Granada Live From Two
Darts
Wednesday 11th November 1981
BBC1 Parkinson
Sundance (with Mary Hopkin) -
ATV Starburst
Pearly Gates
Thursday 12th November 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
NB The show gets a re-
Hosted by Dave Lee Travis
Kool & The Gang -
OMD -
Olivia Newton-
The Fureys & Davey Arthur -
Haircut 100 -
Jonathan King in New York – US chart rundown with Air Supply, Foreigner, Daryl Hall & John Oates (promo clips)
Ultravox -
Chart 30 -
Earth Wind & Fire -
Chart 19 -
Rod Stewart -
Chart 9 -
The Police -
Altered Images – Happy Birthday (playout record and audience dancing)
BBC2 Russell Harty
The Tweets (The Birdie Song hit-
BBC2 40 Minutes: Rocky Circus 9:30 -
Gary Glitter Show At Gerry Cottle’s Circus, June 1981
Thames Miss World 1981
Helen Reddy
Friday 13th November 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack
The Grumbleweeds
BBC1 Nationwide
Abbey Road article with Helen Shapiro, Kate Bush
Thames White Light
content unknown
Anglia News
Radio Caroline’s Return
Granada Live From Two
Nine Below Zero – Eleven Plus Eleven
Saturday 14th November 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
10CC
Brown Sauce With Dave Edmunds
BBC1 Parkinson
Diana Ross
Helen Reddy
ATV Tiswas
The Beat
LWT Star Parade
Billly Swan
5000 Volts
Sunday 15th November 1981
Granada Reports Action
Ian Dury
Tuesday 17th November 1981
Granada Get It Together
content unknown
Thames Give Us A Clue
Suzi Quatro
Wednesday 18th November 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill
Sundance (Incl Mary Hopkin) – What’s Love, Cottonfields
Granada Live From Two
Victor Spinetti Talks About John Lennon
Group From Stage Play Lennon Play Two Songs
Thursday 19th November 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Steve Wright
Modern Romance -
Julio Iglesias -
The host chats to Julio Iglesias
The Pretenders -
ABC -
Diana Ross -
The Fun Boy Three -
Charts 30 -
Trevor Walters -
Charts 20 -
Soft Cell -
Charts 10 -
Queen & David Bowie -
The Jets -
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11:30 pm -
Rick Wakeman At The Hammersmith Odeon
Friday 20th November 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack
content unknown
BBC1 Tommy Steele -
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7:00 -
Hosted by Jackie Spreckley, Robert Elms
Japan
BBC2 Friday Night Saturday Morning
Kate Bush
Thames White Light
content unknown
Granada Live From Two
Kid Creole
Saturday 21st November 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
content unknown
BBC1 Parkinson
Glen Campbell
ATV Tiswas
content unknown
LWT Tonight With Johnny Carson
Dolly Parton
Barbara Mandrell
LWT The Palace Presents
Hosted by Jack Jones
ATV Portrait Of A Legend: Kenny Rogers
Sunday 22nd November 1981
BBC1 See Hear
Cliff Richard
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Monday 23rd November 1981
BBC2 Cliff! 8:10 -
Documentary series about Cliff Richard
1: Rock N Roll Juvenile
Adam Faith, Marty Wilde
BBC2 Rhythm on 2
George Shearing
Tuesday 24th November 1981
BBC2 Russell Harty
The Pointer Sisters
Granada Get It Together
Showaddywaddy
Wednesday 25th November 1981
BBC1 Nationwide
Thin Lizzy interview
ATV Starburst
The Bootleg Beatles
Matchbox
Granada Live From Two
Miles Copeland
Thursday 26th November 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Mike Read
The Jets -
Earth Wind & Fire -
Toyah -
Cliff Richard -
LP charts 10 -
Imagination -
Ultravox -
Charts 30 -
Kim Wilde -
Charts 20 -
Kool & The Gang -
Charts 10 -
Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure number one (stock footage, audience dancing and end credits)
BBC1 Blankety Blank
Kenny Everett
BBC1 A Love Letter To Jack Benny (repeat)
Frank Sinatra
BBC2 Happy Endings: Sleeping
Peter Skellern Musical Drama
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11:10 -
The show is now recorded in front of a studio audience at The Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London
Hosted by Anne Nightingale, Paul Gambaccini, David Hepworth
Altered Images -
The Sound -
New York Dolls -
David Hepworth -
King Crimson -
ATV Today
Cliff Richard
Friday 27th November 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill
Cliff Richard presents Nurse of the Year award
BBC1 Crackerjack
content unknown
BBC1 Ned Kelly Movie With Mick Jagger
BBC2The Oxford Road Show
The Blues Band
Hot Gossip (dance troupe)
Granada Live From Two
Gary US Bonds It’s Only Love
Saturday 28th November 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
Dollar
BBC1 Parkinson
Billy Eckstein
ATV Tiswas
Cliff Richard
Bucks Fizz
LWT Tonight With Johnny Carson
Dionne Warwick
Buddy Rich
Sunday 29th November 1981
BBC2 Jazz On A Bright Summer’s Day
The West 58 Street Strompers play on a paddle-
LWT The Royal Variety Show
The Searchers
Donovan
Adam & The Ants
Cliff Richard & The Shadows
Lonnie Donegan
Alvin Stardust
Marty Wilde
Acker Bilk
Lulu
Monday 30th November 1981
BBC2 Cliff!
Cliff Richard documentary series
2: Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music?
Adam Faith, Olivia Newton-
Tuesday 1st December 1981
Granada Get It Together
Boney M
Mike Holloway
Bob Fish
Thursday 3rd December 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Dave Jensen
Bad Manners -
Soft Cell -
Status Quo -
Duran Duran -
USA chart run down with Jonathan King in Times Square, New York City -
Diana Ross -
Godley & Creme -
Chart 30 -
Fun Boy Three -
Chart 19 -
Human League -
Chart 8 -
Julio Iglesias -
BBC2 The Camera And The Song (repeat)
Ralph McTell
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11:30 pm -
Introduced by Anne Nightingale and David Hepworth
Gary US Bonds -
Foreigner -
TV21 -
David Hepworth interviews Roy Carr about his David Bowie book and includes the 1969 Luv lolly TV advert
Stone The Crows -
Paul Gambaccini -
Friday 4th December 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill
Andy McKay and synthesizers
BBC1 Crackerjack
content unknown
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show
The Belle Stars
Granada Live From Two
August Darnell (Kid Creole) Interview And Live At The Ritz, New York
Thames White Light
Bim
Saturday 5th December 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop
Chas and Dave
BBC1 The Two Ronnies
Kiki Dee -
ATV Tiswas
The Jets
Duran Duran
ATV Portrait of a Legend: The Beach Boys
Southern Star Parade
The Bellamy Brothers
Sunday 6th December 1981
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell
Larry Gatlin
BBC1 Jock N Roll part one
B.A. Robertson hosts
Lonnie Donegan, Jackie Dennis, Alex Harvey, Billy Lawrie, Junior Campbell, Maggie Bell, Donovan, John Martyn
Monday 7th December 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill
Vic Damone
BBC2 Cliff
Cliff Richard documentary series
3: Travellin’ Light
BBC2 Rhythm on 2
George Shearing
Tuesday 8th December 1981
BBC2 Russell Harty
The Pointer Sisters
Granada Get It Together
Wednesday 9th December 1981
Thames London Night Out
Cilla Black
Vince Hill
Thursday 10th December 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Jimmy Savile
Showaddywaddy -
Madness -
Dollar -
Ken Dodd -
Adam & The Ants -
Bucks Fizz -
Chart 30 -
The Police -
Chart 20 -
Abba -
Chart 10 -
Human League -
Host plugs the theme tune single
Phil Lynott -
BBC2 The Camera and the Song
Ian Campbell
BBC2 Russell Harty
Gary Glitter
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11.30 pm -
Billy Cobham Drum Clinic with with jazz drummer Nic France of Ian Carr 's Nucleus, and rock drummer Chris Wyles
Friday 11th December 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill
Clodagh Rogers
BBC1 Crackerjack
content unknown
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show
content unknown
Saturday 12th December 1981
BBC1 Swap Shop
Status Quo
BBC2 The Two Ronnies
Randy Crawford – Secret Combination
BBC1 Parkinson
Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach -
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell
Truk Shakly and the Texas Critters
ATV Tiswas
Showaddywaddy
Kim Wilde
LWT Tonight With Johnny Carson
Kenny Rogers
Sunday 13th December 1981
BBC2 Rhythm on 2
The Tony Evans Big Band
Monday 14th December 1981
BBC2 Cliff
Cliff Richard documentary series
4: My Kinda Life
Granada World In Action 8:00 -
UB40, The Beat
ITV A Star Is Born Movie With Kris Kristofferson
Tuesday 15th December 1981
BBC2 Russell Harty
Kenny Everett
BBC2 Georgie Fame In Concert
The Royal Exchange, Manchester
BBC2 Arena: Brixton to Barbados
Linton Kwesi Johnston: Brixton To Barbados
Granada Get It Together
Sundance (with Mary Hopkin) – What’s Love
Wednesday 16th December 1981
Thames London Night Out
Stutz Bear Cats
Thursday 17th December 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Simon Bates
Duran Duran -
Cliff Richard -
Chas & Dave -
Godley & Creme -
Brown Sauce -
Rod Stewart -
The Snowmen -
Charts 30 -
Jon & Vangelis -
Charts 20 -
Status Quo -
Charts 10 -
Human League -
Altered Images -
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11:30 pm -
Hosted by Anne Nightingale, David Hepworth, Paul Gambaccini
Nils Lofgren -
Burnin’ Red Ivanhoe -
David Hepworth -
Tom Tom Club -
Paul Gambaccini reviews new rock movies Heavy Metal, Christianne F
Paul Gambaccini and David Hepworth reviews new rock books
Friday 18th December 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack
content unknown
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show
The Beat
BBC2 Friday Night Saturday Morning
Malcolm McLaren
Jonathan King
Granada Live From Two
Jools Holland & His Millionaires
Thames White Light
Linx
Saturday 19th December 1981
BBC1 Swap Shop
content unknown
BBC1 The Police Monserrat 81 5:10 -
The Police interviewed by Jools Holland
BBC1 Parkinson
The Bee Gees
Elaine Paige
BBC1 Fundamental Frolics (repeat 31 July 1981)
BBC2 The Young Ones 1961 Cliff Richard and The Shadows movie
ATV Tiswas
The Barron Knights
Rick Wakeman
LWT Johnny Carson Tonight
Diana Ross
LWT Star Parade
Johnnie Ray
Boney M
Yorkshire Marie Gordon Price In Concert
Tony Christie
LWT Punchlines!
Berni Flint
Iris Williams
Sunday 20th December 1981
BBC2 The Man Who Fell To Earth 1976 movie with David Bowie
Anglia Willie Dixon And The New Generation Of Chicago Blues 11:30 pm -
Monday 21st December 1081
LWT Nice To See You!
Marti Webb
Tuesday 22nd December 1981
BBC2 Russell Harty
Hot Gossip
Granada Get It Together
Backing singers -
The Tweets -
Megg Nicol -
Bad Manners -
Roy North -
Megg Nichol -
Roy North -
Backing singers -
Chas and Dave -
Thames White Light
Compilation show
Bow Wow Wow
Classic Nouveau
The Bureau
Thames The Jim Davidson Show
Chas and Dave
ATV Starburst
Petula Clark
ITV Alice In Wonderland
animation with Sammy Davis Jr
Wednesday 23rd December 1981
ITV Tommy Steele’s Quincy’s Quest (repeat)
Thames The Morecambe & Wise Christmas Show
Alvin Stardust
Thursday 24th December 1981
BBC1 The Little and Large Show
Madness
Lulu
Stutz Bear Cats
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 6:35 -
NB A live broadcast
Hosted by David Jensen
Wizzard -
Imagination Christmas greetings
Adam & The Ants -
Elvis Costello & The Attractions -
Bucks Fizz -
The Police -
Kool & The Gang -
Abba -
Charts 30 -
Altered Images -
Charts 20 -
Dollar -
Charts 8 -
Human League -
Philip Lynott – Yellow Pearl (audience dancing and end credits)
BBC1 The Kenny Everett Television Show 7:45 -
The Police – Spirits In The Material World
BBC2 Summer Holiday Cliff Richard movie
BBC2 Christmas Eve with Pam Ayres and Fivepenny Piece
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test Christmas Special 10:00 – 11:05 pm
Stereo simulcast on Radio One
Introduced by Anne Nightingale
Toyah At The Theatre Royal, London
BBC2 Russell Harty at Home
Cilla Black – Sing A Rainbow, You Don’t Bring Me Flowers
Friday 25th December 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops Christmas Special 2:00 -
Hosted by Andy Peebles, Paul Burnett, Paul Gambaccini, Dave Lee Travis, Adrian Juste, Simon Bates, David Jensen, Tony Blackburn, John Peel, Steve Wright, Peter Powell, Jimmy Savile, Richard Skinner, Mike Read
Altered Images Happy Birthday
Dave Stewart Featuring Colin Blunstone What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
Depeche Mode I Just Can’t Get Enough
Godley & Creme Under Your Thumb
Human League Love Action
Kim Wilde Kids In America
Kirsty MacColl There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop
Linx Intuition
OMD Souvenir
Shakin Stevens You Drive Me Crazy
Spandau Ballet Chant No.1
Teardrop Explodes Reward
The Beat Too Nice To Talk To
Toyah Its A Mystery
Ultravox Vienna
Jacksons Can You Feel It (Zoo)
Laurie Anderson O Superman (Zoo)
BBC1 The Two Ronnies
Sheena Easton
Chas & Dave
BBC1 Christmas With The Spinners
BBC2 Country Holiday 10:30 – 11:15 pm
Recorded at the Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth
Tammy Cline
Little Ginny
Pete Sayers
Lorne Gibson
George Hamilton IV
Saturday 26th December 1981
BBC1 The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show
Bucks Fizz
BBC1 Perry Como’s French Canadian Christmas
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell
Andre Crouch
Bobby Vinton
BBC2 Sky at Westminster Abbey
BBC2 Wonderful Life Cliff Richard movie
ATV Tiswas
Toyah
Bad Manners
LWT An Audience with Dudley Moore
Shirley Bassey
Sunday 27th December 1981
BBC1 The Rock That Doesn’t Roll 10:25 -
Cliff Richard At The Royal Albert Hall, London
BBC2 Olivia Newton-
Cliff Richard, Elton John, Tina Turner, Andy Gibb
ITV A Christmas Messiah
Kiki Dee
Paul Jones
ITV Secombe With Music
Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth
Monday 28th December 1981
BBC1 Val Sings Bing
Val Doonican Bing Crosby tribute
Marti Webb
Vic Damone
Tuesday 29th December 1981
BBC1 Pop Quiz
Panel -
BBC1 Artemis 81 9:00 pm -
Play With Sting
BBC2 The Best of Dean Martin
A compilation of his sixties shows
Wednesday 30th December 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4:40 -
Bucks Fizz Land of Make Believe
Modern Romance Ay Ay Ay Moosey
Shakin’ Stevens Oh Julie
Special guest appearance from David Jensen
Thursday 31st December 1981
BBC1 Elvis – The Movie 1978 TV movie with Kurt Russell
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 6:00 -
NB Dave Lee Travis was listed as co-
Hosted by Mike Read
The Number Ones Of 81 (a compilation of repeats etc)
Shakin’ Stevens -
Adam & The Ants -
John Lennon -
Roxy Music -
Aneka -
The Police -
The Specials -
Joe Dolce Music Theatre -
Julio Iglesias -
Bucks Fizz -
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin -
Michael Jackson -
Smokey Robinson -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Soft Cell -
John Lennon -
Adam & The Ants -
Human League -
Queen & David Bowie -
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 12:05 -
Introduced by Anne Nightingale
Pick Of The Year
Bruce Springsteen Insert Quarter To Three (No Nukes)
The Residents Third Reich & Roll (promo clip)
Skids An Incident In Algiers
Stiff Little Fingers Barbed Wire Love (Live Film)
Japan My New Career
Pretenders Stop Your Sobbing (Live Film)
Zoom Lens Running In Mazes (Filmfinders Clip)
Spirit Turn To The Right
Doors Break On Through (Promo Clip)
John Martyn (With Phil Collins) Sweet Little Mystery
Jack Bruce And Friends Hit & Run (Filmfinders Clip)
Teardrop Explodes Ha Ha I'm Drowning
Bob Seger Still The Same (Live Film)
Nina Hagan Ziggy Stardust
No Entry Band F.C Years (Filmfinders Clip)
Adam & The Ants Ant Invasion
John Lennon & Plastic Ono Band Instant Karma (Top Of The Pops)
Tv Smith's Explorers Perfect Life
Slow Children Staring At The Ceiling (Filmfinders Clip)
Gang Of Four He'd Send In The Army
Stevie Nicks/Tom Petty & Heartbreakers Stop Dragging My Heart Around
The Selecter Celebrate The Bullet
Jimi Hendrix Wild Thing (Blackpool In 1967)
BBC1 Hi There ‘82
A Pebble Mill special hosted by the Hi De Hi cast
Andy Williams
Wall Street Crash
Thames Give Us A Clue
Lonnie Donegan
Thames London Night Out
Frankie Vaughan
Southern Day By Yesterday (Southern TV's last ever show)
The Beatles Interview 1965
Scottish The Hogmanay Show
Aneka
Also This Year
Granada Moondogs Matinee
After The Fire -
BBC1 Nationwide
Deborah Harry Interview
BBC1 Jim’ll Fix It
Elvis Costello -
BBC1 Nationwide
Gerry Marsden in report about new Liverpool bands, with OMD
BBC2 Saturday Night Sunday Morning
Godley & Creme -
BBC1 New Lairds Of The Isles
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
BBC1 Scotland Tam O’Shanta (March)
Simple Minds / Steve Hillage -
BBC 1 News
Ringo Starr wedding to Barbara Bach, with Paul McCartney and George Harrison
ATV Moondogs Matinee
10CC -
ITV Holsten adverts
with Neil Innes (at least two)
Southern Day By Day
John Lennon's aunt Mimi interview
BBC1 Saturday Night At The Mill
Sarah Vaughan -
Thames Unforgettable (possibly not broadcast)
The Fortunes
The Foundations
Thames Unforgettable (possibly not broadcast)
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
The Bootleg Beatles -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Chubby Checker -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Thames Unforgettable (possibly not broadcast)
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
The Caravelles -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Danny Williams -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Thames Unforgettable (possibly not broadcast)
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
The Tremeloes -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Jimmy Tarbuck and Kenny Lynch -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
Thames Unforgettable (possibly not broadcast)
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
The Showstoppers -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
New Vaudelville Band -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -