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
Paul Anka
Natalie Cole
Dr Buzzard's Savannah Band
Westward/Channel Duets For Piano and Voice 11.35 pm -
Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent
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 9.30 am -
content unknown
BBC1 Heroes Of Rock N Roll 10.35 pm -
BBC2 Arena: Chelsea Hotel 10.20 -
Nico, Jobriath
Border Alright Now 10.00 – 10.30 am
content unknown
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
The Stray Cats
ITV Search For A Star 5.15 -
Venus and Mars (pop group)
Paul Raferty (singer/songwriter)
Yorkshire 3-
Alvin Stardust
Sunday 4th January 1981
BBC1 That's Life 9.30 10.10 pm
The Wurzels
BBC1 Kate 10.55 -
Kate Bush with Peter Gabriel
BBC2 James Last In London 9.50 -
Ulster Ulster Entertains 4.30 -
The Chieftains
Dana
Mary O'Hara
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
Monday 5th January 1981
BBC2 Something Else 7.00 -
From Hammersmith
Adam & The Ants -
Linx
BBC2 Gilbert O’Sullivan 8.10 -
Gilbert O’Sullivan
Barbara Dickson
Thames The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
Cher
Yorkshire Jazz Series 11.30 pm -
Ronnie Scott Quintet
Tuesday 6th January 1981
BBC1 The Crystal Gayle Show 11.05 -
Crystal Gayle
BB King
Judy Collins
The Statler Brothers
BBC2 Jake Thackray And Songs 10.15 – 10.50 pm
Jake Thackray
Richard & Linda Thompson
Thames Unforgettable! 3.45 – 4.15 pm
Hosted by Alan Freeman
Dave Berry
The Swinging Blue Jeans
Wednesday 7th January 1981
BBC1 Nationwide 6.20 -
Includes Nominations For The British Rock N Pop Awards
BBC2 Sixteen Up: Fair Cop? 6.05 -
John Cooper-
Thursday 8th January 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill 1.00 -
Iris Williams
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 (London/South East) Peter Skellern 10.15 -
Saturday 10th January 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
Adam Ant
BBC1 Parkinson 9.45 -
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 10.30 am -
Matchbox
Phil Collins
ITV Search For A Star 5.15 -
Quill (rock band)
Angie Gold (singer)
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 10.20-
Jake Thackray
Ralph McTell
Thames Unforgettable 3.45 -
The Merseybeats
Jigsaw
Wednesday 14th January 1981
Anglia Star Parade 11.10 am -
James Last
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Bryan Ferry, Sandie Shaw, Paul Jones, Mickie Most, Paul Rafferty
The Hot Jazz Duo
Southern Runaround 4.20 -
Duncan McKay
Anglia Alright Now 5.15 – 5.45 pm
Rockpile
Wild Horses
Thames Where’s Jack 10.30 pm -
Thames Max 8.00 -
Max Bygraves
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 2.00 -
Alan Price
Anglia Willie Dixon 11.15 pm – 12.15 am
ATV It's A Musical World 11.25 pm -
Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent
Southern Jazz The Inimitable Art 11.20 pm -
documentary
Friday 16th January 1981
BBC1 (London/South East) Peter Skellern 10.15 -
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.20 -
Hosted by Rik Mayall, Rob Rohner
content unknown
Granada Once Upon A Time 12.10 -
children's stories read by Mark Wynter
Saturday 17th January 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
content unknown
BBC1 Jim’ll Fix It 6.35 -
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 10.30 am -
Blondie -
The Look -
Bad Manners -
Visage -
The Boomtown Rats -
Lenny Henry -
LWT Search for a Star 5.15 = 6.05 pm
Rainbow Cottage (group)
Gordon Haskell
Sunday 18th January 1981
BBC2 The Red Arrows 5.20 -
Five Minute Documentary With Music By Sky
LWT 20th Century Box 1.30 -
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 8.00 -
Live At Wembley, part two
ITV The Sounds Of 3.25 -
Rickie Lee
ATV Today 6.00 -
Bryan Ferry interview
Thames The Monte Carlo Show 11.50 pm -
Petula Clark
Tuesday 20th January 1981
BBC2 Harty 8.30 -
Hot Gossip (with two new members)
BBC2 Jake Thackray And Songs 10.25 -
Jake Thackray
Maddy Prior Band
Thames Unforgettable 3.45 -
Billy J Kramer
Craig Douglas
Wednesday 21st January 1981
BBC1 Parkinson 10.45 -
Bette Midler
ATV Starburst 8.00 -
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
ATV Late Night Country Music 11.35 pm -
Poacher
Matchbox
The Duffy Brothers
Little Ginny
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 (London/South East) Peter Skellern 10.15 -
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.20 -
content unknown
Thames Once Upon A Time 12.10 -
Children’s Stories read by Mark Wynter
Granada Clapperboard 5.15 -
The making of The Jazz Singer movie with Neil Diamond
ATV Frank Sinatra: A Tribute 11.05 pm – 1.00 am
Saturday 24th January 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
The Quick
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 12.00 -
Mike Oldfield (Rockpop, Dortmund, 19th December 1980)
Roxy Music (Rock Pop, Dortmund)
Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons (Sydney)
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
The Specials
LWT Search For A Star 5.15 -
Twice As Nice (singers)
Danny Owen (singer)
Afrique (group)
Sunday 25th January 1981
ATV The Muppet Show 5.30 -
Debbie Harry -
Monday 26th January 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 7.00 -
The Motels
BBC2 Grace Kennedy 8.30 -
Grace Kennedy -
Gerard Kenny -
Grace Kennedy & Gerard Kenny -
Border The Sound of... 3.25 -
Vince Hill
Tuesday 27th January 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill At One 1.00 -
Grace Kennedy
BBC2 Jake Thackray And Songs 10.20 -
Jake Thackray
Alex Glasgow
Thames Unforgettable 3.45 -
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
ATV Late Night Country Music 12.10 -
Dolly Parton
Wednesday 28th January 1981
BBC2 Sixteen Up 5.55 -
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
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 (London/South East) Peter Skellern 10.15 -
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.20 -
Hosts -
Gen X -
BBC2 Friday Night Saturday Morning 11.30 pm -
Harry Chapin
Granada Once Upon A Time 12.10 -
Mark Wynter
Southern The Piranhas 10.35 – 11.05 pm
Documentary about their American tour
Saturday 31st January 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
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 10.30 am -
The Pretenders
Elaine Paige
LWT Search For A Star Final 5.15 -
Annie Noel & John Morgan (jazz singers)
Paul Rafferty (singer)
Yorkshire 3-
Ken Colyer's Jazzband
ITV The Bing Crosby International Golf Tournament 11.30 pm -
Pat Boone
Sunday 1st February 1981
ATV The Muppet Show 5.30 -
Johnny Cash -
ITV The Bing Crosby International Golf Tournament 10.30 pm -
Pat Boone
Monday 2nd February 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 6.35 -
This show was scheduled to be John Martyn At Chelsea College but was cancelled
The Skids At Chelsea College
BBC2 Grace Kennedy 8.30 -
Grace Kennedy
Anglia It's A Musical World 11.40 pm -
Introduced by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent
Elkie Brooks
Thames The Monte Carlo Show 11.40 pm -
The Oak Ridge Boys
Yorkshire Jazz Series 11.40 pm -
Ronnie Scott Quintet
Tuesday 3rd February 1981
BBC2 Russell Harty 8.30 -
David Essex
BBC2 Jake Thackray And Songs 10.20 -
Jake Thackray
Shusha
Thames Unforgettable 3.45 -
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 7.30 -
The Bachelors
Granada The Monte Carlo Show 10.30 -
David Essex
Helen Reddy
Wednesday 4th February 1981
BBC1 Variety Club Awards 7.25 -
Hazel O’Connor (best film actress)
BBC1 Captain Beaky World Of Words And Music Vol 2 8.15 -
Peter Skellern
Petula Clark
Noel Edmonds
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
DJ Show: David Jacobs, Tony Blackburn, Mike Read, John Peel
Harry Chapin -
Paul Rafferty -
Spookey -
ATV Star Parade 2.45 -
James Last Orchestra
The Richie Family
John Denver
Vicki Leandros
Anglia 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
Wall Street Crash
ATV Late Night Country 11.35 pm -
Merle Haggard in concert
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
Southern Jazz: Chicago Blues 11.05 pm -
content unknown
STV Elkie Brooks In Concert 11.30 -
Friday 6th February 1981
BBC1 (London/South East) Peter Skellern 10.15 -
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.20 -
Nash The Slash
BBC2 Friday Night…Saturday Morning 11.35 pm -
Baby Grand
Thames After Noon Plus 2.00 -
The Mike Westbrook Band
Saturday 7th February 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
content unknown
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 10.45 -
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 10.30 am -
Honey Baine
Fred Wedlock
Joe Dolce
Tyne Tees Saturday Shake Up
The Beatles -
LWT Punchlines! 5.05 -
Lulu
Yorkshire 3-
The Wurzels
LWT Mary O'Hara In Concert 11.30 pm -
Sunday 8th February 1981
LWT Star Parade 11.30 pm -
The Bellamy Brothers
Mirriele Matthieu
ATV The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
Neil Sedaka
The Hudson Brothers
Monday 9th February 1981
BBC2 Rock Goes To College 7.00 -
The Roches At Loughborough University
BBC2 Grace Kennedy 8.30 -
Marvin Hamlisch
Anglia It's A Musical World 11.30 pm -
Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent
Chips
Yorkshire The Jazz Series 12.00 am -
The Ronnie Scott Quartet
The Stan Tracey Quartet
Julie Amnlet
Tuesday 10th February 1981
BBC2 Jake Thackray And Songs 10.15 -
Jake Thackray
Pete Scott
Thames Unforgettable 3.45 -
The Marvelettes
Vanity Fare
Yorkshire The Entertainers 11.40 pm -
Gilbert O'Sullivan
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 -
BBC2 The Mike Harding Show 10.30 -
Live At The Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Thames The Jim Davidson Show 7.30 -
Linda Lewis
Scottish Mike Oldfield In Concert 10.30 – 11.00 pm (also seen at The Blues Band In Concert)
Friday 13th February 1981
BBC1 (London/South East) Peter Skellern 10.15 -
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.20 -
The Passions -
Graham Fellows
Granada Clapperboard 5.15 -
Pop Stars Turned Actors with David Essex
Saturday 14th February 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
content unknown
BBC1 The Best Of Yarwood 8.05 -
The Nolan Sisters
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 11.30 pm -
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 -
Tyne Tees Saturday Shake Up 9.00 am -
Kiki Dee
Madness
Elton John
Benedict Taylor
ATV Tiswas 10.20 am -
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
Westward Liberace's Valentine Night's Special 11.30 pm -
Granada Blood Sweat And Tears 12.30 -
Sunday 15th February 1981
ATV The Muppet Show 5.30 -
Buddy Rich
LWT Star Parade: 11.30 pm -
James Last
John Denver
The Richie Family
ATV The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
Glen Campbell
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? 2.30 -
Tuesday 17th February 1981
BBC2 Maggie 6.15 -
Theme By B A Robertson
BBC2 Harty 8.30 -
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas West End musical special
Wednesday 18th February 1981
BBC2 16 Up 6.10 -
John Cooper-
Westward Celebrity Concert Engelbert Humperdinck 2.45 -
ATV Star Parade 2.45 -
Abba
Cliff Richard
Nana Moiuskouri
Roger Whittaker
James Last and his orchestra
ATV Late Night Country Music 11.35 pm -
Loretta Lynn in concert
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 9.30 am -
XTC Andy Partridge told Uncut magazine in summer 2023 "I gave away my acoustic guitar
on some kids’ TV show – one of those Saturday-
BBC1 Jim’ll Fix It 6.40 -
Shakin’ Stevens
BBC1 Parkinson 9.50 -
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 10.30 am -
Chas and Dave
Tyne Tees Saturday Shake Up 9.00 am -
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
Grace Kennedy
ATV Star Parade (not listed in newspapers)
James Last Orchestra
Boney M
Lynsey de Paul
Baccara
Silver Convention
Ulster Good Evening Ulster 6.00 -
The Blades
ATV Lingalongamax 8.00 -
Max Bygraves
Granada Darts In Concert 12.00 – 12.45 am
Tuesday 24th February 1981
Thames Looks Familiar 7.00 -
George Melly
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 10.20 -
Yorkshire George Hamilton IV 11.30 pm -
Friday 27th February 1981
BBC1 (West) RPM 10.15-
Tape Box Jury -
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.25 -
Hosted by Rob Rohrer, Jackie Speckley
Stiletto
Saturday 28th February 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
Shakin’ Stevens
Showaddywaddy
Status Quo
BBC1 Jim’ll Fix It 6.35 -
Adam & The Ants
BBC1 The Little And Large Show 8.05 -
The Stray Cats
BBC1 Parkinson 9.45 -
The 300th show
Wall Street Crash
George Melly
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 10.30 am -
Sheena Easton (participates in 'Beat The Benny')
Jake Thackray
Yorkshire 3-
Diana Solomon
Tyne Tees Saturday Shake Up 9.00 am -
Coast To Coast
LWT The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
Nana Mouskouri
The New Swingle Singers
Granada The Very Special Oscar Peterson 12.00 -
Oscar Peterson
Ray Charles
Sunday 1st March 1981
LWT Star Parade 11.35 pm -
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 -
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 2.00 -
Clodagh Rodgers
ATV Starburst 8.00 -
The Spinners
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 Concert 10.30 -
Westward The Jazz Series 10.34 -
The Ronnie Scott Quartet
Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
Friday 6th March 1981
BBC1 (Midlands) Look Hear 10.15 -
Toyah
The Selecter
The Lazers
BBC1 (West) RPM 10.15-
content unknown
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.25 -
content unknown
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Miles Copeland Talks About Spying
Saturday 7th March 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
10cc -
BBC1 Jim'll Fix It 6.40 -
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
BBC1 Parkinson 9.45 -
Pete Townshend
Richard Stilgoe
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
Phil Collins -
Tyne Tees Saturday Shake Up 9.00 am -
Shakin' Stevens
Coast To Coast
How to be a DJ article with Radio Tees' Mark Page
Sunday 8th March 1981
BBC1 16 Up 10.45 -
John Cooper-
ATV The Muppet Show 5.30 -
Mac Davis
LWT Star Parade 11.30 pm -
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 Caine 8.15 -
Billy Preston -
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
ATV Late Night Country Music 11.55 pm -
Dolly Parton
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
Beyond
Gem
ATV Vic Damone In Concert 2.45 -
ATV Starburst 8.00 -
The Drifters
Amii Stewart
Gerard Kenny
Thursday 12th March 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7.20 -
The Daily Mirror has The Polecats as appearing. This is a collection of promos and repeats due to industrial action with the host appearing in front of a green screen.
Hosted by Tommy Vance
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 -
Westward Jazz Series 10.35 -
George Chisholm
Carol Kidd
Morrissey-
Duncan Findley
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 9.30 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
Yorkshire 3-
Berni Flint
LWT The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
Anne Murray
Rod McKuen
Granada Dudley Moore In Concert 12.30 -
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 11.55 pm -
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
Westward Star Parade 2.45 -
James Last Orchestra
Barry Manilow
Boney M
Johnny Ray
ATV Starburst 8.00 -
Leo Sayer
ATV Late Night Country Music 12.05 -
George Hamilton IV
Canadian Zephyr
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 -
Cliff Richard live at the Apollo, Victoria, 1980
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.25 -
One of the presenters is Graham Fellows (Jilted John / John Shuttleworth)
content unknown
BBC2 Friday Night...Saturday Morning 11.30 pm -
Host Tim Rice
Granada Clapperboard 5.15 -
The making of Coal Miner's Daughter
Saturday 21st March 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
BA Robertson
The Look
BBC1 The Little and Large Show 6.45 -
Shakin’ Stevens
BBC1 Parkinson 10.05 -
Andrew Lloyd-
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 10.15 -
Joni Mitchell -
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
Status Quo
LWT The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
Kris Kristofferson
Sunday 22nd March 1981
BBC1 Eurovision Song Contest Previews part one 4.10 -
BBC2 Blow Up 10.10 pm -
Monday 23rd March 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill 1.00 -
Peggy Lee
BBC2 Marti Caine 8.15 -
Kiki Dee
The Korgis
Thames A Royal Gala -
The Palace Theatre, Manchester
10Ccc with the Halle Orchestra
Marti Webb
ATV Rockstage 11.15 pm -
Elkie Brooks
Tuesday 24th March 19081
Anglia Music Special 11.30 pm -
Benny Goodman tribute
Yorkshire Jazz 11.30 pm -
Buddy de Franco
Terry Gibbs
Southern Jazz 11.30 pm -
Born To Swing
Wednesday 25th March 1981
BBC1 George Burns In Nashville??? 11.20 pm -
Loretta Lynn
The Gatlin Brothers
Westward Star Parade 2.45 -
Mireille Mathieu
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 -
chart 30 -
The Whispers -
chart 19 -
Landscape -
chart 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 4.45 -
The Nolans
Southern Harry Strutter's Hot Rhythm Orchestra 10.35 -
Saturday 28th March 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
Squeeze -
The Tourists
The Teardrop Explodes
BBC1 Parkinson 10.00 -
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 10.30 am -
the final show with Lenny Henry, Chris Tarrant, Bob Carolgees, John Gorman
The Barron Knights
HTV The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
David Essex
Helen Reddy
LWT The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
Sacha Distel
Granada Paul Anka Music -
Sunday 29th March 1981
BBC2 Oh Lucky Man! 9.15 pm -
LWT Star Parade 11.35 pm -
Boney M
Lynsey DePaul
Monday 30th March 1981
BBC2 Marti Caine 8.15 -
Tony Christie
Wall Street Crash
BBC2 Say It With Baby Grand 10.20 -
Andy Fairweather Low
ATV Rockstage 11.15 pm -
Squeeze
Tuesday 31st March 1981
BBC1 (Midlands) Look! Hear! 6.45 -
Hosted by Toyah Wilcox
Weapon Of Peace
The Hawks
BBC2 Hooked! 8.30 -
Frankie Vaughan
Thames Max 8.30 -
Max Bygraves
Thursday 2nd April 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7.20 -
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 10.20 -
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 11.00 pm -
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 6.45 -
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 -
chart 30 -
The Whispers -
chart 20 -
Hazel O'Connor -
chart 10 -
Shakin’ Stevens -
BBC2 Wall Street Crash 9.00 -
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 Collins
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 11.15 pm -
Joe Jackson
Martha & The Muffins
Tuesday 14th April 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill 1.00 -
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 8.30 -
Lena Zavaroni
Sheeba – Horoscopes
Thames The Andy Williams Show 11.30 am -
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 Ant -
B A Robertson -
Swap Shop presenters -
Stewart Copeland -
Lena Zavaroni -
Thames ABBA Words And Music 5.10 -
Concert footage and conversation
Saturday 18th April 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Music Show 8.35 -
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 11.00 pm -
Rod McKuen
Joel Grey
Monday 20th April 1981 Bank Holiday
BBC1 Paradise Hawaiian Style 11.00 am -
BBC1 Kenny Rogers Easter By The Sea 10.50 -
Kenny Rogers
BBC2 Pam Ayres Egg-
The Albion Band
BBC2 Harty 8.30 -
Compilation With Rod Stewart In Belfast, Shakin’ Stevens
BBC2 Say It With Baby Grand 9.25 -
Baby Grand
Andy Fairweather-
Thames Shirley McLaine At The Lido 11.15 pm -
Tom Jones
Charles Aznavour
Sacha Distel
ATV Rockstage 11.15 pm -
OMD
Lene Lovich
Tuesday 21st April 1981
BBC1 The Big Time: Sheena Easton, The Making Of A Star 7.20 -
Sheena Easton update
BBC2 Gladys Knight & The Pips part two 9.00 -
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Granada Moondogs Matinee 4.20 -
The Moondogs
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 (wearing a DLT1 sweater, looking like the BBC1 logo)
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 7.30 -
Kate Bush – in sketch
Hot Gossip -
Cliff Richard – in sketch
The Pretenders – Louie Louie
Saturday 25th April 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Show 8.25 -
Val Doonican
Marti Webb – I’ve Been In Love Too Long
Stéphane Grappelli
BBC1 Saturday Night at the Mill 10.15 -
Petula Clark meets the real Maria Von Trapp
BBC2 Old Grey Whistle Test 12.15 -
A French special 'Le Test de l'Ancien Sifflet Gris' to co-
Hosted by Anne Nightingale
Liitle Bob Story -
Herve Muller -
Jean Luc-
Jean Michel Jarre -
Telephone -
Charlelie Couture -
Trust -
LWT The Cannon and Ball Show 7.35 -
Jeep
Sunday 26th April 1981
ATV The Monte Carlo Show 11.25 pm -
Demis Roussos
Monday 27th April 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4.20 -
The Look -
Shakin Stevens -
Bad Manners Just a Feeling
BBC2 The Nolans 9.00 – 9.35 pm
Recorded in concert at The New London Theatre
The Nolans
ATV Rockstage 11.15 pm -
The Lambrettas
Tuesday 28th April 1981
BBC2 Don Williams In Concert 9.00 -
The New Theatre, London
Granada Moondogs Matinee 4.20 -
The Moondogs
The Searchers -
Godley & Crème -
Wednesday 29th April 1981
BBC1 Lena 8.30 -
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 7.30 -
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 7.35 -
Anne Murray
LWT The Monte Carlo Show 11.15 pm -
Cleo Laine
Larry Adler
Sunday 3rd May 1981
Granada On The Road: 25 Today! 5.30 -
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-
The Look -
The Pretenders -
Jona Lewis -
The Stray Cats -
Ginger -
Dire Straits -
The Quick -
The Police -
Madness -
Roxy Music -
Brown Sauce -
Nick Straker Band -
The G B Band -
Elvis Costello -
Adam & The Ants -
Shakin' Stevens -
Status Quo -
XTC -
BBC2 The Two Ronnies 8.15 -
Barbara Dickson
BBC2 The Nolans 11.00 -
from The New London Theatre
The Nolans
ATV Rockstage 11.30 pm -
Madness
The Modettes
Tuesday 5th May 1981
BBC2 Crystal Gayle 9.00 -
The New London Theatre
Crystal Gayle
Donovan
BBC2 Boom Boom Out Go The Lights 9.45 -
Showcase for new wave British comedy
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 4.20 -
The Moondogs
Wednesday 6th May 1981
BBC1 Lena 8.30 -
Lena Zavaroni
Nana Mouskouri
Thursday 7th May 1981
BBC1 Scene -
Ian Dury
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7.20 -
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 tonight.
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 2.00 -
The Drifters
Thames The Kenny Everett Video Cassette 7.30 -
Cliff Richard – Move It (archive clip), Take Another Look
Hot Gossip -
Friday 8th May 1981
BBC2 A World of Jazz 11.30 -
The Stan Getz Quartet
The Mel Lewis Big Band
The Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble
Saturday 9th May 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Show 8.25 -
Val Doonican
Kevin Johnson
Cleo Laine
LWT Cannon And Ball 7.40 -
Lulu
LWT The Monte Carlo Show 11.05 pm -
Andy Williams
Mireille Mathieu
Monday 11th May 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4.20 -
Small Ads -
Keith Marshall -
The Beat -
BBC1 Alan Price 11.05 -
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester -
Alan Price
Madeline Bell
BBC2 The Two Ronnies 8.15 -
Elkie Brooks
ATV Rockstage 11.15 pm -
Any Trouble
Matchbox
Tuesday 12th May 1981
BBC2 Pete Sayers Entertains 9.00 -
Pete Sayers
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 4.20 -
The Moondogs
The Boomtown Rats
Suzi Quatro
Wednesday 13th May 1981
BBC1 Lena 8.30 -
Lena Zavaroni
Anne Murray
Thursday 14th May 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 6.55 -
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 -
chart 30 -
Kim Carnes -
chart 19 -
Ten Pole Tudor -
chart 9 -
Adam & The Ants -
Thames The Kenny Everett Video Cassette 9.30 -
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 -
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 5.30 -
Petula Clark
Monday 18th May 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4.20 -
Toyah
BBC1 Alan Price 11.05 -
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester -
Protest songs from the sixties
Alan Price
BBC2 The Two Ronnies 8.15 -
Barbara Dickson
ATV Rockstage 11.15 pm -
The Stranglers
Hazel O’Connor
Tuesday 19th May 1981
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11.30 pm -
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! 10.30 -
Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth
Yorkshire The Monte Carlo Show 11.00 pm -
Anne Murray
Rod McKuen
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 -
Saturday 23rd May 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Show 8.00 -
Lena Zavaroni
LWT The Cannon and Ball Show 7.40 -
Ritz
Granada The Monte Carlo Show 10.55 pm -
David Essex
Debbie Boone
LWT In Concert Special 11.00 -
Mel Torme and Della Reese
Sunday 24th May 1981
BBC1 Goldie and Liza Together 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 9.00 -
Pete Sayers
Graham Copper
The Mintings
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
At about this time, a recording studio is built next 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 Pye Records, an ATV owned record company. The recording studio is never mentioned again.
Wednesday 27th May 1981
BBC1 Alan Price 10.15 -
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester -
BBC2 Did You See... 7.30 -
Robin Deneslow looks at rock music on television
Thursday 28th May 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7.20 -
It's possible that Hazel O'Connor recorded (Cover Plus) We're All Grown Up while she was in the studio this week but it remained unbroadcast
Hosted by Simon Bates
no theme
The Polecats -
Champaign -
UB40 -
Ten Pole Tudor -
Vangelis -
Enigma -
Hazel O'Connor -
chart 30 -
Coast To Coast -
chart 20 -
Kim Carnes -
chart 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
George Harrison -
Friday 29th May 1981
BBC1 Des O’Connor Tonight 8.00 -
Marti Webb
BBC2 A World Of Jazz 11.30 -
Bill Evans Trio
Mingus Dynasty
Betty Carter
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
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 7.40 -
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 9.00 9.25 pm
Pete Sayers
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 -
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester -
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 -
chart 30 -
Toyah -
chart 20 -
Phil Collins -
chart 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 8.00 -
Grace Kennedy
BBC2 A World of Jazz
Clips from the Montreux Jazz Festival 11.30 -
Mel Lewi, Big Band, Dexter Gordon with Hampton Hawes and Kenny Clarke, Champion Jack Dupree
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
Granada After All That: This 12.05 -
Motivation
Saturday 6th June 1981
BBC1 The Val Doonican Show 8.30 -
Val Doonican
Pat Boone
Sunday 7th June 1981
ATV The Muppets 5.30 -
Leo Sayer
LWT George Hamilton IV 12.15 -
Monday 8th June 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4.20 -
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 from 1979
Granada The Video Entertainers 8.00 -
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 2.00 -
Fred Wedlock
Friday 12th June 1981
BBC1 Des O’Connor Tonight 8.00 -
The Three Degrees
BBC2 A World of Jazz
Clips from the Montreux Jazz Festival 11.30 -
Art Blakey Drum Summit, Guy Lafitte and Bill Coleman, Klaus Doldinger, Passport
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
Saturday 13th June 1981
Tyne Tees Check It Out Extra 12.20 -
content unknown
Sunday 14th June 1981
LWT George Hamilton IV 12.10 -
Monday 15th June 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 4.20 -
Polecats -
Fassbender-
Coast to Coast -
Tuesday 16th June 1981
BBC1 Ask Aspel5 5.10 -
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 7.35 -
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Two Members Of Sky – Tuba Smarties
Granada The Video Entertainers 8.00 -
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 -
chart 30 -
The Specials -
chart 20 -
Imagination -
chart 10 -
Smokey Robinson -
Granada Celebration 10.30 -
New Order -
Friday 19th June 1981
BBC1 Des O'Connor Tonight 8.00 -
Mimi Hines
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
Saturday 20th June 1981
BBC1 Saturday Night at the Mill 10.10 -
Sarah Vaughan with Nelson Riddle
Tyne Tees Check It Our Extra 11.50 am -
content unknown
LWT The Monte Carlo Show 11.05 pm -
Anthony Newley
Yorkshire Blood Sweat and Tears 11.50 pm -
Sunday 21st June 1981
Border Musical Special: Darts 3.05 -
ITV A Royale's Progress 6.40 -
Garth Hewett
LWT The South Bank Show 10.30 -
Rhythm & Blues -
LWT George Hamilton IV 12.10 -
Monday 22nd June 1981
ITV Now For Nookie 4.20 -
Clodagh Rodgers
Tuesday 23rd June 1981
No Old Grey Whistle Test
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz 4.20 -
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 8.00 -
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 -
chart 30 -
Randy Crawford -
chart 20 -
Depeche Mode -
chart 10 -
Michael Jackson -
Quincy Jones -
BBC1 A Love Letter To Jack Benny 9.25 -
Frank Sinatra
Friday 26th June 1981
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
Saturday 27th June 1982
ATV Murphy’s America 11.20 pm -
Rod Stewart, Pat Boone talk about Hollywood
LWT In Concert Special: Engelbert Humperdinck 11.30 pm -
Sunday 28th June 1981
LWT George Hamilton IV 12.10 -
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 4.20 -
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 8.30 -
Toni Basil
Granada The Video Entertainers 8.00 -
Tony Christie
The Dooleys
ATV It’s A Musical World 11.35 pm -
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 8.30 -
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
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
Clips: Cliff Richard (Oh Boy!), Bad Company -
BBC1 Saturday Night at the Mill 10.35 -
Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen
LWT In Concert Special -
Yorkshire The Monte Carlo Show 11.15pm -
Kris Kristofferson
Sunday 5th July 1981
Yorkshire In Concert 11.00 -
Mike Oldfield
Monday 6th July 1981
BBC2 Sing Country 9.00 -
Tammy Wynette
Marty Robbins
Tuesday 7th July 1981
BBC1 Goin’ Coconuts 7.25 -
Donny & Marie Osmond
BBC2 Rhythm on 2 9.00 -
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 4.20 -
Madness -
Ying Tong John -
Toni Basil -
Thames The Jim Davidson 7.30 -
The Joe Fenton Four (reggae band)
Wednesday 8th July 1981
BBC1 Three Of A Kind 8.30 -
Amii Stewart
Granada The Video Entertainers 8.00 -
Alan Price
Poacher
Thursday 9th July 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7.20 -
The 900th edition, broadcast live. With new opening credit sequence (falling coloured vinyl) and Yellow Pearl theme by Midge Ure and Phil Lynott which is now also used for the chart run down. For some reason Showaddywaddy's Multiplication is played over the VT countdown clock.
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 7.55 -
BBC1 Love Story: Chance To Sit Down 8.25 -
Drama about ballet with Cherry Gillespie, ex-
BBC1 Satchmo 10.50 -
Louis Armstrong tribute
Granada Get It Together 4.45 -
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz (repeat 2nd June 1981) shown various times on some ITV stations
Southern Bands Make It Rock: The Roadies Make It Roll 10.35 – 11.05 pm
The Who on their UK tour at the Gaumont, Southampton
Saturday 11th July 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer 9.30 -
Hosted by Peter Powell, Lucie Skeaping (Skepaing wrote the theme tune)
Kiki Dee
The Beat
BBC1 Pop Quiz 6.15 -
Panel: Tim Rice (Captain), Clem Burke, Billy Currie vs Rick Wakeman (Captain), Mike Berry, John Peel
Clips: Talking Heads -
LWT Guitar 11.30 pm -
Mason Williams
ATV Murphy’s America 11.30 pm -
Tammy Wynette, Ray Stevens talk about country music
Sunday 12th July 1981
ATV The Muppet Show 5.30 -
Alice Cooper
ATV The Monte Carlo Show 11.15 pm -
Larry Adler
Cleo Laine
Monday 13th July 1981
BBC2 Sing Country 9.00 – 9.50 pm
Jerry Lee Lewis
Carl Perkins
Frank Ifield
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz (repeat 2nd June 1981) shown on several ITV stations at different times
ITV Time For Nookie 4.20 -
Lulu
Tuesday 14th July 1981
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11.35 pm -
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 -
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz 4.20 -
The Heartbeats -
Kate Bush -
Bucks Fizz -
Thames White Light 5.15 -
content unknown
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 8.00 -
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 -
chart 30 -
Bad Manners -
chart 20-
Spandau Ballet with Beggar and Co -
chart 10 -
The Specials -
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
Hazel O’Connor
Friday 17th July 1981
BBC1 Grace Kennedy 8.00 -
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
Rita Coolidge
Saturday 18th July 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer 9.30 -
The Jam -
Toyah
BBC1 Pop Quiz 6.35 -
Panel: Jake Burns (Captain), Robert Plant, Dave Edmunds vs Bev Bevan (Captain), Helen Shapiro, Graham Gouldman.
Clips: Sonny & Cher -
ATV Let’s Rock 11.35 pm -
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
plus supporting singers and musicians -
Sunday 19th July 1981
LWT 20th Century Box 1.00 -
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 9.00 -
Jimmy C Newman
ITV Now For Nookie 4.20 -
Vince Hill
Tuesday 21st July 1981
BBC1 Ask Aspel 5.10 -
Paul Nicholas
ATV Years Of Lightning: 1963 7.00 -
Clips of The Beatles, The Searchers
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz 4.20 -
Craig Warnock, one of the stars of the new movie Time Bandits was to be interviewed but it had been arranged beforehand on the flight up to Newcastle that the other stars that went with him, including Kenny Baker and David Rappaport, would kidnap him during the interview. Ray Cooper of HandMade Films would also do a percussion masterclass for the show while he was there for later transmission.
The Shakin’ Pyramids -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Wednesday 22nd July 1981
BBC1 Three Of A Kind 8.30 -
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 -
chart 30 -
Visage -
chart 20 -
Gidea Park -
chart 10 -
The Specials -
Starsound -
BBC1 The Good Old Days 9.25 -
Vince Hill
BBC2 The Six-
Paul Jones
Shakin’ Stevens
Friday 24th July 1981
BBC1 Grace Kennedy 8.00 -
The King's Singers
BBC1 (Midlands) This Is...Waterfall
Waterfall
Saturday 25th July 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer 9.30 -
Guest Presenter: Pauline Black (The Selecter)
Spandau Ballet
BBC1 Pop Quiz 6.15 -
Panel: Jonathan King (Captain), Noddy Holder, Syd Little vs Roy Wood (Captain), Pauline Black, Eddie Large
Clips: Roxy Music -
BBC1 Summertime Special 8.20 -
Bucks Fizz -
Randy Crawford -
Lena Zavaroni
LWT Russ Abbot’s Saturday Madhouse 7.05 -
The Three Degrees
ATV Let’s Rock 11.35 pm -
Lulu
Joe Brown
Alvin Stardust
Shakin’ Stevens
plus supporting singers and musicians -
Sunday 26th July 1981
LWT 20th Century Box 1.30 -
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 -
BBC2 Sing Country 9.00 -
Johnny Cash and June Carter
Tuesday 28th July 1981
BBC1 Cheggers Plays Pop 10.15 -
Dave Edmunds, Duran Duran
BBC1 News 8.50 -
Mike Oldfield Royal Wedding anthem
BBC2 Vic Damone Says ‘Make Someone Happy’ 8.20 -
A Six Fifty-
BBC2 Rhythm on 2 8.50 -
The Tony Evans Big Band
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz 4.20 -
Chas & Dave -
Ray Jackson -
Bonnie Langford and 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 2.10 -
The Five Penny Piece
BBC2 A Stylish Affair (Six Fifty-
Mike McGear
BBC2 Louis Armstrong Anniversary Concert 11.25 pm -
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 -
chart 30 -
The Undertones -
chart 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 8.00 -
BBC2 Fundamental Frolics 9.00 -
MENCAP Benefit Show
Elvis Costello – Gloomy Sunday
Jon Anderson
Neil Innes
Alan Price
LWT George Hamilton IV 12.10 -
Saturday 1st August 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer 9.30 -
David Essex
The Nolans
BBC1 Pop Quiz 6.15 -
Panel: Russ Ballard (Captain), Chas Hodges, Errol Brown vs Paul Gambaccini (Captain), Lynsey de Paul, Alvin Stardust
Clips: The Who -
BBC1 Summertime Special 8.20 -
Dollar -
Stephanie Lawrence -
Precious Wilson -
BBC1 My Kind Of Music 10.50 -
Lulu -
Shakin’ Stevens
ATV Let’s Rock 11.35 pm -
Lulu
Shakin’ Stevens
Joe Brown
plus supporting singers and musicians -
Sunday 2nd August 1981
LWT 20th Century Box 1.30 -
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 9.00 -
Recorded at Pebble Mill, Birmingham
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz (repeat)
Suzi Quatro, Chas and Dave
Southern Runaround 4.20 -
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 9.00 -
George Shearing
Tyne Tees Razzamatazzz 4.20 -
Kirsty MacColl -
Darts -
ATV Years Of Lightning: 1967 7.00 -
Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger
ATV Years Of Lightning: 1970 7.00 -
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 8.00 -
Pat Boone
Showaddywaddy
Thursday 6th August 1981
BBC1 Looking Good, Feeling Fit 6.55 -
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 10.15 -
LWT George Hamilton IV 12.10 -
Saturday 8th August 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer 9.30 -
Guest Hosted by Suzi Quatro
Duran Duran
BBC1 Pop Quiz 6.15 -
Panel: Philip Lynott (Captain), Paul Nicholas, Gary Tibbs vs Chas Chandler (Captain), Hazel O'Connor, Nicky Tesco
Clips: The Boomtown Rats -
BBC1 Summertime Special 8.30 -
Shakin’ Stevens -
Magggie Moon -
The Bachelors -
Sheeba
ITV The Video Entertainers 6.35 -
Julie Felix
ATV Let’s Rock 11.35 pm -
Lulu
Alvin Stardust
Shakin' Stevens
Freddie Fingers Lee
Billy GBH Hartman
Bogdan
Den Hegarty
plus supporting singers and musicians -
Sunday 9th August 1981
LWT 20th Century Box 1.30 -
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 -
Ralph McTell
Tuesday 11th August 1981
BBC2 The Six Fifty-
New Orleans Jazz Special
Dr John
The Chris Barber Band
BBC2 Elvis Lives 8.35 -
Tyne Tees Razzamatazzz 4.20 -
Depeche Mode -
Terry Gilliam, David Rappaport and couple of others from Time Bandits -
Dollar -
Yorkshire Calendar 6.00 -
Report on the Warehouse club in Leeds. Outside the club there is a sign promoting
forthcoming attraction "ABC (ex-
Soft Cell -
Thames The Jim Davidson Show 7.30 -
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 8.00 -
Joe Brown
Sacha Distel
Thursday 13th August 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7.25 -
Hosted by Simon Bates
Duran Duran -
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra With Louis Clark -
Soft Cell -
Kim Wilde -
Bill Wyman -
Startrax -
chart 30 -
Aneka -
chart 18 -
ELO -
chart 8 -
Shakin’ Stevens -
UB40 -
Friday 14th August 1981
BBC1 The Monkees 5.05 -
BBC1 Barbara Dickson And Her Band 10.15 -
From the Royal Exchange in Manchester
Barbara Dickson
Harvey Andrews
Saturday 15th August 1981
BBC1 Get Set For Summer 9.30 -
Shakin’ Stevens
Hazel O’Connor
BBC1 Speedway 6.55 -
BBC1 Summertime Special 8.30 -
The Nolans -
Angie Gold -
BBC1 My Kind Of Music 11.35 pm -
Gilbert O’Sullivan -
Alison McInnes -
ATV Let’s Rock 11.30 pm -
Lulu
Den Heggarty
Joe Brown
Alvin Stardust
plus supporting singers and musicians -
Sunday 16th August 1981
LWT 20th Century Box 1.30 -
Rockabilly
With Dave Edmunds, The Shakin' Pyramids, The Cyclones
ITV Elvis -
LWT The Palace Presents 11.25 pm -
Hosted by Jack Jones
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 4.20 -
Coast To Coast -
Hank Marvin -
The Shadows -
Wednesday 19th August 1981
BBC1 Marti Caine 8.15 -
The Korgis
Kiki Dee
BBC1 A Little Night Music 11.10 -
Richard & Linda Thompson
Thames The Big Top Variety Show 8.00 -
David Essex
Bucks Fizz
Thursday 20th August 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7.25 -
Hosted by Dave Lee Travis
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 Monkees 5.05 -
BBC1 Tom Paxton 10.15 -
BBC1 The Model Shop 10.50 pm -
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 9.45 -
BBC1 Pop Quiz 6.30 -
Panel: David Gilmour (captain), Midge Ure, Ian Gillan vs Phil Collins (captain), Elkie Brooks, Barry Mason
Clips: Earth Wind & Fire -
BBC1 Summertime Special 8.30 -
Joe Brown -
Kate Robbins
ATV Let’s Rock 11.20 -
Lulu
Joe Brown
Shakin’ Stevens
The Cats
The Bopettes
Alvin Stardust
Shakin’ Stevens
plus supporting singers and musicians -
Sunday 23rd August 1981
LWT 20th Century Box 1.30 -
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 4.20 -
Chas and Dave -
Ray Cooper -
Adam Ant -
Bad Manners -
Wednesday 26th August 1981
BBC1 Marti Caine 8.15 -
Showaddywaddy
Joe (South African singing group)
BBC1 A Little Night Music 11.10 -
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 -
Chart 30 -
Ultravox -
Chart 18 -
Genesis -
chart 11 -
Aneka -
Modern Romance – Everybody Salsa (audience dancing and end credits)
BBC2 Folk 9.00 -
Donovan
The Roches
Friday 28th August 1981
BBC1 The Five Penny Piece 10.15 -
Saturday 29th August 1981
BBC1 The Monkees 9.50 -
BBC1 Pop Quiz 6.10 -
Panel -
Clips -
BBC1 Summertime Special 8.25 -
Hosted by Lulu
Showaddywaddy -
Vince Hill -
Valentino -
Lulu -
BBC1 My Kind Of Music 11.55 pm -
Alan Price
BBC2 If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium 2.55 -
Sunday 30th August 1981
BBC1 To The Count Of Basie 11.15 pm -
Count Basie tribute
Annie Ross
LWT 20th Century Box 1.30 -
Pop videos with Visage (Steve Strange, Chris Cross), Pete Townshend
Monday 31st August 1981 Bank Holiday
BBC1 Jim’ll Fix It 7.00 -
Bucks Fizz
BBC2 Iris Williams 10.15 -
Gerard Kenny
Tuesday 1st September 1981
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nicol with Ollie Beak
Any Trouble -
Megg Nichol -
Bad Manners -
Cliff Richard -
Roy North -
Matchbox -
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again 9.30 -
Neil Innes
Wednesday 2nd September 1981
BBC1 Marti Caine 8.15 -
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 -
chart 30 -
Pointer Sisters -
chart 20 -
OMD -
chart 10 -
Soft Cell -
Gary Numan says hello
Funkapolitan -
BBC2 Folk 9.00 -
Cambridge Folk Festival
The Macalmans
Steeleye Span
Jake Thackray
Saturday 5th September 1981
BBC1 Summertime Special 8.00 -
The Dooleys -
Barbara Dickson -
The King's Singers -
BBC1 My Kind Of Music 10.50 -
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 10.55 -
Davey Graham
Tyne Tees Razzamatazz 11.35 am -
Thames The Monte Carlo Show 11.20 pm -
David Essex
Helen Reddy
Tuesday 8th September 1981
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
Aneka -
The Flap Tops -
Roy North & Megg Nichol -
Dollar -
The Flat Tops -
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again 9.30 -
Neil Innes
Thursday 10th September 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7.20 -
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 9.00 -
John Cooper-
Fred Wedlock
Fallen Arches
Friday 11th September 1981
Southern Candy 11.00 pm -
Saturday 12th September 1981
BBC1 The Monkees 9.50 -
BBC1 Summertime Special 8.00 -
Jeep
Dana -
Jay and Bonnie Diamond -
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
Rick Wakeman
Ultravox
Chas and Dave
Sunday 13th September 1981
BBC1 Did You Miss Me 4.10 -
Gary Glitter
LWT The Palace Presents 11.45 pm -
Hosted by Jack Jones
David Soul
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 1.30 -
Anita Harris, The Wurzels
Tuesday 15th September 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill 1.00 -
Kiki Dee
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
The Donkees -
Megg Nichol -
Georgie Fame -
Tenpole Tudor -
Roy North -
Chas and Dave -
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again 9.30 -
Neil Innes
Wednesday 16th September 1981
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Barry Mason two Songs
Thames The Andy Williams Show 12.00 -
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 -
chart 29 -
Bucks Fizz -
chart 19 -
The Pointer Sisters -
chart 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
Dollar -
BBC2 Schools Prom 6.55 -
School big bands competition
Ronnie Scott
BBC2 Folk 9.00 -
Dave Van Ronk
Ossian
Derek Brimstone
Friday 18th September 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill 1.15 -
Steeleye Span
Saturday 19th September 1981
BBC1 Summertime Special 8.00 -
Lobo -
The Cambridge Buskers
Grace Kennedy -
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
Hank Marvin -
Sting -
Mike Read (radio DJ) -
Slade -
Status Quid (aka The Hee Bee Gee Bees) -
Genesis -
Sunday 20th September 1981
BBC1 Rolf’s Here OK? 6.01 -
The Polecats
Tuesday 22nd September 1981
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
Roy North -
The Polecats -
Resident band and singers -
Modern Romance -
Megg Nichol -
Alvin Stardust -
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again 9.30 -
Neil Innes
Wednesday 23rd September 1981
Thames The Andy Williams Show 11.30 pm -
Andy Williams
Henry Mancini
Thursday 24th September 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill At One 1.00 -
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 -
chart 30 -
Imagination -
chart 20 -
Madness -
chart 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
Police -
BBC2 Scene: Food, Food, Glorious Food (schools programme) (not listed in newspapers)
Kate Bush
Thames Thanks A Million… And More! 10.30 -
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 winners' special recorded at Mysen, Norway
Dana
Abba
Sandie Shaw
The Brotherhood Of Man
Lulu
Bucks Fizz
BBC2 World’s End (first of thirteen episodes of drama series)
Theme by Alan Price
Saturday 26th September 1981
BBC1 The Monkees 9.50 -
ATV Tiswas 10.30 pm -
Toyah Wilcox
LWT The Bob Hope Classic Cabaret 9.15 -
Iris Williams
Vic Damone
LWT The Palace Presents 11.55 pm -
Jack Jones
Cleo Laine
Sunday 27th September 1981
BBC1 Rolf’s Here OK? 6.05 -
Coast To Coast
Monday 28th September 1981
BBC1 A Little Night Music 11.40 pm -
Neil Ardley & Barbara Thompson
BBC2 Des O’Connor Tonight 8.10 -
Lena Zavaroni
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records 10.20 -
Neil Innes -
Kenny Everett introduces next weeks' show
Thames The Monte Carlo Show 11.20 pm -
Dionne Warwick
Charles Aznavour
Tuesday 29th September 1981
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
Rocky Sharpe & The Replays -
Black Cat -
Megg Nichol -
Roy North -
Adam & the Ants -
Black Cat -
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again 9.30 -
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 -
chart 30 -
Gidea Park -
chart 20 -
Dollar -
chart 10 -
Adam & The Ants -
Tight Fit -
BBC2 Futurama Rock 80 11.40 pm -
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 4.55 -
content unknown
BBC2 Something Else 6.55 -
this edition was made by Paul Weller
The Jam at Sheerwater Youth Club, Worthing
The Questions
Dolly Mixture
Thames White Light 5.15 -
A look at youth magazine Kicks
Theatre of Hate
Saturday 3rd October 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
B A Robertson
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
Bad Manners
Human League
ATV Portrait of a Legend: Olivia Newton-
Sunday 4th October 1981
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell And The Mandrell Sisters 11.00 -
Barbara Mandrell And The Mandrell Sisters
Dolly Parton
LWT The Palace Presents 11.30 pm -
Lou Rawls
Vikki Carr
Eddie Fisher
Monday 5th October 1981
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records 10.20 -
Neil Innes -
John Cooper-
Tuesday 6th October 1981
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
Top Secret -
Resident band and singers -
The Rolling Stones -
Megg Nichol -
Roy North -
Colorado -
The Inmates -
Thames Frankie Howerd Strikes Again 9.30 -
Neil Innes
Wednesday 7th October 1981
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
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 Futurama Rock 80 11.35 pm -
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 4.55 -
The Barron Knights
BBC2 Something Else 6.55 -
From Bristol
The Beat
Talisman
Thames White Light 5.15 -
Wide Boy Awake
Saturday 10th October 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
Dr Hook
Toyah
BBC1 Parkinson 11.20 pm -
Andy Williams
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
Sheena Easton
LWT Johnny Carson's Tonight 10.55 -
Edie Gorme
Sunday 11th October 1981
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell 11.00 -
Andre Crouch
Kenny Rogers
Monday 12th October 1981
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records 10.25 -
Neil Innes -
Ivor Cutler
Tuesday 13th October 1981
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
Megg Nichol -
R&J Wagsmith band -
Magna Carta -
Atack -
Roy North -
Bad Manners -
Anglia Jazz 12.05 -
content unknown
Grampian In Concert: Gillan 12.00 -
Wednesday 14th October 1981
BBC1 Happy Birthday Las Vegas 10.15 -
Tony Bennett, Anthony Newley, Liberace, Neil Sedaka, Wayne Newton
Thames The Andy Williams Show 12.00 -
Andy Williams
Thursday 15th October 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7.20 -
The Last appearance by Legs and Co, but there is no mention of it. A voice on the countdown clock exclaims "this time for real right, just a practice for real last time."
Hosted by Dave Jensen (his first show in eighteen months as he had been working on American radio)
Gary Glitter -
Toyah -
B A Robertson & Maggie Bell -
Altered Images -
The Tweets -
Godley & Creme -
The Exploited -
Squeeze -
chart 30 -
The Creatures -
chart 20 -
Bad Manners -
chart 9 -
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin -
This Year's Blonde -
BBC2 Futurama Rock 80 11.40 pm -
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 4.50 -
content unknown
BBC2 Something Else 6.55 -
From Bangor
The Raincoats
Fay Ray
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Tommy Steele
The Polecats – Rock With The Caveman, Singing The Blues
Thames White Light 5.15 -
content unknown
Saturday 17th October 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
content unknown
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
Robert Plant
Cozy Powell
Tyne Tees The Monte Carlo Show 11.40 pm -
Debbie Boone
Sunday 18th October 1981
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell 10.45 -
Glen Campbell
Alabama
LWT The Palace Presents 11.25 pm -
Hosted by Jack Jones
Henry Mancini
ATV Aretha Franklin In Concert 11.25 pm -
Monday 19th October 1981
BBC2 Des O’Connor Tonight 8.10 -
The Nolans
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records 10.30 -
Neil Innes
Anglia The Monte Carlo Show 11.35 pm -
Glen Campbell
Yorkshire The Monte Carlo Show 11.00 pm -
Anne Murray
Grampian In Concert: Nazareth 12.00 -
Tuesday 20th October 1981
BBC2 Russel Harty 8.30 -
Grace Kennedy
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nicol
Resident band and singers -
Secret Affair -
Roy North -
Megg Niuchol -
Madness -
The Jive Bombers -
Kirsty MacColl -
ATV World Freestyle Dancin' Championships UK Final
content unknown
Granada Jazz 11.30 pm -
The Ronnie Scott Quartet
Wednesday 21st October 1981
BBC1 Parkinson 11.00 pm -
George Shearing
ATV Starburst 8.00 -
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 10.30 -
Fairport Convention Live
Friday 23rd October 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack 4.50 -
content unknown
BBC1 (Wales) Grace Kennedy 7.45 -
BBC1 (London) On The Town 10.15 -
Randy Edelman
BBC2 Lulu 10.15 -
Live At Blazers, Windsor and other locations around London
Backed by Mike Moran and the singers from Get It Together
Lulu -
BBC1 (West) Radio One Goes West 10.15 -
content unknown
BBC2 Something Else 6.55 -
Kirsty MacColl
Dodo Vision
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Andy Williams
Thames Just For Fun 2.45 -
Thames White Light 5.15 -
Ian Dury
Linx
Saturday 24th October 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
Carpenters
Human League
BBC1 Parkinson 9.45 -
Mel Torme
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
content unknown
Granada Star Parade 11.50 am -
Donna Summer
ATV Portrait of a Legend: Kris Kristofferson 11.55 pm -
Sunday 25th October 1981
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell 10.45 -
Barbara Mandrell
Charlie Daniels
Anglia Randy Crawford In Concert 12.05 am -
Yorkshire George Hamilton IV 12.10 -
Monday 26th October 1981
BBC2 Des O’Connor 8.10 -
Cleo Laine
Tuesday 27th October 1981
BBC2 The Other Music 7.20 -
The folk revival from 1945 to now
Steeleye Span, The Watersons, Alan Lomax
Ulster Rockstage 10.30 -
content unknown
Anglia Jazz 12.00 -
Ronnie Scott Quartet
Wednesday 28th October 1981
ATV Starburst 8.00 -
Lonnie Donegan
Ray Ellington
Scottish The Entertainers 11.50 pm -
Richard Digence
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 -
chart 30 -
OMD -
chart 20 -
Squeeze -
chart 8 -
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin -
Friday 30th October 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack 4.50 -
content unknown
BBC2 Something Else 6.45 -
From Aberdeen
The Delta Five
Toyah
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
Roy North -
Clive Sarstedt -
Sheena Easton -
The Preditors -
Megg Nichol -
Gary Glitter -
Thames White Light 5.15 -
(possibly) Bow Wow Wow
Saturday 31st October 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
Petula Clark
Shakin’ Stevens
BBC1 Parkinson 9.35 -
Toyah
Peter Skellern
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
Gillan
LWT Johnny Carson's Tonight 11.20 pm -
Sammy Davis Jr
ATV Portrait of a Legend: Andy Williams 11.20 -
Sunday 1st November 1981
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell 10.45 -
Barbara Mandrell
Hoyt Axton
Charlie Pride
LWT The Palace Presents 11.30 pm -
Cleo Laine
Jack Jones
Southern The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
Nana Mouskouri
Anglia In Concert: The Blues Band 12.00 -
Monday 2nd November 1981
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records 10.20 -
Neil Innes
Vivian Stanshall
Anglia The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
Larry Adler
Tuesday 3rd November 1981
BBC2 Russell Harty 8.30 -
Elvis Costello -
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
Modern Romance -
Roy North & Megg Nichol -
Marney Webb -
Elvis Costello -
Toyah Wilcox -
Anglia / Grampian Jazz Series 12.00 -
Ronnie Scott Quartet
Wednesday 4th November 1981
ATV Starburst 8.00 -
Randy Crawford
Stutz Bear Cays
Granada The Monte Carlo Show 11.40 pm -
Kris Kristofferson
Southern The Entertainers: Dennis Waterman 11.40 pm -
Yorkshire Jazz Series 11.40 pm -
Ronnie Scott Quartet
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
chart 30 -
Julio Iglesias -
chart 20 -
ABC -
Host chats to Grant Santino dance champion
chart 10 -
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin -
Four Tops -
BBC2 Happy Endings 9.00 -
First of six shows written and starting Peter Skellern
BBC2 Futurama Rock 80 11.30 pm -
The Queen's Hall, Leeds
Tribesman -
Blurt -
Danse Society -
Naked Lunch -
Clock DVA -
Souxsie & The Banshees -
Friday 6th November 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack 4.50 -
content unknown
BBC2 Something Else 7.10 -
From Central London
Depeche Mode
Orange Juice
BBC2 Mike Harding 9.00 -
Mike Harding
BBC2 Newsnight 10.45 -
The Rolling Stones Interviewed In Orlando, Florida
BBC2 Friday Night Saturday Morning 10.25 -
Elkie Brooks
Thames White Light 5.15 -
Granada Celebration (possibly not this day)
John Lennon: Dream Weaver, Creation Of The Everyman Theatre’s Musical About Lennon
Saturday 7th November 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
Adam Ant
BBC 1 Parkinson 11.00 pm -
Ian Dury
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
The Jam interview
LWT Tonight With Johnny Carson 11.05 -
Sheena Easton
Tyne Tees The Monte Carlo Show 11.05 pm -
David Soul
Granada Star Parade 11.05 pm -
Boney M
ATV Portrait Of A Legend: Brenda Lee 11.30 pm -
Scottish It's A Musical World 11.40 pm -
David Gates
LWT The Palace Presents 11.55 pm -
Hosted by Jack Jones
Ethel Merman
Sunday 8th November 1981
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell 10.45 -
Barbara Mandrell
Paul Anka
T G Shepperd
LWT The South Bank Show 10.30 -
Elvis Costello & The Attractions in Nashville with Billy Sherrill
Monday 9th November 1981
BBC2 The Des O’Connor Show 8.10 -
Mireille Matthieu
Max Bygraves
BBC2 The Innes Book Of Records 10.20 -
Neil Innes
Tuesday 10th November 1981
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
The Flat Tops -
Roy North -
Resident band and singers -
The Deltas -
Megg Nichol -
Shakin' Stevens -
The Flat Tops -
Wednesday 11th November 1981
BBC1 Parkinson 10.50 -
Sundance (with Mary Hopkin) -
Granada Live From Two (possibly this day)
Darts
ATV Starburst 8.00 -
Pearly Gates
Thursday 12th November 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7.20 -
Spandau Ballet record a clip of Paint Me Down, but it is not broadcast
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 8.30 -
The Tweets (The Birdie Song hit-
BBC2 40 Minutes: Rocky Circus 9.30 -
Gary Glitter Show At Gerry Cottle’s Circus, June 1981
Grampian Max Bygraves 8.00 -
Thames Miss World 1981 8.30 -
Helen Reddy
Friday 13th November 1981
BBC1 Crackerjack 4.50 -
The Grumbleweeds
BBC1 Nationwide 6.22 -
Abbey Road article with Helen Shapiro, Kate Bush
BBC2 Hold Down A Chord 7.40 -
Folk guitar with John Pearse
BBC2 Mike Harding 9.00 -
Mike Harding
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Nine Below Zero – Eleven Plus Eleven
Thames White Light 5.15 -
Classix Nouveau
Anglia About Anglia 6.00 -
Radio Caroline’s Return
Saturday 14th November 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 -
10cc
Brown Sauce With Dave Edmunds
BBC1 Parkinson 9.35 -
Diana Ross
Helen Reddy
BBC2 Did You See 7.15 -
Dave Cash on review panel
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
The Beat
LWT The Pyramid Game 5.40 -
Paul Gambaccini
Tyne Tees The Monte Carlo Show 11.05 pm -
Dionne Warwick
ATV Portrait Of A Legend: Stevie Wonder 11.10 -
Scottish It's A Musical World 11.40 pm -
Elkie Brooks
LWT The Palace Presents 11.55 pm -
Pearl Bailey
Connie Stevens
Jack Jones
Yorkshire Marie Gordon-
Marie Gordon-
Georgie Fame
Sunday 15th November 1981
LWT Star Parade 11.30 pm -
James Last and his orchestra
Mireille Mathieu
Monday 16th November 1981
Granada Reports Action (possibly this day)
Ian Dury
Tuesday 17th November 1981
Granada Get it Together 4.20 -
Sharon Benson -
Roy North -
The Jets -
Megg Nichol -
The Freshies -
Dollar -
Thames Give Us A Clue 7.30 -
Suzi Quatro
Wednesday 18th November 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill 1.00 -
Sundance (Incl Mary Hopkin) – What’s Love, Cottonfields
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Victor Spinetti Talks About John Lennon
Group From Stage Play Lennon Play Two Songs
ATV Starburst 8.00 -
Lennie Peters
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 -
chart 30 -
Trevor Walters -
chart 20 -
Soft Cell -
chart 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 4.50 -
content unknown
BBC1 Tommy Steele -
A celebration of his first 25 years in showbiz
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.00 -
Hosted by Jackie Spreckley, Robert Elms
Japan
BBC2 Friday Night Saturday Morning 10.35 -
Kate Bush
Thames White Light 5.15 -
content unknown
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Kid Creole
Saturday 21st November 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
OMD -
BBC1 Parkinson 9.45 -
Glen Campbell
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
content unknown
LWT Johnny Carson's Tonight 11.10 -
Dolly Parton
Barbara Mandrell
ATV Portrait Of A Legend: Kenny Rogers 11.10 -
LWT The Palace Presents 11.55 pm -
Hosted by Jack Jones
The Hudson brothers
Rita Moreno
Yorkshire Marie Gordon-
Salena Jones
Sunday 22nd November 1981
BBC1 See Hear 10.55 -
Cliff Richard
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell 11.10 -
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 10.20 -
George Shearing at the Waldorf Hotel, London
Tuesday 24th November 1981
BBC2 Russell Harty 8.30 -
The Pointer Sisters
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
Mari Wilson -
Tenpole Tudor -
Resident band and singers -
The Jam -
Showaddwaddy -
Wednesday 25th November 1981
BBC1 Nationwide 6.25 -
Thin Lizzy interview
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Miles Copeland
ATV Starburst 8.00 -
The Bootleg Beatles
Matchbox
Thursday 26th November 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 7:20 -
Hosted by Mike Read
The Jets -
Earth Wind & Fire -
Toyah -
Cliff Richard -
LP chart 10 -
Imagination -
Ultravox -
chart 30 -
Kim Wilde -
chart 20 -
Kool & The Gang -
chart 10 -
Queen & David Bowie – Under Pressure (stock footage, audience dancing and end credits) number one
BBC1 Blankety Blank 7.55 -
Kenny Everett
BBC1 A Love Letter To Jack Benny 11.20 pm -
Frank Sinatra
BBC2 Happy Endings 2: Sleeping 9.00 -
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 6.30 -
Cliff Richard -
Border Marie Gordon-
Barbara Dickson
Friday 27th November 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill 1.00 -
Cliff Richard presents Nurse of the Year award
BBC1 Crackerjack 4.50 -
content unknown
BBC1 Ned Kelly 10-
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.00 -
The Blues Band
Hot Gossip (dance troupe)
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Gary US Bonds It’s Only Love
Saturday 28th November 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
Dollar
BBC1 Parkinson 9.45 -
Billy Eckstein
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
Cliff Richard
Bucks Fizz
LWT Johnny Carson's Tonight Show 10.30 -
Dionne Warwick
Buddy Rich
Tyne Tees The Monte Carlo Show 10.30 -
Anne Murray
Rod McKuen
HTV West The Palace Presents 10.30 -
Jack Jones
Diahann Carroll
Sunday 29th November 1981
BBC2 Jazz On A Bright Summer’s Day 9.40 -
The West 58 Street Strompers play on a paddle-
LWT The Royal Variety Performance 7.15 -
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! 8.10 -
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 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
Roy North -
Mike Holloway -
Megg Nichol -
Classix Nouveau -
The Belle Stars -
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 4.45 -
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 -
Grampian The Entertainers: Lonnie Donegan 7.15 -
Westward / Channel Unforgettable 11.30 pm -
The Tremeloes
Friday 4th December 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill 1.00 -
Andy McKay and synthesizers
BBC1 Crackerjack 4.50 -
content unknown
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.00 -
The Belle Stars
BBC2 Mike Harding 9.00 -
From the Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Mike Harding
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
August Darnell (Kid Creole) -
Thames White Light 5.15 -
Bim
Saturday 5th December 1981
BBC1 Multi Coloured Swap Shop 9.30 am -
Chas and Dave
BBC1 The Two Ronnies 8.00 -
Kiki Dee -
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
The Jets
Duran Duran (John Taylor and Simon LeBon) -
ATV Portrait of a Legend: The Beach Boys 10.35 -
Tyne Tees The Monte Carlo Show 10.30 -
Helen Reddy
Southern Star Parade 10.40 -
The Bellamy Brothers
Scottish Star Parade 10.40 -
The Manhattan Transfer
James Last and his orchestra
Pasadena Roof Orchestra
Les Humphries Singers
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 1.00 -
Vic Damone
BBC2 Cliff 8.10 -
Cliff Richard documentary series
3. Travellin’ Light
BBC2 Rhythm on 2 10.20 -
George Shearing
Anglia The Monte Carlo Show 11.30 pm -
Andy Williams
Yorkshire The Monte Carlo Show 11.00 pm -
Oak Ridge Boys
Tuesday 8th December 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill 1.00 -
Ralph McTell
BBC2 Russell Harty 8.30 -
The Pointer Sisters
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
The Dooleys -
Carlene Carter and Paul Carrack -
Resident band and singers -
Dana -
Roy North & Megg Nichol -
Chas and Dave -
Granada George Hamilton IV 12.00 -
Grampian Jazz Series 12.00 -
George Coleman Quartet
Wednesday 9th December 1981
Thames London Night Out 8.00 -
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 4.45 -
Ian Campbell
BBC2 Russell Harty 8.30 -
Gary Glitter
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 11.30 pm -
Billy Cobham Drum Clinic with jazz drummer Nic France of Ian Carr's Nucleus, and rock drummer Chris Wyles
Friday 11th December 1981
BBC1 Pebble Mill 1.00 -
Clodagh Rogers
BBC1 Crackerjack 4.50 -
content unknown
BBC2 International Pro-
Bing Crosby
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.00 -
content unknown
BBC2 Mike Hardin 9.00 -
Mike Harding
Saturday 12th December 1981
BBC1 Swap Shop 9.30 am -
Status Quo
BBC2 The Two Ronnies 8.40 -
Randy Crawford – Secret Combination
BBC1 Parkinson 11.40 pm -
Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach -
Tim Rice
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell 11.40 pm -
Barbara Mandrell
Truk Shakly and the Texas Critters
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
Showaddywaddy
Kim Wilde
LWT Johnny Carson's Tonight Show 10.35 -
Kenny Rogers
Sunday 13th December 1981
BBC2 The Tony Evans Big Band 9.15 -
Southern Fairport Convention and Friends 11.35 pm -
HTV Star Parade 11.35 pm -
Abba
Cliff Richard
nana Mouskouri
Roger Whittaker
Anglia I Am The Blues 11.35 pm -
documentary
Monday 14th December 1981
BBC2 Cliff 8.10 -
Cliff Richard documentary series
4. My Kinda Life
Granada World In Action Special 8:00 -
Protest music of the young unemployed
UB40, The Beat
ITV A Star Is Born 1976 movie with Barbra Streisand, Kris Kristofferson
Tuesday 15th December 1981
BBC2 Russell Harty 8.30 -
Kenny Everett
BBC2 Georgie Fame In Concert 9.00 -
The Royal Exchange, Manchester
BBC2 Arena Linton Kwesi Johnston: Brixton To Barbados 9.45 -
from the Carifesta in Barbados
Linton Kwesi Johnson
The Renegades
Granada Get It Together 4.20 -
Hosted by Roy North, Megg Nichol
Megg Nichol -
The Kinks -
Ollie Beak & Roy North Thank U Very Much
Alvin Stardust -
Sundance (with Mary Hopkin) – What’s Love
Grampian / Anglia Jazz Series 11.45 pm -
content unknown
Wednesday 16th December 1981
Thames London Night Out 8.00 -
Stutz Bear Cats
Yorkshire Jazz Series 11.30 pm -
Ronnie Scott Quartet with Kenny Baker and Don Lusher
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 -
chart 30 -
Jon & Vangelis -
chart 20 -
Status Quo -
chart 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 4.50 -
content unknown
BBC2 International pro-
Glen Campbell
BBC2 The Oxford Road Show 7.00 -
The Beat
BBC2 Mike Harding 9.00 -
Mike Harding
BBC2 Friday Night Saturday Morning 11.35 pm -
Malcolm McLaren
Jonathan King
Granada Live From Two 2.00 -
Jools Holland & His Millionaires
Thames White Light 5.15 -
Linx
Saturday 19th December 1981
BBC1 Swap Shop 9.30 am -
content unknown
BBC1 The Police Monserrat 81 5.10 -
The Police interviewed by Jools Holland
BBC1 The Two Ronnies 8.35 -
Marti Webb
BBC1 Parkinson 11.05 pm -
The Bee Gees
Elaine Paige
BBC1 Fundamental Frolics 12.05 -
BBC2 The Young Ones 3.00 -
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
The Barron Knights
Rick Wakeman
LWT Punchlines! 7.00 -
Berni Flint
Iris Williams
Border The Entertainers: Johnny Logan 11.00 -
LWT Johnny Carson's Tonight Show 11.00 -
Diana Ross
LWT Star Parade 11.40 pm -
James Last
Barry Manilow
Johnnie Ray
Boney M
Yorkshire Marie Gordon Price In Concert 12.05 -
Tony Christie
Sunday 20th December 1981
BBC2 The Man Who Fell To Earth 10.15 pm -
Anglia Willie Dixon And The New Generation Of Chicago Blues 11.30 pm -
HTV West Star Parade 11.30 pm -
Boney M
Lynsey de Paul
Granada Randy Crawford in Concert 11.30 pm -
Westward / Channel Celebration: Fairport Convention and Friends 11.30 pm -
Scottish Star Parade: Donna Summer 11.30 pm -
Monday 21st December 1981
BBC1 Max Boyce In Concert 9.25 -
ITV Nice To See You! 8.00 -
Marti Webb
ATV Portrait Of A Legend: Tina Turner 11.15 -
Tuesday 22nd December 1981
BBC2 Russell Harty 8.10 -
Hot Gossip
ITV Alice In Wonderland 9.30 -
animation with Sammy Davis Jr
Granada Get It Together 4.00 -
Backing singers -
The Tweets -
Megg Nicol -
Bad Manners -
Roy North -
Megg Nichol -
Roy North -
Backing singers -
Chas and Dave -
Thames White Light 5.15 -
Compilation of bands from the most recent series
Bow Wow Wow
Classic Nouveau
The Bureau
Thames The Jim Davidson Show 7.30 -
Chas and Dave
ATV Starburst 8.00 -
Petula Clark
Wednesday 23rd December 1981
ITV Tommy Steele’s Quincy’s Quest 3.45 -
Thames The Morecambe & Wise Christmas Show 8.00 -
Alvin Stardust in sketch with Eric and Ernie
Thursday 24th December 1981 Christmas Eve
BBC1 Little and Large 6.05 -
Madness -
Stutz Bear Cats
Lulu -
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 6.35 -
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 -
chart 30 -
Altered Images -
chart 20 -
Dollar -
chart 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 3.55 -
BBC2 Christmas Eve with Pam Ayres and Fivepenny Piece 8.30 -
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 11.15 pm -
Cilla Black – Sing A Rainbow, You Don’t Bring Me Flowers
Friday 25th December 1981 Christmas Day
BBC1 Top Of The Pops Christmas Special 2.00 -
Hosted by Andy Peebles, Paul Burnett, Paul Gambaccini, Dave Lee Travis, Adrian Juste (his only appearance on the show), Simon Bates, David Jensen, Tony Blackburn, John Peel (his first TOTP since 1968), Steve Wright, Peter Powell, Jimmy Savile, Richard Skinner, Mike Read, Tommy Vance
Teardrop Explodes -
Ultravox -
Kim Wilde -
Human League -
Godley & Creme -
Kirsty MacColl -
Adam Ant talks to Simon Bates
Modern Romance with Andy Peebles
Dave Stewart featuring Colin Blunstone -
The Jacksons -
Justin Heyward and John Lodge with Paul Burnett
Linx -
The Beat -
Spandau Ballet -
Toyah -
Altered Images -
Dollar with Peter Powell
Laurie Anderson -
Depeche Mode -
OMD -
Shakin' Stevens -
ensemble sing All You Need Is Love
BBC1 The Two Ronnies 7.45 -
Sheena Easton
Chas & Dave
BBC1 Christmas With The Spinners 12.15 -
From the Royal Hall, Harrogate
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 Boxing Day
BBC1 The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show 7.35 -
Bucks Fizz
BBC1 Perry Como’s French Canadian Christmas 11.10 pm -
Perry Como
Debbie Boone
Diane Tell
BBC1 Barbara Mandrell 12.50 -
Andre Crouch
Bobby Vinton
BBC2 Wonderful Life 3.50 -
BBC2 Sky at Westminster Abbey 6.00 -
ATV Tiswas 10.30 am -
Toyah
Bad Manners
LWT An Audience with Dudley Moore 9.45 -
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 Christmas Sunshine 11.00 -
Sunshine sings songs about Christmas
ITV A Christmas Messiah 6.15 -
Kiki Dee
Paul Jones
ITV Secombe With Music 8.15 -
Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth
Monday 28th December 1981
BBC1 Val Sings Bing 9.10 -
Val Doonican Bing Crosby tribute
Marti Webb
Vic Damone
Tuesday 29th December 1981
BBC1 Pop Quiz 6.00 -
Panel: Cliff Richard (captain), David Grant, Richard Parfitt vs Midge Ure (captain), Paula Yates, Barry Gibb. Special guest appearance by Roy Wood.
Clips: The Who -
BBC1 Artemis 81 9.00 pm -
Play With Sting
BBC2 The Best of Dean Martin 11.00 pm -
A compilation of his sixties shows with Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong
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
BBC1 Iris 11.05 -
Iris Williams
The Dallas Boys
Denny Laine
Anglia Shadows In Concert 10.55 -
Thursday 31st December 1981
BBC1 Top Of The Pops 6.00 -
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 -
BBC1 Elvis – The Movie 7.25 -
BBC1 Hi There '82 12.05 -
A Pebble Mill special hosted by the Hi De Hi cast
Andy Williams
Wall Street Crash
BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test 12.05 -
Pick Of The Year introduced by Anne Nightingale
Bruce Springsteen -
The Residents -
The Skids -
Stiff Little Fingers -
Japan -
The Pretenders -
Zoom Lens -
Spirit -
The Doors -
John Martyn (With Phil Collins) -
Jack Bruce & Friends -
Teardrop Explodes -
Bob Seger -
Nina Hagen -
No Entry Band -
Adam & The Ants -
John Lennon & Plastic Ono Band -
TV Smith's Explorers -
Slow Children -
The Gang Of Four -
Stevie Nicks / Tom Petty & Heartbreakers -
The Selecter -
Jimi Hendrix -
Southern Day By Yesterday 7.00 -
The Beatles Interview 1965
Thames Give Us A Clue 7.00 -
Lonnie Donegan
Thames London Night Out 8.00 -
Frankie Vaughan
Thames This Is Your Life Special: Mickie Most 11.00 -
Racey, The Sweet, John Cameron, Bonnie Tyler, John Miles, Suzi Quatro, Lulu, Donovan, Ricky Wilde, Kim Wilde, Errol Brown, Marty Wilde, Little Richard
Scottish The Hogmanay Show 11.45 pm -
Aneka
Southern And It's Goodbye From Us 11.45 pm -
A look-
Richard Stilgoe -
Also This Year
Granada Moondogs Matinee
After The Fire -
Andy Fairweather-
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 Mexican, Spaceman)
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 Vaudeville Band -
The Mike Morton Orchestra and Singers -
ITV Matey advert
voice over by Kenny Everett
ITV Atari video games advert
voice over by Kenny Everett (as Captain Kremmen and Karla)
ITV Renault car advert
Kenny Everett
ITV Courage Best beer advert
Chas and Dave -
BBC1 Speak For Yourself
theme by Roger Chapman
BBC1 Pebble Mill (October)
Lulu