Concept and creative process
'Top of the Pops' was a weekly live studio pop chart show which ran from 1964 until 2006, making it the longest-running television music show ever. Reruns, specials and hit compilation shows have appeared on BBC Four since 2011 to satisfy nostalgia for the programme, but the BBC has so far resisted any suggestion of a contemporary revival. It was a perennial job for designers to tackle, as the titles were changed more or less annually, and was a challenge that was much sought-after. The more humdrum aspect of the job was the weekly servicing of the programme's requirements for captions and the Top 20, 30 or 40 Countdowns which were an essential part of the overall design package. This version was the work of designer Everol McKenzie and featured the use of wireframe computer-generated animation by the Molotov Brothers. The music used was 'The Wizard' by Paul Hardcastle.