Creamguide's Pick of the Day

• Top of the Pops
  Thursday, 19.30, 00.30, BBC4

  That strike-bound episode was absolutely fascinating, right from the monochrome chart rundown which appeared to be produced using equipment last used in the fifties. This week we’re back in the studio and there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is it’s the debut of Simon Bates and, unlike Andy Peebles, he does alright and that means we now have to endure his smug chat on a regular basis for the next nine years. The good news is that it’s the most eclectic episode of the year, and given they’ve been unable to mount a proper show for a fortnight you’d assume there’d be loads of acts in the charts queuing up to appear, but in fact virtually everything here is outside the Top 40. Doesn’t mean it’s not well worth seeing though, from The Three Degrees to Motorhead, as well as the other M song and Darts with a new single five minutes after the last one.

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