Olly Murs up for Top of the Pops revival

Olly Murs wants to see a revival of the music chart show Top of the Pops.

The X Factor singer wants the series to return to television all year round instead of one-off episodes that have aired at Christmas since the show’s axing in 2006. Top of the Pops started in 1964 on BBC TV – before it was renamed BBC One. Murs, a runner-up on the X Factor, wants to see the chart run down and live studio performance series back on-air.

“I don’t know why us artists haven’t said, ‘Let’s back a campaign to bring it back’ because it would be amazing. Except for Later With Jools Holland, there isn’t one music show. If you had TOTP for artists across the board on Friday nights, I could host it! I’d love that.” The Sun quotes the singer as saying.

The series was created and originally produced by Johnnie Stewart and down the years had many, many presenters such as Tony Blackburn, John Peel, Noel Edmonds, Richard Bacon and the late Jimmy Savile. It also had a number of one-off presenters, quite often singers themselves, such as Mark Owen and Lulu. It’s final presenters were Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates but by the time of its cancellation in 2006 the series had been shunted to BBC Two because of declining ratings and failed revamps.

Top of the Pops was just as memorable for its alleged miming by some singers/acts and the dance group Pans People as it was for the music it covered. Since the show’s cancellation there has been repeated rumours of a revival with Simon Cowell and Richard Desmond – owner of Channel Five – both alleged to have made offers to bring it back. As yet though the BBC has shown no inclination to revive the series.

Pictured Top: Olly Murs wants TOTPs returned to telly screens. Pictured Middle: At its peak in the 1970s Top of the Pops is hosted by Tony Blackburn and Noel Edmonds for a festive episode and Pictured Bottom: final hosts, Reggie Yates and Ferne Cotton.