Actually I've just rewatched that episode. This time I was rather distracted by Mark Hollis' enormous sticky-out ears!

I'm also watching/enduring/suffering what passes for TOTP these days. It's reassuring to learn I'm not missing anything by avoiding any other outlet in which these songs appear.

The stench of Cowell et al hangs heavy over this Xmas TotP and Skepta? I've shat better.

Always thought the one thing that "Fast Car" really lacked was a generic dance backing.

Watching this tripe on BBC One now, known as TOTP Xmas 2016. It clearly highlights how good TOTP was in the 80's.

I'd rather put on TOTP Xmas 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985 or 1986 over this rubbish.

As for Reggie and Fearne, seriously long in the tooth at presenting TOTP nowadays, they must have done at least 12 years of TOTP now. Are they trying to beat a certain other presenters' 20 year reign?

In 1982 they couldn't say the word "sexual" before "healing"

Now "hope she's getting better sex" is apparently fine.

It wasn't bad until that kicked in. Less is more.

....

Little Mix could really just be any four women shaking their arses really. Has anyone ever said of them, "They're all about the music"? I think not.

Craig David had to wait this long until everyone had forgotten about Bo! Selecta to get his career back.

...

This "Tilted" track is quality though. Great performance she did of it on Later.

It is sad that the only Xmas specials we will see is 1984 and 1986 onwards. 1985 featured Jonathan King and so wont be shown. 1983 had two xmas shows, one features Mike Smith and the other DLT.

Note: The only thing I like about TOTP 2016 is the huge pink and blue neon TOTP sign - I would like one of those!

I like how in one of the 1982 episodes they showed three minutes of people just dancing to a track.

The tracks in the 2016 edition however are tripe. There is better music being made today, I promise!

The theme tune (Yellow Pearl), The roundel neon logo, the atmosphere in the studio, the cheesy presenters and not to mention the wonderful array of music.

Although I am fond of most of the 80's - the '81 - '86 period is my favourite.

The 80's TOTP's were, in my mind, the finest era of TOTP ever.

Enjoyed both episodes.
I wonder if Santa will provide us with the 16th Dec edition
and hopefully 25th and 30th December editions
somehow,someway

I was just catching up with Shirley Bassey at the BBC that was on BBC 4 last night

They showed a clip of her singing "Breakfast in Bed" that they said was a Top of the Pops performance from 1971 that was never shown. I never gave any thought that there may be recordings that weren't shown on the program

Anyone know of any more ?

SW posted the links earlier - 25-11-82

Is next week's Yew Tree episode the last one before Xmas?

(I've got 25/12 & 30/12 from elsewhere already!)

Any theories why Little Mix were in mono? Very shoddy sound quality from the BBC.

The electro/country mixture of the song probably benefited from it !
Actually think it was from a streamed event ( Radio 1 big weekend??) so crappy sound is the norm.

I enjoyed bits of the 2016. Thank goodness I watched it on catch up though. Christine and The Queens always excellent ( as they were on Jools), one of my albums of the year! Kruggs (?) 'This Girl' is a favourite from the summer, though I prefer the original tune which came from Cooking On Three Burners & Kylie Audilist.
Pleased to see Craig David, he's had a great year. Sounds good too. Skepta however, oh dear, emperors new clothes methinks! I'd say Kate Tempest is a finer poet/singer/rapper. Prefer to have seen her!

Shocking news that George Michael has died.

Speechless. Seems like every time I walk away from my computer, by the time I return another one has gone. And so soon after we have seen his stunning TOTP debut.

Am shocked.

And we've all just watched Wham's debut so recently.

They (particularly the man on the right) look like two of Paul Young's three backing singers who featured on hits like "Everytime You Go Away" and "Everything Must Change".

On Top of The Pops: Christmas Hits, on BBC4, there was Johnny Mathis singing "Sleigh Ride" on an unnamed show, presumably a BBC programme, from 1979. I think two of dancers were Sue and Lulu from Legs & Co.

RIP George Michael. One of the greatest musical talents this country has produced.

The performance we saw on the show on Friday is now currently airing on the BBC in an obituary piece.

Surreal doesn't even begin to describe it.

Can't believe the news about George Michael.

Great songwriter and a fantastic vocalist. His performance at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert was one of the best performances I've ever seen. Just shocking news

There aren't any singers IMO with the clarity and beauty exuded within George Michael's vocals.

An exceptionally gifted and talented singer & songwriter who could easily transcend uptempo tracks and tender heartfelt ballads in in instant.

'A Different Corner' would be my pick of his solo material, though 'Kissing a Fool' would be a close runner up, with 'Careless Whisper' & 'I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) in there for the memories.

For Wham!, the remix of 'Everything She Wants'/'Last Christmas' & 'Freedom', although I was also a fan of the Club Tropicana B-Side 'Blue (Armed With Love)'.

RIP George, you were hugely influential in mine and thousands of others' lives and you will be sorely missed.

Please 2016, no more.

George Michael, his sudden passing away is too much to bear this Christmastime.

God bless my friend.