Pick of the Pops


Pick of the Pops is a long-running BBC Radio programme; it was based originally on the Top 20 from the UK singles chart and was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on 4 October 1955. It transferred to BBC Radio 1 from 1967 to 1972. The show returned to the BBC in 1989 and its current production run started on BBC Radio 2 in 1997.
Its longest-serving presenter was Alan Freeman for almost 40 years, on and off, from 1961 to 2000. The current host is Mark Goodier, following the death of Steve Wright.

Original format (1955–72)

Initially, the show did not feature chart music, but in September 1957, Alan Dell introduced the format of running through the charts of the week; he played the top tens from various music papers, plus entries to the top 20s.
David Jacobs broadcast the first averaged BBC Top 20 to the helm on Saturday 29 March 1958. Alan Freeman took over in September 1961, taking the show to a regular Sunday slot in January 1962. The programme ended in September 1972, while the Top 20 continued as part of Solid Gold Sixty.
Freeman, who became the show's longest-serving presenter, had been a radio announcer in Melbourne, Australia. He arrived in Britain in 1957 and joined the Light Programme in 1960 to present Records Around Five. That same year, he replaced David Jacobs as presenter of Pick of the Pops, which was then part of a Saturday evening programme called Trad Tavern, named after traditional jazz, which had a following at the time. Pick of the Pops became a separate programme in January 1962; it was produced by Derek Chinnery.
Denys Jones and Freeman split the programme into four sections: chart newcomers, new releases, LPs and the Top 10. The programme attracted large audiences, as the BBC had "needle time" restrictions and could play relatively few commercially available recordings each week. Freeman continued with the show when it moved to Radio 1 and stayed until the programme ended on 24 September 1972.

Revivals

Freeman revived Pick of the Pops on London station Capital Radio in 1982. This format was broadcast on Capital until 1988, as Pick of the Pops – Take Two, combining the new chart with a chart from the past. In 1989, Freeman returned to Radio 1 where the show featured three past charts each week; it was produced by Phil Swern until March 1992 and by Sue Foster for the rest of 1992. Freeman stood down from the programme in 1992, after stating then that he would not present the show again and signed off with The Beatles' "The End".
However, Freeman revived the show on Capital Gold in April 1994 as Pick of the Pops – Take Three.

BBC Radio 2 era

Alan Freeman

Pick of the Pops returned to the BBC as an independent production by Unique Broadcasting on BBC Radio 2 on 5 April 1997, with Freeman now counting down two archive charts each Saturday afternoon, featuring the top 10s and interspersing trivia about the records, again researched by producer Swern. Freeman featured the years 1956 to 1991.

Dale Winton

Due to poor health and old age, Freeman retired from radio broadcasting after presenting his last edition of the show on 1 April 2000. He was replaced by Dale Winton, until the show's original weekly run ended in August 2004. The show continued with bank holiday and Christmas specials.
Pick of the Pops then returned every week in September 2005, on a Sunday afternoon, again presented by Winton. The BBC moved the show to a Saturday lunchtime slot in April 2009, where it remained until April 2025, when it moved back to Sundays. Dale featured 1957 to 1999 during his tenure.

Tony Blackburn

Tony Blackburn replaced Winton in November 2010. In 2015 Phil Swern was joining on production duties by Tom Du Croz who stayed with the show until August 2024.

Paul Gambaccini

Mark Goodier presented temporarily, replaced in turn by Paul Gambaccini in July 2016.
Noel Gallagher guest-hosted the show on 29 May 2021, to mark his birthday. Gary Davies guest hosted the show on 21 and 28 August 2021 and 2 July 2022. Paul featured 1958 to 2006. with 1982 & 1987 featuring more than 30 times during Gambaccini's reign & late 90s featured more from 2018–2023.

Steve Wright

Steve Wright hosted the show from October 2023 until his death in February 2024.

Mark Goodier

Gary Davies took over as an interim host in February 2024, following Wright's death. Goodier returned to the show to take over from Wright on a permanent basis from 6 July 2024, following his decision to leave Greatest Hits Radio. Goodier's first show featured 1986 and 1998. On 18 February 2025, it was announced that the show would move back to Sundays from 5-7pm, similar to the traditional timeslot of The Official Chart, from 4 May. After 36 years Unique productions ended production of Pick of the Pops and BBC took over production.

Presenters

Theme music

Between 1961 and 1966, the theme tune was "At the Sign of the Swingin' Cymbal" written and performed by Brian Fahey and his Orchestra. In 1966 it was replaced with "Quite Beside The Point" by the Harry Roberts Sound but was reinstated in 1970, with a new recording by Brass Incorporated.