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Top of the Pops — 1981
#Episode nameAir dateRuntimeRating
0145mEpisode 1Dave Lee Travis and Tommy Vance introduce a special edition, featuring some of the top records of 1980. Including performances from Ottawan, The Jam, The Detroit Spinners, and Kelly Marie.Jan 1, 1981Jan 1, 198145m0240mEpisode 2Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, with performances from The Look, Chas and Dave, The Beat, Matchbox, The Nolans and Racey, and a dance sequence from Legs & Co.Jan 8, 1981Jan 8, 198140m0340mEpisode 3A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Gary Numan, Dire Straits, Phil Collins, and Mac Davis. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.Jan 15, 1981Jan 15, 198140m0440mEpisode 4Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, with performances from The Look, Spandau Ballet, XTC, Adam and the Ants, Bad Manners and Blondie.Jan 22, 1981Jan 22, 198140m0540mEpisode 5Tommy Vance introduces the pop programme, featuring Slade, The Stranglers, Sheila Hylton, Susan Fassbender, John Lennon, The Gap Band, Phil Collins, Madness and Ultravox, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Jan 29, 1981Jan 29, 198140m0640mEpisode 6Simon Bates introduces the pop programme, featuring Joe Dolce, The Stray Cats, The Passions, Rainbow, Blondie, Spandau Ballet, Cliff Richard, Dire Straits, XTC and John Lennon, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Feb 5, 1981Feb 5, 198140m0740mEpisode 7Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring The Pretenders, Barbara Jones, Kelly Marie, Freeez, Beggar and Co, Coast to Coast, Slade and John Lennon, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Feb 12, 1981Feb 12, 198140m0835mEpisode 8A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Rainbow, Headgirl (motorhead & Girlschool), Stray Cats, and Visage. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.Feb 19, 1981Feb 19, 198135m0940mEpisode 9Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Status Quo, Kim Wilde, Madness, Kiki Dee, Coast to Coast, The Passions, Roxy Music and Joe Dolce, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Feb 26, 1981Feb 26, 198140m1040mEpisode 10Mike Read introduces the pop programme, featuring Duran Duran, Shakin Stevens, Phil Collins, The Who, Adam and the Ants, Toyah, Motorhead & Girlschool, Joe Dolce, Talking Heads and The Teardrop Explodes, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Mar 5, 1981Mar 5, 198140m1140mEpisode 11Tommy Vance introduces the pop programme, featuring The Teardrop Explodes, Kim Wilde, Linx, Status Quo, Kelly Marie, Freeez, Beggar & Co, Landscape, Talking Heads, Kiki Dee, Coast to Coast and Roxy Music, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Mar 12, 1981Mar 12, 198140m1230mEpisode 12Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Sharon Redd, Bucks Fizz, Colin Blunstone & Dave Stewart, Toyah, The Who, Phil Collins, Shakin Stevens, Visage, Roxy Music and Duran Duran, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Mar 19, 1981Mar 19, 198130m1330mEpisode 13Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring Graham Bonnet, Hazel O'Connor, Tony Capstick, Gillan, Lene Lovich, Bad Manners, Shakin' Stevens, Linx, Landscape, the Polecats and Kim Wilde, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Mar 26, 1981Mar 26, 198130m1430mEpisode 14Simon Bates introduces the pop programme, featuring Stiff Little Fingers, Liquid Gold, Light of the World, Children of Tansley School, Sugar Minott, Lena Zavaroni, Spandau Ballet, Shakin' Stevens, Stevie Wonder, The Nolans and Bucks Fizz, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Apr 2, 1981Apr 2, 198130m1530mEpisode 15Mike Read introduces the pop programme, featuring Keith Marshall, Bucks Fizz, Public Image, Eddy Grant, Linx, Saxon, Graham Bonnet, Gillan, The Whispers and Shakin' Stevens, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Apr 9, 1981Apr 9, 198130m1640mEpisode 16Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Bad Manners, Girlschool, Department S, The Beat, The Cure, The Nolans, UK Subs, The Jacksons, Whitesnake, Spandau Ballet, Sugar Minott, Bucks Fizz and Ennio Morricone, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Apr 16, 1981Apr 16, 198140m1740mEpisode 17A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Matchbox, Roger Taylor, Barry Manilow, and Keith Marshall. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.Apr 23, 1981Apr 23, 198140m1840mEpisode 18A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Madness, Sheena Easton, Ennio Morricone, and Quincy Jones. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.Apr 30, 1981Apr 30, 198140m1940mEpisode 19A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Stray Cats, Keith Marshall, Eddy Grant, and Reo Speedwagon. Introduced by Peter Powell.May 7, 1981May 7, 198140m2020mEpisode 20Tommy Vance introduces the pop programme. Includes appearances from Thin Lizzy, Department S, Tenpole Tudor, Sheena Easton, Kim Carnes and Adam and the Ants, plus a dance performance by Legs and Co.May 14, 1981May 14, 198120m2140mEpisode 21A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Shakin' Stevens, Toyah, The Teardrop Explodes, and The Human League. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.May 21, 1981May 21, 198140m2235mEpisode 22Simon Bates introduces the pop programme, featuring The Polecats, UB40, Hazel O'Connor, Coast to Coast, Adam & the Ants and Kim Carnes, plus a dance performance from Legs & Co.May 28, 1981May 28, 198135m2335mEpisode 23Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring Siouxsie & the Banshees, Imagination, Phil Collins, Squeeze, The Jam, Toyah and Adam & the Ants, plus a dance performance from Legs & Co.Jun 4, 1981Jun 4, 198135m2435mEpisode 24A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Hazel O'connor, Elaine Paige, Ultravox, and Enigma. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.Jun 11, 1981Jun 11, 198135m2535mEpisode 25Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Linx, Phil Collins, Odyssey, The Specials, Imagination and Smokey Robinson, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Jun 18, 1981Jun 18, 198135m2632mEpisode 26Simon Bates introduces the pop programme, featuring The Evasions, Randy Crawford, Depeche Mode, Elaine Paige, Kirsty MacColl and Gillan, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Jun 25, 1981Jun 25, 198132m2735mEpisode 27A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Third World, Quincy Jones, Linx, and Michael Jackson. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.Jul 2, 1981Jul 2, 198135m2835mEpisode 28A special live edition of the chart show, celebrating the 900th episode. A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Supremes, The Dave Clark Five, Randy Crawford, and Tom Tom Club. Introduced by Jimmy Savile, Alan Freeman, David Jacobs, & Pete Murray.Jul 9, 1981Jul 9, 198135m2932mEpisode 29Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring Spandau Ballet, Saxon, Dexys Midnight Runners, Third World, Kate Bush, Bad Manners and The Specials, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Jul 16, 1981Jul 16, 198132m3035mEpisode 30Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring the Vapors, Tight Fit, Gidea Park, Sheena Easton, Visage and the Specials, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Jul 23, 1981Jul 23, 198135m3135mEpisode 31Steve Wright introduces the pop programme, featuring Kim Wilde, The Undertones, Duran Duran, Bill Wyman, Stevie Wonder, Spandau Ballet, The Specials and Shakin' Stevens, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Jul 30, 1981Jul 30, 198135m3235mEpisode 32A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Sheena Easton, Lobo, Reo Speedwagon, and Tight Fit. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.Aug 6, 1981Aug 6, 198135m3335mEpisode 33Simon Bates introduces the pop programme, featuring Duran Duran, Soft Cell, Aneka, Shakin' Stevens, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Electric Light Orchestra and Bill Wyman, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Aug 13, 1981Aug 13, 198135m3435mEpisode 34A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Human League, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Randy Crawford, and Lobo. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.Aug 20, 1981Aug 20, 198135m3535mEpisode 35Richard Skinner introduces the pop programme, featuring Startrax, Ultravox, Cliff Richard, The Rolling Stones, Aneka and Genesis, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Aug 27, 1981Aug 27, 198135m3635mEpisode 36Peter Powell introduces the pop programme, featuring The Teardrop Explodes, OMD, Modern Romance, Dollar, Soft Cell, Gary Numan and Funkapolitan, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Sep 3, 1981Sep 3, 198135m3740mEpisode 37A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Cliff Richard, Randy Crawford, Imagination, and Ottawan. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.Sep 10, 1981Sep 10, 198140m3840mEpisode 38Steve Wright introduces the pop programme, featuring performances from Gidea Park, Beggar & Co, Sheena Easton, Godley and Creme, The Pointer Sisters, Bucks Fizz and Adam & The Ants, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Sep 17, 1981Sep 17, 198140m3940mEpisode 39Simon Bates introduces the pop chart programme, featuring performances from Slade, Depeche Mode, Madness, Imagination, Alvin Stardust, Linx and Adam & The Ants, and a dance performance from Legs & Co.Sep 24, 1981Sep 24, 198140m4040mEpisode 40Weekly pop chart programme presented by Mike Read, first broadcast on 1 October 1981. Includes appearances from The Tweets, Toyah, Altered Images, Gidea Park, The Creatures, Bad Manners, Dollar and Adam & The Ants, plus a dance sequence by Legs & Co.Oct 1, 1981Oct 1, 198140m4140mEpisode 41A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin, Shakin' Stevens, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, and Tight Fit. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.Oct 8, 1981Oct 8, 198140m4240mEpisode 42David 'Kid' Jensen presents the TOTP hits of the week, first broadcast on 15 October 1981. Includes appearances from BA Robertson & Maggie Bell, Squeeze, Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin, This Year's Blonde, Toyah, The Creatures and Bad Manners. Also includes a dance sequence by Legs & Co.Oct 15, 1981Oct 15, 198140m4335mEpisode 43A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Human League, The Four Tops, Gillan, and The Jam. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.Oct 22, 1981Oct 22, 198135m4435mEpisode 44Simon Bates presents appearances from Altered Images, Trevor Walters, Haircut 100, Squeeze, Olivia Newton John, OMD, BA Robertson & Maggie Bell, and Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin.Oct 29, 1981Oct 29, 198135m4540mEpisode 45Peter Powell presents the weekly pop chart show, first broadcast on 5 November 1981. Includes appearances from The Dukes, Jets, ABC, Modern Romance, The Police, Rush, Julio Iglesias, Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin, and The Four Tops.Nov 5, 1981Nov 5, 198140m4635mEpisode 46A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Omd, The Fureys With Davey Arthur, Air Supply, and Daryl Hall & John Oates. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.Nov 12, 1981Nov 12, 198135m4735mEpisode 47Steve Wright presents the pop chart show, first broadcast on 19 November 1981. Includes appearances by Modern Romance, The Pretenders, Fun Boy Three, ABC, Trevor Walters, Julio Iglesias, Diana Ross, Soft Cell and Zoo.Nov 19, 1981Nov 19, 198135m4835mEpisode 48Mike Read presents the pop chart show, first broadcast on 26 November 1981. Includes appearances by Kim Wilde, Jets, Toyah, Kool & The Gang, Earth Wind & Fire, Cliff Richard, Ultravox, and Queen & David Bowie.Nov 26, 1981Nov 26, 198135m4932mEpisode 49David 'Kid' Jensen presents the pop chart show, first broadcast on 3rd December 1981. Includes appearances from Bad Manners, Soft Cell, Duran Duran, Fun Boy Three, Godley & Creme, The Human League, Julio Iglesias and Zoo.Dec 3, 1981Dec 3, 198132m5035mEpisode 50A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Madness, Ken Dodd, Bucks Fizz, and Abba. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.Dec 10, 1981Dec 10, 198135m5135mEpisode 51Simon Bates presents the pop charts show, first broadcast on 17 December 1981. Includes appearances from Duran Duran, Godley & Creme, the Snowmen, Cliff Richard, Rod Stewart, Status Quo, the Human League and Zoo.Dec 17, 1981Dec 17, 198135m5240mEpisode 52David 'Kid' Jensen presents the weekly pop chart show, first broadcast on 24 December 1981. Includes appearances from Bucks Fizz, Dollar, Roy Wood & Wizzard, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, Altered Images, the Human League and Zoo.Dec 24, 1981Dec 24, 198140m5340mThe Hits of 1981Mike Read presents the hits of 1981, in a show first broadcast on 31 December 1981. Includes appearances from Adam & the Ants, John Lennon, Roxy Music, Aneka, The Police, The Specials, Joe Dolce, Julio Iglesias, Bucks Fizz, Soft Cell and The Human League.Dec 31, 1981Dec 31, 198140m
