In the first programme he asserts that the 1980s, unlike other decades, was undefinable by monolithic movements such as punk, disco or Britpop, and unleashed myriad new genres in just 10 years. Featuring interviews with Nile Rodgers, Bananarama, Bobby Gillespie, Mark Ronson, Trevor Horn and Jazzie B.
The journalist and author celebrates some of the stars who created the legacy of the 1980s, with BBC archive performances by the likes of Madonna, Depeche Mode, Sade, Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys and Tina Turner. There is also rarely seen archive TV footage from the BBC vaults, including Terry Wogan interviewing Grace Jones, Bruce Springsteen on the Old Grey Whistle Test and Adam Ant performing his own stunts in a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Prince Charming video.