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Home / Series / Top of the Pops / Aired Order / Season 0 / Episode 56

The Story of 1981

The year the teens take over and 80s 'new pop' is born with Depeche Mode, the teen-fronted Human League, Kim Wilde and Duran Duran all debuting, while Ultravox and Visage master the art of pop videos. The show embraces the shift with a new theme tune and titles and, as Legs and Co leave, invite a swathe of club kids and cheerleaders in to create a permanent 80s party atmosphere. Britain is torn between rioting, unemployment and the royal wedding, a mood captured in the Specials' Ghost Town, which the band perform on Top of the Pops and then promptly split up in their dressing room at Television Centre. With Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, the Human League, Kim Wilde, Midge Ure, Jerry Dammers (the Specials), Leee John, Freeez, Beggar and Co, Richard Skinner, Mike Read and Carrie Grant.

English
  • Originally Aired January 8, 2016
  • Runtime 30 minutes
  • Special Position Airs before season 18, episode 1
  • Network BBC One
  • Created June 8, 2019 by
    Administrator admin
  • Modified November 30, 2022 by
    Paul.Ferrari