Top of the Pops 1979 poster

Top of the Pops — Season 16

197952 episodes6.7/10 (43 votes)

About this season

The biggest stars, the most iconic performances, the most outrageous outfits – it’s Britain’s number one pop show.

Episodes (52)

4th January 1979
E1

1. 4th January 1979

Aired 4 January 1979 • 30 min

Weekly pop chart programme presented by Mike Read. Featuring Generation X, Elton John, Ian Dury & the Blockheads, Olivia Newton-John, Racey, Barry White, Brotherhood of Man, Village People and a dance sequence by Legs & Co.

11th January 1979
E2

2. 11th January 1979

Aired 11 January 1979 • 40 min

Weekly pop chart programme presented by David 'Kid' Jensen. Featuring Bonnie Tyler, Sally Oldfield, Paul Evans, the Shadows, Steve Allen, Driver 67, the Village People, Rocky Sharpe & the Replays and dances by Legs & Co.

18th January 1979
E3

3. 18th January 1979

Aired 18 January 1979 • 40 min

Weekly pop chart programme presented by Peter Powell. Featuring Olympic Runners, Anne Murray, the Three Degrees, Ian Dury & the Blockheads, Billy Joel, Chic, the Village People and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

4
E4

4. 25th January 1979

Aired 25 January 1979 • 35 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Dr. Feelgood, Third World, The Doll, and Judas Priest. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

1 February 1979
E5

5. 1 February 1979

Aired 1 February 1979 • 35 min

Weekly pop chart programme presented by Mike Read, including performances by Nazareth, the Three Degrees, UFO, the Members, Sally Oldfield, Two Man Sound, Generation X and the Pointer Sisters, with a dance sequence by Legs & Co.

8th February 1979
E6

6. 8th February 1979

Aired 8 February 1979 • 35 min

Weekly pop chart programme presented by David 'Kid' Jensen, including performances by Mick Jackson, the Jacksons, Darts, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Leif Garrett, Judas Priest, Blondie and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

15th February 1979
E7

7. 15th February 1979

Aired 15 February 1979 • 35 min

Peter Powell presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from the Dooleys, Generation X, Alan Price, the Pretenders, Lene Lovich, the Skids and Blondie. With dance sequences by Legs & Co.

8
E8

8. 22nd February 1979

Aired 22 February 1979 • 30 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Real Thing, The Bee Gees, Gene Chandler, and Darts. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

1st March 1979
E9

9. 1st March 1979

Aired 1 March 1979 • 35 min

Mike Read presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from the Skids, Thin Lizzy, Chic and David Essex. With dance sequences by Legs & Co.

9th March 1979
E10

10. 9th March 1979

Aired 9 March 1979 • 39 min

Kid Jensen presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from Inner Circle, Elvis Costello, the Buzzcocks, Dennis Brown, the Late Show, the Real Thing, Cliff Richard, the Dooleys, Motorhead and the Leyton Buzzards. With dance sequences by Legs & Co.

15th March 1979
E11

11. 15th March 1979

Aired 15 March 1979 • 40 min

Peter Powell presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from the Jam, Lene Lovich, the Cars, Violinski, Herbie Hancock and Black Lace. With dance sequences by Legs & Co.

12
E12

12. 22nd March 1979

Aired 22 March 1979 • 35 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Sham 69, The Players Association, Village People, and Queen. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

29 March 1979
E13

13. 29 March 1979

Aired 29 March 1979 • 35 min

Mike Read presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from the Three Degrees, Rocky Sharpe & the Replays, Dana, Showaddywaddy, Kandidate and Black Lace. With dance sequences by Legs & Co.

5th April 1979
E14

14. 5th April 1979

Aired 5 April 1979 • 40 min

Tony Blackburn presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from M, Squeeze, the Members, the Jacksons, Milk and Honey & Gali Atari and the Jam. With dance sequences by Legs & Co.

12th April 1979
E15

15. 12th April 1979

Aired 12 April 1979 • 35 min

Peter Powell presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from Kate Bush, Neil Diamond, Racey, Supertramp, Sham 69, Kandidate, Sister Sledge and Light of the World. With dance sequences by Legs & Co.

16
E16

16. 19th April 1979

Aired 19 April 1979 • 35 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Gordon Giltrap, M, Wings, and Gonzalez. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

26th April 1979
E17

17. 26th April 1979

Aired 26 April 1979 • 35 min

David 'Kid' Jensen presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from Generation X, Supertramp, Eruption, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Racey, Amii Stewart, Boney M and the Monks. With dance sequences by Legs & Co.

18
E18

18. 3rd May 1979

Aired 3 May 1979 • 25 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Undertones, M, Peaches & Herb, and Mike Oldfield. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

10th May 1979
E19

19. 10th May 1979

Aired 10 May 1979 • 35 min

Mike Read presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from Elkie Brooks, Sparks, the Shadows, Eruption, Roxy Music and Gary Moore. With dance sequences by Legs & Co.

17th May 1979
E20

20. 17th May 1979

Aired 17 May 1979 • 35 min

Peter Powell presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from the Tubes, Earth Wind & Fire, the Emotions, the Police, M, Abba and Donna Summer.

24th May 1979
E21

21. 24th May 1979

Aired 24 May 1979 • 40 min

David 'Kid' Jensen presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from the Skids, Roxy Music, ELO, Tubeway Army, Liner, David Bowie, Blondie and Elvis Costello and the Attractions. With dance sequences by Legs & Co.

31st May 1979
E22

22. 31st May 1979

Aired 31 May 1979 • 45 min

Paul Burnett presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show including performances from Quantum Jump, Chas and Dave, Sparks, Fischer-Z, Peaches and Herb, Voyager, Blondie and Hot Chocolate. With a dance sequence from Legs & Co.

23
E23

23. 7th June 1979

Aired 7 June 1979 • 40 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Tourists, Anita Ward, Linda Lewis, and Sister Sledge. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

14th June 1979
E24

24. 14th June 1979

Aired 14 June 1979 • 40 min

Mike Read presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show including performances from Match, McFadden and Whitehead, Edwin Starr, Tubeway Army, Janet Kay, Chas and Dave, Squeeze and Anita Ward. With a dance sequence from Legs & Co.

25
E25

25. 21st May 1979

Aired 21 June 1979 • 40 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Eddy Grant, Village People, The Ruts, and Dame Edna Everage. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

28th June 1979
E26

26. 28th June 1979

Aired 28 June 1979 • 35 min

Peter Powell presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show including performances from Thom Pace, Janet Kay, Thin Lizzy, Squeeze, Tubeway Army, Quantum Jump, UK Subs, Lene Lovich and Gerry Rafferty, and a dance sequence from Legs & Co.

27
E27

27. 5th July 1979

Aired 5 July 1979 • 35 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Manfred Mann's Earth Band, The Korgis, Eddy Grant, and The Ruts. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

12th July 1979
E28

28. 12th July 1979

Aired 12 July 1979 • 40 min

Mike Read presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show including performances from Siouxsie and the Banshees, Thom Pace, the Police, Rickie Lee Jones, Chantal Curtis, Public Image Ltd, Supertramp, Judie Tzuke and Tubeway Army, and a dance sequence from Legs & Co.

19th July 1979
E29

29. 19th July 1979

Aired 19 July 1979 • 30 min

Weekly pop chart programme presented by David Jensen. Includes performances from The Real Thing, Dave Edmunds, Darts, UK Subs, the Pretenders, The Knack, Sparks, The Boomtown Rats, The Dooleys, ABBA, The Korgis and Tubeway Army. Plus a dance sequence by Legs & Co.

30
E30

30. 26th July 1979

Aired 26 July 1979 • 40 min

800th edition of the chart show. A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Judie Tzuke, Electric Light Orchestra, Supertramp, and Patrick Hernandez. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

2nd August 1979
E31

31. 2nd August 1979

Aired 2 August 1979 • 30 min

Weekly pop chart programme presented by Peter Powell, with performances from Sham 69, Olympic Runners, ABBA, the Korgis, BA Robertson, Sparks, the Specials, the Boomtown Rats and the Gibson Brothers and a dance sequence by Legs & Co.

32
E32

32. 9th August 1979

Aired 9 August 1979 • 40 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Kandidate, The Flying Lizards, Me & You Feat. We The People Band, and Spyro Gyra. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

33
E33

33. 23rd August 1979

Aired 23 August 1979 • 40 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Jam, Joe Jackson, The Flying Lizards, and Roxy Music. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

30th August 1979
E34

34. 30th August 1979

Aired 30 August 1979 • 30 min

Weekly pop chart programme presented by David Jensen, with performances from Secret Affair, Dollar, Nick Lowe, the Gibson Brothers, Gary Numan, Johnny Mathis, the Stranglers and Cliff Richard, and a dance sequence by Legs & Co.

6th September 1979
E35

35. 6th September 1979

Aired 6 September 1979 • 30 min

Weekly pop chart programme presented by Peter Powell with performances by Randy Vanwarmer, Madness, Boney M, the Ruts, the Crusaders, ELO, Bill Lovelady, Roxy Music and Cliff Richard and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

36
E36

36. 13th September 1979

Aired 13 September 1979 • 35 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Nick Lowe, Frantique, Secret Affair, and Dollar. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

20th September 1979
E37

37. 20th September 1979

Aired 20 September 1979 • 30 min

Weekly pop chart programme presented by Mike Read with performances by the Starjets, the Jags, Kate Bush, Madness, the Bellamy Brothers, the Tourists, the Police, Sad Cafe, Rainbow and Gary Numan and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

38
E38

38. 27th September 1979

Aired 27 September 1979 • 35 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Frantique, The Skids, Michael Jackson, and Dave Edmunds. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

4th October 1979
E39

39. 4th October 1979

Aired 4 October 1979 • 30 min

Weekly pop chart programme presented by David Jensen with performances from XTC, Blondie, Matumbi, Buggles, Sad Cafe, Squeeze, the Jags and the Police and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

11th October 1979
E40

40. 11th October 1979

Aired 11 October 1979 • 30 min

Andy Peebles presents another edition of the weekly pop chart with performances by the Dooleys, the Headboys, Chic, Dr Hook, Viola Wills, Errol Dunkley, the Charlie Daniels Band, Cats UK, Dave Edmunds, Dana and the Police and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

41
E41

41. 18th October 1979

Aired 18 October 1979 • 35 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Suzi Quatro, Abba, Lena Martell, and Fleetwood Mac. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

25th October 1979
E42

42. 25th October 1979

Aired 25 October 1979 • 30 min

Peter Powell presents another edition of the weekly pop chart with performances by the Specials, Viola Wills, Queen, Dr Hook, Iris Williams, the Dooleys, Janet Brown, Lena Martell and Errol Dunkley and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

1st November 1979
E43

43. 1st November 1979

Aired 1 November 1979 • 30 min

Mike Read presents another edition of the weekly pop chart with performances by Sparks, the Ramblers, Darts, the Jam, Lene Lovich, Thin Lizzy, Suzi Quatro, BA Robertson, Lena Martell and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

44
E44

44. 8th November 1979

Aired 8 November 1979 • 35 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from Matchbox, Dr. Hook, The Commodores, and Abba. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

15th November 1979
E45

45. 15th November 1979

Aired 15 November 1979 • 30 min

David Jensen presents another edition of the weekly pop chart with performances by the Jam, Cliff Richard, the Moody Blues, Kool and the Gang, Secret Affair, Ramblers, Showaddywaddy and Dr Hook and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

46
E46

46. 22nd November 1979

Aired 22 November 1979 • 35 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Commodores, The Pretenders, Madness, and Dynasty. Introduced by Dave Lee Travis.

29th November 1979
E47

47. 29th November 1979

Aired 29 November 1979 • 30 min

Peter Powell presents another edition of the weekly pop chart including performances from the Gibson Brothers, the Police, the Tourists, Pink Floyd, Blondie, Thin Lizzy, Rose Royce, the Skids, Status Quo and Dr Hook and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

6th December 1979
E48

48. 6th December 1979

Aired 6 December 1979 • 30 min

Simon Bates presents another edition of the weekly pop chart including performances from Darts, Dollar, UK Subs, the Three Degrees, the Sugarhill Gang, Storm, Motorhead, Marianne Faithfull and the Police and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

13th December 1979
E49

49. 13th December 1979

Aired 13 December 1979 • 30 min

Mike Read presents another edition of the weekly pop chart including performances from Fiddler's Dram, Paul McCartney, the Tourists, Abba, the Beat, the Pretenders and Pink Floyd, and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

50
E50

50. 20th December 1979

Aired 20 December 1979 • 35 min

A look at Britain's best-selling discs, artists, and news from the Top 40. Including performances from The Greedies, The Skids, K.c. & The Sunshine Band, and David Bowie. Introduced by Jimmy Savile.

Christmas 1979
E51

51. Christmas 1979

Aired 25 December 1979 • 60 min

David 'Kid' Jensen and Peter Powell introduce a special Christmas Day edition, featuring some of the best selling records of 1979. Including performances from Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Gary Numan, Anita Ward, and B.A. Robertson.

52
E52

52. Christmas 1979 - Part 2

Aired 27 December 1979 • 40 min

Dave Lee Travis and Mike Read introduce a special Christmas edition, featuring some of the best selling records of 1979. Including performances from Abba, Village People, Art Garfunkel, and The Police.

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