Thursday 22 December 2016

Top of the Pops, 22nd December 2016

One week away from the big Christmas chart, some of the major players are manoeuvring into position. Two X-Factor-assisted hits crash in at numbers 2 and 3, but Clean Bandit look to have a fair chance of holding them off.

Lower down the chart, things are nicely varied. We have a medley of rap hits from J Cole, a reprise of Rag 'n' Bone Man's track-of-the-moment, some star power from ZAYN and Taylor Swift, and friends of the show Little Mix and The Vamps to give us that warm, fuzzy feeling of festive familiarity. Everyone is dressed up as Santas and elves, obviously.

Debuts: Louis Tomlinson (as solo), J Cole, Matt Terry.

Louis Tomlinson vs Steve Aoki - Just Hold On

Highest New Entry - In at number 2

Little Mix - Touch

Back in at number 23

ZAYN and Taylor Swift - I Don't Wanna Live Forever

In at number 16

J Cole - Deja Vu / Immortal / Neighbours

In at number 30 / In at number 49 / In at number 54

Rag 'n' Bone Man - Human

Up 3 to number 5

The Vamps - All Night

Up 1 to number 28

Matt Terry - When Christmas Comes Around

In at number 3

Clean Bandit ft. Anne-Marie - Rockabye

Sixth week at number 1

PRESENTERS: Kimberley Walsh, Heidi Range and Duffy

Thursday 15 December 2016

Top of the Pops, 15th December 2016

The Christmas invasion has set in, so there is hot (or cold) competition for the From The Vault slot this week. Main billing is given to the Pogues but there's also room for clips of Wham!, Shakin' Stevens, Wizzard and others. A secondary effect of all these older songs climbing the chart is that we have to look a little lower down for current acts to invite, meaning that Charli XCX, John Legend and (wow!) Adele return to the show with tracks that have been in the lower part of the chart for a few weeks or longer.

Sean Paul is back with a rare lead artist credit, bringing Brits Critics' Choice nominee and burgeoning friend of the show Dua Lipa along with him. And then - why not? - the two of them stay on for another exclusive interpretation of Clean Bandit's now five-week number 1.

Debuts: Lil Yachty, Starley.

Zara Larsson - I Would Like

Up 33 to number 21

Charli XCX ft. Lil Yachty - After The Afterparty

Up 7 to number 34

John Legend - Love Me Now

Up 3 to number 30

Starley - Call On Me

Up 13 to number 45

Adele - Water Under The Bridge

Up 12 to number 49

From The Vault: Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl - Fairy Tale Of New York plus Xmas faves from Wham!, Shakin' Stevens, Wizzard, Band Aid and Chris Rea

High Climber - Up 50 to number 16 / Back in at numbers 19, 28, 37, 41 and 46

Sean Paul and Dua Lipa - No Lie / Blow Your Mind

Up 4 to number 48 / Up 5 to number 67

Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul and Dua Lipa - Rockabye

Fifth week at number 1

PRESENTERS: Olly Murs dressed as Father Christmas and Nick Grimshaw dressed as an elf

Thursday 8 December 2016

Top of the Pops, 8th December 2016

We're quite producer-heavy here: Jonas Blue, Tom Zanetti, Nevada and Neiked all feature, although Nevada's turn is enlivened once again by a gleeful Mark Morrison - or maybe it's a lookalike, knowing him.

Friend of the show The Weeknd also appears for the second week in a row, and Clean Bandit are still number 1, this time bringing us a special Sean Paul-less performance with a Christmassed up Anne Marie. But none of them can steal the show: in the week he's announced as the winner of the Brit Awards Critics Choice Award, none other than Rag 'n' Bone Man debuts in triumph.

Oh, and look who's in the From The Vault slot. Mariah Carey is storming up the chart once again thanks to streaming playlists, already making number 26 with three charts to go until Christmas. How high up the tree will she climb?

Debuts: Rag 'n' Bone Man, Tom Zanetti, Sadie Ama.

Jonas Blue ft. Raye - By Your Side

Up 6 to number 15

Rag 'N' Bone Man - Human

Highest New Entry - In at number 11

The Weeknd - Starboy

Up 5 to number 3

Tom Zanetti ft. Sadie Ama - You Want Me

Up 9 to number 25

Nevada ft. Mark Morrison - The Mack

Up 3 to number 14

From The Vault: Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

High Climber - Up 43 to number 29

Neiked - Sexual

Up 1 to number 6

Clean Bandit ft. Anne Marie - Rockabye

Fourth week at number 1

PRESENTERS: Dappy and Fazer

Thursday 1 December 2016

Top of the Pops, 1st December 2016

Stars, stars everywhere this week. Mars, Bieber, Grande, Minaj, even Kendrick Lamar pops up for his feature on the weirdly persistent Maroon 5 track. Friend of the show The Weeknd is also here and brings his confreres Daft Punk with him... or does he? It's hard to tell with those masks.

Mannequin challenge guys Rae Sremmurd are here too, and there's a real treat at number 1: Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj invade the Clean Bandit song, making a supercharged exclusive concoction of the kind you can only find on TOTP.

Debuts: Daft Punk... or is it?

Bruno Mars - 24K Magic

Up 1 to number 6

The Vamps vs Matoma - All Night

High Climber - Up 15 to number 26

DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You

Up 1 to number 15

Rae Sremmurd ft. Gucci Mane - Black Beatles

Up 2 to number 2

Maroon 5 ft. Kendrick Lamar - Don't Wanna Know

Up 3 to number 5

The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming / Party Monster

Highest New Entry - In at number 18 / In at number 33

Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj - Side To Side

Up 1 to number 13

Clean Bandit ft. Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj - Rockabye

Third week at number 1

PRESENTER: Gary Lineker

Thursday 24 November 2016

Top of the Pops, 24th November 2016

Christmas is clearly getting close. The show this week is unusually dominated by artists who tend to sell more than stream; those, in other words, whose albums are gearing up for the December market. Not completely dominated, though - I don't think Zay Hilfiger and Zayion McCall fall into that category, for example.

A couple of neat exclusives bookend the show. First, Mark Morrison rocks up in person to breathe life into his resurrected, re-jigged hit alongside Fetty Wap and Nevada. And then Robbie Williams, most of whose songs seem to be about his daughter these days, makes a very apt guest appearance on Clean Bandit's parent-centric Rockabye. You'll only see it here, folks.

Debuts: Nevada, Zay Hilfiger, Zayion McCall.

Nevada ft. Mark Morrison and Fetty Wap - The Mack

Up 21 to number 23

James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go

Up 1 to number 2

Emeli Sande - Hurts

Up 7 to number 36

Zay Hilfiger and Zayion McCall - Juju On That Beat (TZ Anthem)

Up 3 to number 37

Nathan Sykes - Famous

Up 34 places to number 28

Olly Murs - Grow Up / You Don't Know Love

High Climber - Up 36 places to number 25 / Back in at number 62

Robbie Williams - Love My Life

Up 24 to number 33

Clean Bandit ft. Anne-Marie and Robbie Williams - Rockabye

Second week at number 1

PRESENTER: Duffy

Thursday 17 November 2016

Top of the Pops, 17th November 2016

The teen idol side of things is amply catered for here with appearances from Niall Horan and the lovely, beautiful, precious, adorable Vamps. And Little Mix may not be number 1 any more but we've the next best thing, Fifth Harmony.

There's a new one from Rae Sremmurd (who he) and a couple of tunes that have been around a while from Neiked, who scale a new peak after 11 weeks on the chart, and Calvin Harris. And that Little Mix-shaped gap at number 1 is filled by friends of the show Clean Bandit and friends (Sean Paul is back to his always available self this week).

Debuts: Rae Sremmurd, Gucci Mane.

Kideko and George Kwali ft. Nadia Rose and Sweetie Irie - Crank It (Woah)

Up 1 to number 31

Calvin Harris - My Way

Up 1 to number 12

The Vamps vs Matoma - All Night

Back in at number 24

Rae Sremmurd ft. Gucci Mane - Black Beatles

Highest New Entry - In at number 36

Neiked - Sexual

Up 2 to number 6

Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl

Up 11 to number 26

Niall Horan - This Town

Up 1 to number 23

Clean Bandit ft. Anne-Marie and Sean Paul - Rockabye

Up 1 to number 1

PRESENTER: Miquita Oliver

Thursday 10 November 2016

Top of the Pops, 10th November 2016

Little Mix remain triumphant at number 1 this week, which gives them the chance to drop in a bit of their new song You Gotta Not as well as the all-conquering Shout Out To My Ex. The biggest new tracks are by X-Factor winner Lousia Johnson, who seems to be getting into gear now, and faceless dance magician Jonas Blue.

Three big names give oomph to the line-up: in roughly ascending order there's another slick turn by Bruno Mars, a double-header of Drake's latest material, and a nice Halloween From The Vault slot for Michael Jackson. We've also got Maroon 5 and Galantis.

Debuts: Raye.

Louisa Johnson - So Good

Highest New Entry - In at number 20

Galantis vs Hook n Sling - Love On Me

Up 9 to number 18

Drake - Fake Love / Sneakin'

High Climber - Up 27 to number 10 / In at number 52

Jonas Blue ft. Raye - By Your Side

In at number 21

Maroon 5 - Don't Wanna Know

Up 6 to number 11

From The Vault: Michael Jackson - Thriller

Back in at number 62

Bruno Mars - 24K Magic

Up 5 to number 6

Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex / You Gotta Not

Third week at number 1 / In at number 61

PRESENTERS: Richie Neville and Abz Breen

Thursday 3 November 2016

Top of the Pops, 3rd November 2016

A lean week for chart climbers means that three of our featured acts come from outside the top 40, but that's no bad thing as we get to enjoy the cult hit of the moment from Kideko and friends, newcomer Andy Grammer, and Britain's foremost light entertainer Olly Murs.

Elsewhere we have current TOTP stalwart Dua Lipa, friend of the show Zara Larsson, and a two-song medley from problematic fave Shawn Mendes. Sean Paul is unavailable this week (a first for him?) so the lusty shouting role on the returning Clean Bandit's track is filled by dancehall legend Sweetie Irie.

Debuts: Kideko, George Kwali, Nadia Rose, Sweetie Irie, Andy Grammer.

Dua Lipa - Blow Your Mind (Mwah)

Up 1 to number 31

Kideko and George Kwali ft. Nadia Rose and Sweetie Irie - Crank It (Woah)

Up 8 to number 42

Olly Murs - Grow Up

Up 3 to number 53

Zara Larsson - Ain't My Fault

Up 1 to number 14

Clean Bandit ft. Anne-Marie and Sweetie Irie - Rockabye

Highest New Entry - In at number 7

Andy Grammer - Fresh Eyes

Up 17 to number 52

Shawn Mendes - Mercy / Treat You Better

High Climber - Up 25 to number 15 / Up 2 to number 16

Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex

Second week at number 1

PRESENTER: Heidi Range

Thursday 27 October 2016

Top of the Pops, 27th October 2016

Lots of action this week. Little Mix splurge in at the top of the chart, but that's not all - jaws drop as Drake and Rihanna, who are always in the chart, actually pop into the studio to perform two of their streaming perennials. And a slow chart week also gives niche heritage act the Kings of Leon the chance to come along and show what they can do.

Manic energy is provided by the Vamps, Galantis, Maroon 5 and to a lesser extent Fifth Harmony, and Neiked continue to make impressive strides - top ten next week?

Debuts: Hook n Sling, Kings of Leon.

The Vamps vs Matoma - All Night

In at number 42

Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl

High Climber - Up 26 to number 31

Drake ft. Rihanna - Too Good / Controlla

Up 1 to number 28 / Up 3 to number 36

Galantis vs Hook n Sling - Love On Me

Up 7 to number 37

Maroon 5 - Don't Wanna Know

In at number 16

Kings of Leon - Waste a Moment

In at number 45

Neiked - Sexual

Up 12 to number 12

Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex

Straight in at number 1

PRESENTER: JB Gill

Thursday 20 October 2016

Top of the Pops, 20th October 2016

It's another laugh riot as one man fun machine James Arthur celebrates his third week at number 1 by not only performing a skanked-up version of Say You Won't Let Go, but also guesting with Dua Lipa on an exclusive version of Blow Your Mind (Mwah). Not that the joint isn't already jumping after the return of Bruno Mars and a beautiful solo run-through of former number 1 Closer by Halsey.

Friends of the show Clean Bandit are back as well, and Hailee Steinfeld continues to climb the chart as Emeli Sande rebounds.

Debuts: None.

Bruno Mars - 24K Magic

Highest New Entry - In at number 9

Clean Bandit ft. Louisa Johnson - Tears

Up 1 to number 36

Hailee Steinfeld - Starving

High Climber - Up 11 to number 17

Emeli Sande - Hurts

Up 5 to number 22

Shawn Mendes - Mercy

Up 2 to number 42

Halsey - Closer

Up 1 to number 2

Dua Lipa and James Arthur - Blow Your Mind (Mwah)

Up 1 to number 30

James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go

Third week at number 1

PRESENTER: Kimberley Walsh

Thursday 13 October 2016

Top of the Pops, 13th October 2016

All right! James Arthur is not letting go of number 1 this week so we're graced with his ebullient presence once more. And speaking of ebullience, the Busted boys return to the TOTP studio for the first time in forever, even though they're only number 60, thanks to a dearth of chart climbers. Hooray!

We also have the newie from the Chainsmokers, friends of the show Zara Larsson and Ariana Grande (giving a Minajless exclusive performance of Side To Side), and the second solo debut of a member of One Direction.

Debuts: Neiked, Phoebe Ryan, Niall Horan (as solo).

Craig David vs Sigala - Ain't Giving Up

Up 16 to number 23

Busted - On What You're On

In at number 60

Ariana Grande - Side To Side

Up 1 to number 5

Neiked - Sexual

Up 7 to number 34

Zara Larsson - Ain't My Fault

Up 7 to number 16

Chainsmokers ft. Phoebe Ryan - All We Know

In at number 24

Niall Horan - This Town

Highest New Entry - In at number 9

James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go

Second week at number 1


PRESENTERS: Dappy and Fazer

Thursday 6 October 2016

Top of the Pops, 6th October 2016

He did it! James Arthur has reached the top of the chart in one of the unlikeliest climbs in history, and he is even smilier than usual when he appears in the TOTP studio to celebrate.

Other than that, the big news is the return of last years Top Of The Pops Appearance Champion, The Weeknd. He crashes in at number 3 and may possibly take King Arthur's crown next week. We've also got some nice new hits from Dua Lipa and Hailee Steinfeld, and Justin Timberlake making us all wistful that summer is over.

Debuts: Hailee Steinfeld, Dante Klein.

Dua Lipa - Blow Your Mind (Mwah)

Up 6 to number 38

Hailee Steinfeld - Starving

Up 3 to number 37

The Weeknd - Starboy

Highest New Entry - In at number 3

Anne-Marie - Alarm

Up 1 to number 18

Cheat Codes ft. Dante Klein - Let Me Hold You (Turn Me On)

Up 2 to number 36

Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling

Up 2 to number 27

Offaiah - Trouble

Up 4 to number 32

James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go

Up 1 to number 1

Presenter: Duffy

Thursday 29 September 2016

Top of the Pops, 29th September 2016

The way the chart works nowadays means that five of the songs performed on the show two weeks ago now return to the show - more than half the line-up. To keep things fresh, most of the artistes in question change up their arrangements, including a lovely candlelight performance from friend of the show Ellie Goulding and a reggaeton remix from Grande and Minaj with a cameo from the legendary Don Omar.

It's not all continuity, though - there are big returns from megastars Calvin Harris and Emeli Sande, and the slow burner from Matoma and Becky Hill finally rises high enough to make the cut in its eighth week on the chart.

Debuts: Matoma, Don Omar.

Martin Garrix ft. Bebe Rexha - In The Name Of Love

Up 1 to number 10

Emeli Sande - Hurts

In at number 22

Ellie Goulding - Still Falling For You

High Climber - Up 9 to number 12

Calvin Harris - My Way

Highest New Entry - In at number 5

Matoma ft. Becky Hill - False Alarm

Up 7 to number 33

Zara Larsson - Ain't My Fault

Up 6 to number 26

Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj and Don Omar - Side To Side

Up 2 to number 6

Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - Closer

Fourth week at number 1

PRESENTER: James Masterton

Thursday 22 September 2016

Top of the Pops, 22nd September 2016

The big news this week is the return of Lady Gaga, who turns up in full kit to perform Perfect Illusion. And as if one straddler of the art-pop line wasn't enough, Sia is also here to perform The Greatest with Kendrick Lamar.

The rest of the line-up is pretty fun: friend of the show Tove Lo, party maniacs DNCE and mister funtimes himself, James Arthur. Plus Bastille and newcomer Tory Lanez.

Debuts: Tory Lanez.

Tove Lo - Cool Girl

Up 11 to number 48

DNCE - Toothbrush

Up 2 to number 53

Lady Gaga - Perfect Illusion

Highest New Entry - In at number 12

James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go

In at number 25

Sia ft. Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest

High Climber - Up 44 to number 5

Bastille - Good Grief

Up 7 to number 20

Tory Lanez - Luv

Up 6 to number 50

Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - Closer

Third week at number 1

PRESENTER: David Dimbleby

Thursday 15 September 2016

Top of the Pops, 15th September 2016

The Chainsmokers hold on at the top, heading up an almost motionless top ten. One of the few climbers in the upper reaches is Shawn Mendes, who dodges the feminist picket line to perform his dubiously reasoned track once again.

The big news, though, is that Lil Wayne's track from Suicide Squad is still inching up the chart and as if in answer to MRA Mendes, Weezy has invited an all-female posse for a super-charged TOTP exclusive. Hold on to your hats.

Debuts: Offaiah.

Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj - Side To Side

High Climber - Up 48 to number 24

Zara Larsson - Ain't My Fault

Highest New Entry - In at number 30

Ellie Goulding - Still Falling For You

Up 7 to number 19

Martin Garrix ft. Bebe Rexha - In The Name Of Love

Up 7 to number 10

Offaiah - Trouble

Up 29 to number 31

Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better

Up 1 to number 8

Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha, Ariana Grande, Zara Larsson, Ellie Goulding, Halsey and Skunk Anansie - Sucker For Pain

Up 2 to number 11

Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - Closer

Second week at number 1

PRESENTER: Heidi Range

Thursday 8 September 2016

Top of the Pops, 8th September 2016

With the top of the chart all jammed up, we get to feature some hot tracks from the lower reaches this week. That includes a long runner from friends of the show Coldplay, and the new one from Cash Cash and Digital Farm Animals.

The old Bob Marley track is leaping up the chart again, and happily Olly Murs is here to reprise his vocal turn from a fortnight ago (no, not in a rasta wig). This time Nelly joins him to add an exclusive few bars of his own.

Debuts: Mike Perry, Shy Martin

TIEKS ft. Dan Harkna - Sunshine

Up 8 to number 15

Snakehips ft. ZAYN - Cruel

Up 7 to number 34

Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend

Long Runner - Up 1 to number 31 after 31 weeks

Mike Perry ft. Shy Martin - The Ocean

Up 4 to number 41

Olly Murs - You Don't Know Love

Up 4 to number 27

Cash Cash and Digital Farm Animals ft. Nelly - Millionaire

Up 4 to number 42

Lvndscape and Bolier ft. Olly Murs and Nelly - Is This Love

High Climber - Up 19 to number 20

Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - Closer

Up 2 to number 1

PRESENTER: Kimberley Walsh

Thursday 1 September 2016

Top of the Pops, 1st September 2016

The exclusives keep on coming. Lil Wayne's posse cut from Suicide Squad is climbing the chart once more so he combs the studio for extra vocalists and ends up with a one-off feat. Craig David, Sean Paul and Ellie Goulding. Wow. Craig David cannot contain himself and so lends his vocals to Major Lazer's number one hit as well, in Justin Bieber's absence.

There's a rare appearance from Sia, another resurfacing of the Puth and Gomez hit, and a nice run-out for relative newcomer Anne-Marie.

Debuts: None.

Sia ft. Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills

Up 3 to number 15

Ellie Goulding - Still Falling For You

Highest New Entry - In at number 25

Anne-Marie - Alarm

Up 5 to number 19

Craig David vs Sigala - Ain't Giving Up

In at number 29

Martin Garrix ft. Bebe Rexha - In The Name Of Love

Up 4 to number 24

Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez - We Don't Talk Anymore

High Climber - Up 9 to number 14

Lil Wayne, Imagine Dragons, X Ambassadors, Craig David, Sean Paul and Ellie Goulding - Sucker For Pain

Up 3 to number 13

Major Lazer ft. Craig David - Cold Water

Fifth week at number 1

PRESENTER: JB Gill

Thursday 25 August 2016

Top of the Pops, 25th August 2016

An exclusive treat this week: in Cold Water's fourth week at number one, we have Ed Sheeran, officially on a break from the biz, filling in for Justin Bieber on the track he wrote. And not only that: obviously Bob Marley can't come into the studio to sing Is This Love, so Olly Murs gamely takes vocal duties with Lvndscape and Bolier.

With summer still ongoing, Justin Timberlake finally gets back on the show with Can't Stop The Feeling, and the Chainsmokers are also here with their nice late summer anthem Closer. Friends of the show Clean Bandit and ZAYN also make microclimbs so are invited to reprise their current tracks.

Debuts: None.

Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - Closer

Up 8 to number 4

Olly Murs - You Don't Know Love

High Climber - Up 16 to number 19

Snakehips ft. ZAYN - Cruel

Up 2 to number 36

Twenty One Pilots - Heathens / Ride

Up 2 to number 7 / Up 4 to number 47

Lvndscape and Bolier ft. Olly Murs - Is This Love

Up 1 to number 42

Clean Bandit ft. Lousia Johnson - Tears

Up 1 to number 15

Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling

Up 2 to number 13

Major Lazer ft. Ed Sheeran - Cold Water

Fourth week at number 1

PRESENTER: Duffy

Thursday 18 August 2016

Top of the Pops, 18th August 2016

Double Bieber today, as Justin has both the number one single AND the highest new entry (alongside DJ Snake). Not sure if anyone's ever done that before with two different songs. There's double MØ as well as the co-number 1er has her own Final Song climbing the chart.

The rest of this week's line-up is fairly varied, featuring dance from TIEKS, leftfield pop from Christine and the Queens, centrefield pop from Fifth Harmony, and the entire line-up of that song from the Suicide Squad film - incidentally giving the icon Lil Wayne his TOTP debut.

Debuts: Lil Wayne, Logic, Ty Dolla $ign, X Ambassadors, TIEKS, Dan Harkna

DJ Snake ft. Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You

Highest New Entry - In at number 2

Martin Garrix ft. Bebe Rexha - In The Name Of Love

Up 11 to number 41

Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Logic, Ty Dolla $ign, Imagine Dragons and X Ambassadors - Sucker For Pain

High Climber - Up 37 to number 28

Fifth Harmony - All In My Head (Flex)

Up 11 to number 25

Christine and the Queens - Tilted

Up 1 to number 20

TIEKS ft. Dan Harkna - Sunshine

Up 37 to number 31

MØ - Final Song

Up 1 to number 14

Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MØ - Cold Water

Third week at number 1

PRESENTER: Miquita Oliver

Thursday 11 August 2016

Top of the Pops, 11th August 2016

At the risk of the universe imploding, we have girlband M.O. and rubberised Dane MØ on the same show this week. For safety, we put them at opposite ends of the line-up, so the girls get to open proceedings while their near-namesake takes full vocal duties on Cold Water - we can't expect Bieber to be available every week, can we?

We may not have young Justin but we do have something quite special: the reigning queen of pop Rihanna is here, alongside Calvin Harris, for a three-song superhit medley. There are also a few welcome debuts and fresh material from Twenty One Pilots.

Debuts: Halsey, Anne-Marie, Joel Adams.

M.O. - Who Do You Think Of?

Up 7 to number 18

Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna - This Is What You Came For / Too Good / Needed Me

Up 1 to number 7 / Up 2 to number 8 / Up 3 to number 45

Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - Closer

Highest New Entry - In at number 33

Anne-Marie - Alarm

Up 10 to number 22

Twenty One Pilots - Heathens

High Climber: Up 14 to number 20

Joel Adams - Please Don't Go

Up 3 to number 50

Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez - We Don't Talk Any More

Up 2 to number 26

Major Lazer ft. MØ - Cold Water

Second week at number 1

PRESENTERS: Abz Breen and Richie Neville

Thursday 4 August 2016

Top of the Pops, 4th August 2016

BIG NEWS this week: Drake is finally knocked off the top spot, all the way down to number five in fact, leaving Bryan Adams's sixteen-week record intact. It's taken three performers to do what no one else could do, and Major Lazer, Justin Bieber and MØ are all in the studio getting their groove on in celebration.

Further freshness comes from a new Fifth Harmony song, as they and Fetty Wap treat us to an exclusive double header that combines the new one with 2016 standout Work From Home. The rest of the show is a grab-bag of the perennially popular tracks of the moment: Calum Scott, DNCE, Christine and the Queens, Kent Jones and the latest drone-along from Bastille.

Debuts: None.

Fifth Harmony ft. Fetty Wap - All In My Head / Work From Home

Up 16 to number 46 / Up 3 to number 24

Christine and the Queens - Tilted

Up 2 to number 27

Bastille - Good Grief

High Climber - Up 9 to number 15

Calum Scott - Dancing On My Own

Up 1 to number 3

DNCE - Cake By The Ocean

Long Runner - Up 4 to number 22 after 23 weeks

Kent Jones - Don't Mind

Up 1 to number 9

MØ - Final Song

Up 2 to number 17

Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MØ - Cold Water

Straight in at number 1

PRESENTER: James Masterton

Thursday 28 July 2016

Top of the Pops, 28th July 2016

Despite his extended stay at number 1 Drake hasn't been into the studio for a couple of weeks, but he puts that right tonight, bringing us both his current hits with a guest violinist and harpsichord player to keep things fresh. He matches Wet Wet Wet this week and Whigfield doesn't have a single out so he may equal Mr Adams in seven days' time.

This week's debut is girl band M.O., not to be confused with the bendy Scandi vocalist MØ who was on last week. The other big news is the return of Katy Perry, and the line-up is completed by popular boy band 5SOS, the return of Snakehips, friend of the show Ariana Grande, the continued efforts of Becky Hill, and Shawn Mendes's red pill anthem.

Debuts: M.O.

5 Seconds of Summer - Girls Talk Boys

In at number 28

M.O. - Who Do You Think Of

High Climber - Up 12 to number 35

Snakehips ft. ZAYN - Cruel

In at number 38

MK ft. Becky Hill - Piece Of Me

Up 5 to number 37

Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better

Up 4 to number 9

Katy Perry - Rise

Highest New Entry - In at number 25

Ariana Grande - Into You

Up 2 to number 14

Drake - One Dance / Controlla

Fifteenth week at number 1 / Up 1 to number 21

PRESENTER: Dave Benson Phillips

Thursday 21 July 2016

Top of the Pops, 21st July 2016

Drake is now one week away from drawing level with Wet Wet Wet at number one but he's not here to celebrate. Instead we get one of the livelier stand-in performances as Britain's foremost light entertainer Olly Murs takes the helm for a snappy reimagining.

As well as the Mursinator, Bastille and MØ are returning after some time away, the latter now with her own song after spending most of last year guesting with Major Lazer. Jonas Blue, Kent Jones and promising newcomers Christine and the Queens are also making headway up the chart.

Debuts: MØ (as solo).

Jonas Blue ft. JP Cooper - Perfect Strangers

Up 13 to number 3

Kent Jones - Don't Mind

Up 2 to number 10

Coldplay - Hymn for the Weekend

Up 3 to number 19

Olly Murs - You Don't Know Love

Highest New Entry - In at number 23

Bastille - Good Grief

Up 4 to number 25

MØ - Final Song

High Climber - Up 27 to number 28

Christine and the Queens - Tilted

Up 2 to number 40

Kyla with Olly Murs and MØ - One Dance

Fourteenth week at number 1

PRESENTER: Kimberley Walsh

Thursday 14 July 2016

Top of the Pops, 14th July 2016

Drake's still at number one, I'm afraid, but once again Top of the Pops finds a way to keep the One Dance performances fresh. This week we have Drizzy's featured performer Wizkid mashing it up with Tinie Tempah, whose Mamacita he also guests on in the chart this week.

Freshness also emanates from MK and Becky Hill, and to a lesser extent Charlie Puth, while tried and trusted tracks from Adele, Major Lazer and friend of the show Ariana Grande join them on the TOTP stage. The latest Chainsmokers track is also doing surprisingly well, isn't it?

Debuts: None.

MK ft. Becky Hill - Piece Of Me

Up 4 to number 39

Chainsmokers ft. Daya - Don't Let Me Down

Up 9 to number 7

Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez - We Don't Talk Any More

High Climber: Up 12 to number 49

Calum Scott - Dancing On My Own

Up 2 to number 10

Major Lazer ft. Nyla - Light It Up

Up 3 to number 36

Ariana Grande - Into You

Up 8 to number 14

Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)

Up 1 to number 5

Wizkid with Tinie Tempah - One Dance / Mamacita

Thirteenth week at number 1 / Up 4 to number 48

PRESENTER: JB Gill

Thursday 7 July 2016

Top of the Pops, 7th July 2016

Iiiiiit's the Drake show! In his Slim Whitman-pummelling twelfth week at number 1, the man himself returns to duet with Rihanna on their two current hot tracks. And of course he comes on at the end of the show to do One Dance - this time in a raved-up megaversion thanks to a fortuitous encounter with Calvin Harris.

Making more modest strides up the chart are Dua Lipa, Jonas Blue and a couple of debutants in Kent Jones and Christine and the Queens. Shawn Mendes's possibly problematic Treat You Better is also making inroads.

Debuts: JP Cooper, Christine and the Queens, Kent Jones.

Rihanna with Drake - Needed Me / Too Good

Up 4 to number 41 / Up 2 to number 3

Dua Lipa - Hotter Than Hell

Up 2 to number 15

Kent Jones - Don't Mind

High Climber - Up 13 to number 26

Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better

Up 9 to number 29

Dizzee Rascal vs Calvin Harris - Hype

Highest New Entry - In at number 34

Jonas Blue ft. JP Cooper - Perfect Strangers

Up 6 to number 38

Christine and the Queens - Tilted

Up 13 to number 40

Drake vs Calvin Harris - One Dance

Twelfth week at number 1

PRESENTER: Heidi Range

Thursday 30 June 2016

Top of the Pops, 30th June 2016

Two Glastonbury headliners are climbing the chart this week, so both Adele and Coldplay wash the mud off and come down the the studio to ride their momentum. Bastille and Sigala are both back, the latter bringing along the legendary Nile Rogers as well as our old friend of the show John Newman.

At the top of the charts, One Dance is getting into silly territory with its eleventh week at number 1. Once again Drake isn't around, so the lovely Little Mix are here to perform the song instead. They get Nile Rodgers to back them up since he's here, and Jade has a tambourine.

Debuts: Nile Rodgers (as featured artist).

Bastille - Good Grief

In at number 25

Ariana Grande - Into You

Up 8 to number 26

Sigala ft. John Newman and Nile Rodgers - Give Me Your Love

Highest New Entry - In at number 9

Calum Scott - Dancing On My Own

Up 12 to number 16

Chainsmokers ft. Daya - Don't Let Me Down

Up 6 to number 24

Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)

Up 10 to number 15

Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend / Adventure Of A Lifetime

Up 3 to number 30 / Up 8 to number 54

Little Mix with Nile Rodgers - One Dance

Eleventh week at number 1

PRESENTER: Duffy

Thursday 23 June 2016

Top of the Pops, 23rd June 2016

Drake makes it ten weeks at number 1, matching Rihanna's 21st century record. To celebrate, we welcome back all the guests who've helped perform the song over the last nine weeks, including Rihanna herself, plus DNCE who couldn't resist joining the party.

Elsewhere Dua Lipa finally gets a breakthrough with Hotter Than Hell, and Gnash and Cheat Codes continue their respective slow rises. There are brand new hits from the Stone Roses and the Neales, and we haven't seen Tom Odell for a while.

Debuts: Dua Lipa, The Neales.

Cheat Codes ft. Kris Kross - Sex

Up 2 to number 9

Dua Lipa - Hotter Than Hell

High Climber - Up 26 to number 18

The Stone Roses - Beautiful Thing

Highest New Entry - In at number 21

The Neales - I'll Be There

In at number 22

Tom Odell - Magnetised

Back in at number 40

DNCE - Cake By The Ocean

Long Runner - Up 1 to number 13 after 17 weeks

Gnash ft. Olivia O'Brien - I Hate U I Love U

Up 1 to number 7

Drake ft. Rihanna, Wizkid, Kyla, Tinie Tempah, Craig David and DNCE - Too Good / One Dance

Up 1 to number 5 / Tenth week at number 1

PRESENTER: James Masterton

Thursday 16 June 2016

Top of the Pops, 16th June 2016

First let's address the elephant in the room: Justin Timberlake has the second biggest song of the summer so far but he's only been on the show once. This is because he's been stuck at number 2 behind One Dance, and if you don't climb the chart, you don't get on the show. He needs to either overhaul Drake or start yo-yoing a bit if he wants to be featured.

So who do we have? After six agonising weeks away, friend of the show Zara Larsson is back and she is all over this edition. We open the show with a medley of Lush Life and her new David Guetta track This One's For You, before she joins Tinie Tempah on their long runner Girls Like. Then she's back near the end to fill in Drake's vocals on a unique but strangely lovely version of the new DJ Khaled hit For Free.

Drake manages a double absence, since he's once again not here to perform One Dance either - instead featured vocalist Kyla teams up with Tinie Tempah for a unique and exclusive British take. The line-up is rounded out with chart movers from Kungs, OneRepublic and Calum Scott, and a show-stopper from the universally loved Adele.

Debuts: DJ Khaled.

Zara Larsson vs David Guetta - Lush Life / This One's For You

Up 1 to number 17 / Up 16 to number 46

Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson - Girls Like

Up 2 to number 15

Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)

Up 8 to number 26

OneRepublic - Wherever I Go

Up 6 to number 30

Kungs vs Cookin' on 3 Burners - This Girl

Up 6 to number 4

Calum Scott - Dancing On My Own

Up 15 to number 27

DJ Khaled ft. Zara Larsson - For Free

Highest New Entry - In at number 25

Kyla and Tinie Tempah - One Dance

Ninth week at number 1

PRESENTERS: Dappy and Fazer

Thursday 9 June 2016

Top of the Pops, 9th June 2016

She might have missed out on the number 1 (and indeed the top 8) at Christmas, but Louisa Johnson has the highest new entry this week alongside friends of the show Clean Bandit. She also has the honour of filling in the Beyonce bit in a memorable performance of Coldplay's Hymn For The Weekend. Gnash and Cheat Codes continue to make inroads into the chart, and there's a nice bit of History as we recognise One Direction's continuing chart presence months after their split. Gone but not forgotten.

Drake has now been at number 1 for two months but we just get a (specially prepared) lyric video this week. Not even one dance.

Debuts: Louisa Johnson, Daya.

Clean Bandit ft. Louisa Johnson - Tears

Highest New Entry: In at number 6

Pink - Just Like Fire

Up 14 to number 22

Chainsmokers ft. Daya - Don't Let Me Down

Up 11 to number 33

Cheat Codes ft. Kris Kross - Sex

Up 6 to number 14

Coldplay ft. Louisa Johnson - Hymn For The Weekend

Up 8 to number 32

From The Vault: One Direction - History

Up 7 to number 66

Gnash ft. Olivia O'Brien - I Hate U I Love U

Up 4 to number 8

Drake ft. Wizkid and Kyla - One Dance

Eighth week at number 1

PRESENTER: Heidi Range

Thursday 2 June 2016

Top of the Pops, 2nd June 2016

We have some star power this week. There's the chart return of the Take That boys, guesting with Sigma, but that might even be eclipsed by a medley from friend of the show Justin Bieber. They rub shoulders with international glitterati Ariana Grande and Nick Jonas. Even Cookin' on 3 Burners are showing a nice bit of star potential as they debut.

At number one it's STILL the Drake track, which is approaching a half-Bryan Adams at the top. This week Drake takes the night off and guest vocalist Wizkid gives us a unique afro-style version with smooth backing from Craig David.

Debuts: Kungs, Cookin' on 3 Burners.

Galantis - No Money

Up 1 to number 5

Justin Bieber - Love Yourself / Sorry

Up 1 to number 31 / Up 1 to number 37

Sigma ft. Take That - Cry

Highest New Entry - In at number 21

Craig David - One More Time

In at number 30

Kungs vs Cookin' on 3 Burners - This Girl

In at number 29

Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman / Into You

Up 5 to number 19 / Up 17 to number 54

Nick Jonas ft. Tove Lo - Close

Up 6 to number 25

Wizkid ft. Craig David - One Dance

Seventh week at number 1

PRESENTER: JB Gill

Thursday 26 May 2016

Top of the Pops, 26th May 2016

Where have they been all this time? A much-loved superstar act makes its return to TV as Reggie 'n' Bollie perform their new hit single New Girl. The Stone Roses are also here, just pipping RnB with their newie All For One, and there are a host of exciting debuts including Gnash and Cheat Codes.

The King of Spotify Drake is still number one. This week he's joined by Kyla for a medley of the deathless One Dance and the Drake/Rihanna hit Too Good.

Debuts: Reggie 'n' Bollie, Gnash, Olivia O'Brien, Cheat Codes, Kris Kross, Gareth Malone, The Invictus Games Choir.

Reggie 'n' Bollie - New Girl

In at number 26

Kygo ft. Kodaline - Raging

In at number 42

Gnash ft. Olivia O'Brien - I Hate U I Love U

Up 12 to number 33

Desiigner - Panda

Up 5 to number 7

Cheat Codes ft. Kris Kross - Sex

Up 5 to number 30

Stone Roses - All For One

Highest New Entry - In at number 17

Gareth Malone and the Invictus Games Choir - Flesh and Blood

In at number 29

Drake ft. Kyla - One Dance / Too Good

Sixth week at number 1 / Up 15 to number 8

PRESENTER: Miquita Oliver

Thursday 19 May 2016

Top of the Pops, 19th May 2016

Justin Timberlake is BACK, crashing into the chart at number 3 and appearing in person to celebrate. Fellow party people will.i.am and Pia Mia are also here, alongside friends of the show Little Mix (plus Sean the Paul) and, once again, Craig David.

This week's exclusive is Nyla doing a stripped back solo rendition of her current hit Major Lazer track.

Debuts: None.

Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling

Highest New Entry - In at number 3

Will.i.am ft. Pia Mia - Boys and Girls

High Climber - Up 16 to number 26

Nyla - Light It Up

Up 3 to number 19

Nick Jonas ft. Tove Lo - Close

Up 7 to number 32

Little Mix ft. Sean Paul - Hair

Up 3 to number 11

DJ Snake ft. Bipolar Sunshine - Middle

Up 2 to number 10

Blonde ft. Craig David - Nothing Like This

Up 3 to number 16

Drake ft. Wizkid and Kyla - One Dance

Fifth week at number 1

PRESENTER: Kimberley Walsh

Thursday 12 May 2016

Top of the Pops, 12th May 2016

It's a must-see edition of TOTP as not only Ariana Grande but also Rihanna and Drake appear in exclusive collaborations. Grande has her own song to sing but also fills in for the super-busy Beyonce on the Coldplay track, while Rihanna takes her own vocal alongside Calvin Harris and also helps out the man of the moment Drake on a trio of his hits.

Desiigner and Galantis are back from two weeks ago, mounting sustained chart climbs, and Calum Scott makes his debut.

Debuts: Calum Scott

Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna - This Is What You Came For

Highest New Entry - In at number 2

Sigala vs DJ Fresh ft. Imani - Say You Do

Up 2 to number 35

Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman

Up 7 to number 21

Calum Scott - Dancing On My Own

Up 6 to number 36

Desiigner - Panda

Up 10 to number 15

Galantis - No Money

Up 4 to number 8

Coldplay ft. Ariana Grande - Hymn For The Weekend

Up 1 to number 28

Drake ft Kyla and Rihanna - One Dance / Pop Style / Too Good

Fourth week at number 1 / Up 25 to number 34 / In at number 41

PRESENTER: James Masterton

Thursday 5 May 2016

Top of the Pops, 5th May 2016

The two big stories of the week are both represented here. We show three of the vids from Beyonce's new 'visual album' (in a very rare break of the no videos rule), and the From The Vault slot is of course filled by a stone cold classic from the already much missed Prince.

It's hard for others to compete with that one-two punch, but we have a resurgent Meghan Trainor, an ebullient Little Mix, and the effervescent DNCE all trying their hardest. At number one, Drake gives a subdued, almost acapella solo performance of One Dance.

Debuts: Disturbed, Bipolar Sunshine

Little Mix - Hair

Up 12 to number 19

Disturbed - The Sound of Silence

Up 10 to number 34

Beyonce - Hold Up / Formation / Sorry

Highest New Entry - In at number 17 / In at number 31 / In at number 33

Meghan Trainor - NO

Up 1 to number 11

DJ Snake ft. Bipolar Sunshine - Middle

High Climber - Up 15 to number 18

DNCE - Cake By The Ocean

Up 5 to number 4

From The Vault: Prince - When Doves Cry

Back in at number 26

Drake - One Dance

Third week at number 1

PRESENTER: Duffy

Thursday 28 April 2016

Top of the Pops, 28th April 2016

Friend of the show Zara Larsson is back, not only featuring on the Tinie Tempah track of the moment but also spilling over into a guest vocal on Jonas Blue's Fast Car, making a nice TOTP exclusive. In their second week at number 1, Drake and his featured guests make the trip to appear in person. Our From The Vault slot is a tribute to Prince, closing the show because how do you follow it?

Debuts: Wizkid and Kyla (in person), Desiigner.

Galantis - No Money

Up 6 to number 23

Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman

Up 1 to number 24

Alan Walker - Faded

Up 1 to number 7

Desiigner - Panda

High Climber - Up 20 to number 27

Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson - Girls Like

Up 2 to number 5

Jonas Blue ft. Zara Larsson - Fast Car

Up 1 to number 11

Drake ft. Wizkid and Kyla - One Dance

Second week at number 1

From The Vault: Prince - Purple Rain

Back in at number 65

PRESENTERS: Richie Neville and Abz Breen

Thursday 21 April 2016

Top of the Pops, 21st April 2016

The big chart story this week is Drake's mighty leap to number 1, but unfortunately he is on the other side of the pond so we have to make do with a video montage. Not to worry though: we do have a transatlantic contingent Meghan Trainor and Shawn Mendes, along with hip Brits AlunaGeorge and, once again, the resurgent Craig David. A beaming Kevin Simm makes his debut after winning The Voice.

Debuts: Popcaan, Kevin Simm, Wizkid, Kyla.

AlunaGeorge ft. Popcaan - I'm In Control

Up 3 to number 39

Meghan Trainor - No

Up 12 to number 11

Kevin Simm - All You Good Friends

Highest New Entry - In at number 24

Years & Years ft. Tove Lo - Desire

Up 19 to number 27

Chainsmokers ft. Rozes - Roses

Up 4 to number 22

Blonde ft. Craig David - Nothing Like This

Up 5 to number 15

Shawn Mendes - Stitches

Up 2 to number 16

Drake ft. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance

Up 20 to number 1

PRESENTER: Heidi Range

Thursday 14 April 2016

Top of the Pops, 14th April 2016

After a rare Zara Larsson-free week last week, our newest friend of the show is back climbing the top ten, along with Tinie Tempah. We also have a welcome return for OMI, who turns up to guest with the Vamps.

There's a double bill of big American stars in Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande, plus DNCE (with Joe Jonas) thrown in for good measure. Dance chaps Major Lazer and Galantis round out the show, with Mike Posner the cherry on the trifle.

Debuts: None

The Vamps ft. OMI - I Found A Girl

Highest New Entry - In at number 30

Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman

Up 1 to number 24

Galantis - No Money

In at number 36

DNCE - Cake By The Ocean

Up 6 to number 11

Major Lazer ft. Nyla - Light It Up

Up 3 to number 10

Selena Gomez - Hands To Myself

Up 6 to number 14

Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson - Girls Like

Up 2 to number 6

Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza

Fourth week at number 1

PRESENTER: JB Gill

Thursday 7 April 2016

Top of the Pops, 7th April 2016

The exclusive collaborations keep coming: this week Craig David adds some smooth vocals to Fifth Harmony's Work From Home, continuing his jaw-dropping resurgence. Snakehips' appearance this week is something special too: a percussion only version of their anthemic track.

We also have re-appearances from longtime absentees Meghan Trainor and the Chainsmokers (of #SELFIE fame). And Mike Posner makes it three weeks ruling all he surveys.

Debuts: Rozes.

Craig David and Big Narstie - When The Bassline Drops

Up 1 to number 34

Fifth Harmony ft Craig David- Work From Home

Up 1 to number 2

Meghan Trainor - No

Up 12 to number 30

Chainsmokers ft. Rozes - Roses

Up 7 to number 26

From The Vault: The Killers - Mr Brightside

Back in at number 53

Alan Walker - Faded

Up 7 to number 11

Snakehips ft. Tinashe and Chance the Rapper - All My Friends

Long Runner - Up 1 to number 23 after 17 weeks

Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza

Third week at number 1

PRESENTER: Miquita Oliver

Thursday 31 March 2016

Top of the Pops, 31st March 2016

The Craig David comeback continues! The slick one has the highest new entry this week, though Sigala's storming of the chart is perhaps more impressive, vaulting from nowhere into the top ten in their fourth week on the countdown.

ZAYN's track floating back up a couple of places allows him to go full ex-boyband member, performing a bizarre version of Pillowtalk backed by a full jazz band and segueing into an almost unrecognisable version of 1D's History. Mike Posner remains high as a kite at number one and friend of the show Zara Larsson is back once again. Oh, and the elusive Sia makes a rare and arty appearance.

Debuts: Imani.

DNCE - Cake By The Ocean

Up 5 to number 21

Blonde ft. Craig David - Nothing Like This

Highest New Entry - In at number 17

Sia - Cheap Thrills

Up 8 to number 8

Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson - Girls Like

Up 1 to number 9

Sigala ft. Imani and DJ Fresh - Say You Do

High Climber - Up 41 to number 5

The 1975 - The Sound

Up 1 to number 27

ZAYN - Pillowtalk / History

Up 2 to number 10 / Up 1 to number 32

Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza

Second week at number 1

PRESENTER: Kimberley Walsh

Thursday 24 March 2016

Top of the Pops, 24th March 2016

Rapidly cementing friend of the show Zara Larsson opens things up. She could actually have appeared twice this week but instead MNEK gives us a solo, stripped back rendition of their evergreen Never Forget You. We also have exciting statesiders Ariana Grande and Fifth Harmony, as well as persistent Macklemore-alikes Twenty One Pilots. And the unlikeliest number one since, well, the last one arguably.

Debuts: None.

Zara Larsson - Lush Life

Up 1 to number 3

Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman

Highest New Entry - In at number 17

Ellie Goulding - Army

Up 6 to number 24

Fifth Harmony - Work From Home

High Climber - Up 7 to number 4

Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out

Up 1 to number 14

MNEK - Never Forget You

Up 4 to number 25

Shawn Mendes - Stitches

Up 4 to number 8

Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza

Up 1 to number 1

PRESENTER: James Masterton

Thursday 17 March 2016

Top of the Pops, 17th March 2016

Massive amounts of dance music this week, from Tiesto and Oliver Heldens, to DNCE, to Major Lazer (although they change things up with an acoustic performance) to show-opener David Guetta. With the ever-reclusive Sia not present, Selena Gomez ably fills in on Bang My Head in a nice TOTP exclusive before treating us to her own track.

Recurring featurees G-Eazy and (of course) Lukas Graham are back, and there's a debut for Alan Walker.

Debuts: DNCE, Alan Walker.

David Guetta ft. Selena Gomez - Bang My Head

Up 3 to number 34

Selena Gomez - Hands To Myself

Up 8 to number 32

DNCE - Cake By The Ocean

High Climber - Up 18 to number 42

G-Eazy ft. Bebe Rexha - Me Myself & I

Up 8 to number 17

Alan Walker - Faded

Up 12 to number 21

Major Lazer ft. Nyla - Light It Up

Up 4 to number 10

Tiesto and Oliver Heldens ft. Natalie La Rose - The Right Song

Up 16 to number 39

Lukas Graham - 7 Years

Fifth week at number 1

PRESENTER: Duffy

Thursday 10 March 2016

Top of the Pops, 10th March 2016

Zara Larsson is all over TOTP at the moment: one week after a double-bill performance, she returns to guest on the Tinie Tempah track - and also has the great honour of joining Coldplay for Beyonce's bit on Hymn For The Weekend.

It's not all about her though. Perky young rakes The 1975 are back in, as is a strong American contingent and Zara's fellow Scandinavians Lukas Graham at number one.

Debuts: Riton, Kah-Lo.

Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson - Girls Like

In at number 15

The 1975 - The Sound

High Climber - Up 15 to number 24

Riton ft. Kah-Lo - Rinse & Repeat

Highest New Entry - In at number 13

Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza

Up 8 to number 3

Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out

Up 2 to number 17

Fifth Harmony ft. Tinie Tempah - Work From Home

In at number 23

Coldplay ft. Zara Larsson - Hymn For The Weekend

Up 3 to number 7

Lukas Graham - 7 Years

Fourth week at number 1

PRESENTER: JB Gill

Thursday 3 March 2016

Top of the Pops, 3rd March 2016

All very marginal climbers this week, but a nice range of styles and --wait for it-- Rihanna is finally here, complete with Drake, to perform Work in its fifth week on the chart. Justin Bieber adds to the megastar count, and star-in-the-making Zara Larsson brings MNEK along for a double hit of her current tracks.

Debuts: None.

Light It Up - Major Lazer ft. Nyla

Up 1 to number 12

Rihanna ft. Drake - Work

Up 1 to number 2

Years & Years - Eyes Shut

Up 1 to number 30

Jonas Blue ft. Dakota - Fast Car

Up 1 to number 3

Charlie Puth - One Call Away

Up 1 to number 26

Zara Larsson ft. MNEK - Lush Life / Never Forget You

Up 3 to number 6 / Up 1 to number 24

Justin Bieber - Love Yourself

Up 2 to number 5

Lukas Graham - 7 Years

Third week at number 1

PRESENTER: Kimberley Walsh

Thursday 25 February 2016

Top of the Pops, 25th February 2016

This week's Top of the Pops is distinguished by a couple of big moments: first an appearance by multi-Brit winner and artist of the decade Adele, and second, regrettably, a tribute montage for the late Viola Beach.

Friend of the show The Weeknd is back after a quiet couple of months, with his most hip-swivelling performance of Can't Feel My Face to date. And did you know Mike Posner has a song out?

Debuts: Mike Posner, Viola Beach.

G-Eazy ft. Bebe Rexha - Me Myself & I

Up 5 to number 35

Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza

Up 27 to number 42

Adele - When We Were Young

Up 10 to number 23

Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend

Up 6 to number 17

Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out

High Climber - Up 13 to number 21

Viola Beach - Swings & Waterslides

Highest New Entry - In at number 11

The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face

Long Runner - Up 3 to number 36 after 37 weeks

Lukas Graham - 7 Years

Second week at number 1

PRESENTERS: Richie Neville and Abz Breen


Thursday 18 February 2016

Top of the Pops, 18th February 2016

There are no new entries at all in the top 40 this week. However, there are a lot of climbers - many of them the same songs as were rising a fortnight ago, so we welcome back Little Mix, Zara Larsson, Alessia Cara, Jason Derulo and Ellie Goulding, as well as Lukas Graham who vault straight into the top spot. It's as pure pop a line-up as you'll see on the show, and many of the repeat performers are good enough to drop in little twists to change things up. Ellie Goulding is backed by a German oompah band.

Filling out the line-up are friends of the show Kygo and Coldplay, the latter fresh from their Superbowl triumph-style event.

Debuts: None.

Little Mix ft. Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song

Up 4 to number 7

Alessia Cara - Here

Up 1 to number 31

Kygo ft. Maty Noyes - Stay

Up 2 to number 22

Coldplay - Adventure Of A Lifetime

Up 7 to number 11

Zara Larsson - Lush Life

Up 3 to number 16

Ellie Goulding - Army

Up 8 to number 20

Jason Derulo - Get Ugly

Up 5 to number 12

Lukas Graham - 7 Years

Up 6 to number 1

PRESENTER: Miquita Oliver

Thursday 11 February 2016

Top of the Pops, 11th February 2016

A 90s-style chart leads to a fevered vision of what 90s TOTP would have been like if they hadn't relaxed their rules. Apart from a straight-in chart topper from ZAYN, almost nobody (with the admirable exception of Craig David) is climbing the top 40, so most performers come from the lower reaches.

That isn't necessarily a bad thing, though, as we're able to welcome some more leftfield performers than usual, including Twenty One Pilots and G-Eazy. Friends of the show Coldplay also sneak in with their Superbowl song.

Debuts: Twenty One Pilots, ZAYN (as solo).

Craig David and Big Narstie - When The Bassline Drops

Up 4 to number 10

Charlie Puth - One Call Away

Up 16 to number 25

G-Eazy ft. Bebe Rexha - Me Myself & I

Up 7 to number 44

Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend

In at number 60

Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out

In at number 61

Birdy - Keeping Your Head Up

Up 6 to number 62

Selena Gomez - Hands To Myself

Up 5 to number 70

ZAYN - Pillowtalk

Straight in at number 1

PRESENTER: James Masterton

Thursday 4 February 2016

Top of the Pops, 4th February 2016

Excitement: this week sees a big chart shake-up with a host of new faces. We say hello to Alessia Cara, Lukas Graham and Elle King, as well as welcoming back Zara Larsson for her first solo hit.

There's newness and familiarity in one from our highest new entry, a dance-banger Tracy Chapman cover from Jonas Blue, and friend of the show Ellie Goulding's longish-running minor hit finally rises high enough to get her back on the show. Shawn Mendes holds steady at number 1.

Debuts: Jonas Blue, Dakota, Alessia Cara, Lukas Graham, Elle King, Zara Larsson (as solo).

Jonas Blue ft. Dakota - Fast Car

High Climber - Up 58 to number 3

Alessia Cara - Here

Up 21 to number 28

Ellie Goulding - Army

Up 5 to number 30

Lukas Graham - 7 Years

Highest New Entry - In at number 24

Elle King - Ex's & Oh's

Up 49 to number 15

Zara Larsson - Lush Life

Up 13 to number 27

Little Mix and Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song / Get Ugly

Up 4 to number 12 / Up 32 to number 25

Shawn Mendes - Stitches

Second week at number 1

PRESENTER: Duffy

Thursday 28 January 2016

Top of the Pops, 28th January 2016

There's a certain deja vu about this week's Top of the Pops, as several chart climbers from two weeks ago have continued to rise and thereby bagged themselves another appearance. However there's plenty new as well, including a ferocious performance from Stormzy and a pair of exclusive medleys from Britain's two leading female (or any gender really) singers of the moment, Adele and Jess Glynne.

Shawn Mendes finally rises to number 1, knocking Bieber off the top at least for the moment, and the highest new entry comes from those likely lads the 1975.

Debuts: None.

Adele - Hello / All I Ask

Up 1 to number 7 / In at number 41

The 1975 - The Sound

Highest New Entry - In at number 15

Major Lazer ft. Nyla - Light It Up

Up 3 to number 10

Stormzy - Shut Up

Up 3 to number 19

Snakehips ft. Tinashe and Chance The Rapper - All My Friends

Up 3 to number 8

99 Souls - Girl Is Mine

Up 4 to number 5

Jess Glynne - Take Me Home / Don't Be So Hard On Yourself

Up 4 to number 24 / Up 4 to number 33

Shawn Mendes - Stitches

Up 1 to number 1

PRESENTER: JB Gill

Thursday 21 January 2016

Top of the Pops, 21st January 2016

TOTP is all about music, entertainment, showbiz, glitz, and winning the heart of the nation, so how could it not pay tribute to David Bowie? We show a classic performance of "Heroes", his highest-charting single of a dozen re-entering the chart this week.

Aside from that we see quite a few climbers, notably from David Guetta and the ever wonderful Craig David - and indeed the two team up for a special re-interpretation of Bang My Head: double David. Justin Bieber is firmly ensconced at number 1, but it's only the video, not a studio performance.

Debuts: Craig David, Big Narstie, Maty Noyes.

Craig David and Big Narstie - When The Bassline Drops

Up 21 to number 15

Shawn Mendes - Stitches

Up 2 to number 4

From The Vault: David Bowie - "Heroes"

Back in at number 12

Little Mix - Secret Love Song

High Climber - Up 32 to number 34

Kygo ft. Maty Noyes - Stay

Up 20 to number 40

Robin Schulz ft. Yates - Sugar

Up 6 to number 27

David Guetta ft. Craig David - Bang My Head

Up 9 to number 21

Justin Bieber - Love Yourself

Fifth week at number 1

PRESENTER: Heidi Range

Thursday 14 January 2016

Top of the Pops, 14th January 2016

After teasing us for a couple of months, Justin Bieber conquers a chart summit that many thought might never be reached: numbers 1, 2 and 3 in the chart at the same time. He duly appears with a combined performance of all three (bending the TOTP appearance rules a little as it is a historic occasion). Elsewhere, as often, the January chart is a bit of a shuffle-about. Years & Years get their chance to shine, as do various other dance-minded people.

A bit more star power: Brandy is in the building to supply live vocals for 99 Souls' track, so she gamely helps out Sigala with their Jackson 5 sample too. It's a bit of a moment. Chart impact comes from the debuting Snakehips, and a memorial Motorhead chart entry for the recently departed Lemmy.

Debuts: Snakehips, Tinashe, Chance The Rapper.

Years & Years - Eyes Shut / King / Shine

Up 5 to number 17 / Up 13 to number 59 / Up 14 to number 60

Sigala ft. Bryn Christopher and Brandy - Sweet Lovin' / Easy Love

Up 1 to number 8 / Up 3 to number 42

Snakehips ft. Tinashe and Chance The Rapper - All My Friends

High Climber - Up 31 to number 27

Major Lazer ft. Nyla - Light It Up

Up 28 to number 21

99 Souls ft. Brandy - Girl Is Mine

Up 5 to number 10

From The Vault: Motorhead - Ace Of Spades

Back in at number 13

Sigma ft. Rita Ora - Coming Home

Up 3 to number 18

Justin Bieber - Love Yourself / Sorry / What Do You Mean

Fourth week at number 1 / Non-mover at number 2 / Up 1 to number 3

PRESENTER: James Masterton

Thursday 7 January 2016

Top of the Pops, 7th January 2016

It's a high-powered Top Of The Pops this week, as post-Christmas spending patterns lead to a chart where almost every song is going up and therefore a TOTP where every artist is in or near the top 10.

Opening up are friends of the show One Direction, who make what may be their last performance a memorable one with a three-song medley. Justin Bieber isn't here so we make do with the song's rather unusual video, but there are plenty of stars past, present and future including Coldplay, Little Mix, Fleur East and Grace.

Debuts: None.

One Direction - History / Perfect / Drag Me Down

Up 1 to number 7 / Up 3 to number 19 / Up 17 to number 31

Coldplay - Adventure Of A Lifetime

Up 2 to number 8

Shawn Mendes - Stitches

High Climber - Up 13 to number 12

Little Mix - Love Me Like You

Up 9 to number 11

MNEK and Zara Larsson - Never Forget You

Up 6 to number 10

Grace - You Don't Own Me

Up 1 to number 5

Fleur East - Sax

Up 8 to number 6

Justin Bieber - Love Yourself

Back up 1 to number 1

PRESENTER: Kimberley Walsh

Tuesday 5 January 2016

Fantasy Top Of The Pops 2015 review

Happy New Year to all you TOTP fantasists.

I hope you had a good Christmas break, and especially that you enjoyed the real-life Christmas and New Year editions of TOTP. I know I did. My highlights were Coldplay (the show-stealers in my view), WSTRN, OMI, Katy B and Tinie Tempah, and the two dance acts who had to get random guest vocalists to sing along to their samples. My lowlights were Hozier and the lack of Little Mix.

And what were the Vaccines doing on there? They've never had a hit significant enough to make it on to Fantasy TOTP ever, let alone this year! Still, marks for effort.

Anyway, here's my annual round-up of the most-featured (fantasy) Top Of The Pops artists of the year:

Seven appearances: One Direction, Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora, James Bay, Maroon 5, MO

Nine appearances: Sam Smith, Little Mix, Hozier, Olly Murs, Years and Years, Kygo, Major Lazer, OMI

Ten appearances: Jess Glynne

Eleven appearances:
Mark Ronson, Justin Bieber

Twelve appearances: Ed Sheeran

A massive thirteen appearances: The Weeknd


Well done to bondage-centric MJ soundalike and dancealike The Weeknd, who remarkably pips King Ed for first place after never having appeared on TOTP at all before 2015. His most performed track was The Hills, but he scored no fewer than seven hits big enough to make the show, only one of which was a feature on someone else's track (with Ariana Grande). There were long periods of the year where he had multiple top 40 hits, and often when one song dropped down the chart another would be climbing.

Also noteworthy is that the top performers are getting featured more this year - 19 artistes with seven or more appearances, compared to around 20 with five or more last year. No doubt this is because of the inclusion of streaming in the chart causing the big hits to stay around for longer.

Normal service will be resumed on Thursday for the first non-real TOTP of 2016. In the meantime I'll end with the updated all-time most featured Fantasy TOTP friends of the show:

1  (1)  Ed Sheeran (31 appearances)

2  (2)  Sam Smith (22)

3  (8)  Jess Glynne (20)

=  (2)  One Direction (20)

5  (4)  Ellie Goulding (19)

6  (6)  George Ezra (15)

7  (12) Jason Derulo (14)

8  (N)  The Weeknd (13)

=  (34) Little Mix (13)

=  (12) Avicii (13)

=  (10) Calvin Harris (13)

=  (6)  Clean Bandit (13)


Bye for now!