Did anyone else ever attend a Top of the Pops recording?

[Digerydont]

I always watch Top of the Pops on a Friday if I am staying in. I was in the audience for one show back in the 70s. I wondered whether anyone else ever got on a TOTP show. All I remember was how the BBC staff ordered everyone about. No choice over which act you would be part of. Even the stars were ordered around.

If only that diligence had been applied to certain presenters!!!

Occasionally see clips and think eg did that teenager in a tank top dancing next to Bowie singing Starman later think how lucky he was?

What do you mean which act you’d be part of?

The people dancing around the stars, that's what I mean.

Two girls from school went in the mid 80s and everybody was so jealous! They said the same about being shunted around and told when to dance.

One of my best friends did!

I got stuck with Demis Roussos, how do you dance to that?

Hopefully you were put off kaftans

For ever and ever

I went in 1974. Mott the Hoople were on, I think the Glitter Band but I’m not sure. We had to sit in circles and sway to Seasons in the Sun with Pan’s People. A few of us went now and then, we were at school in Ealing and I think a parent worked at the BBC. We were 14, I think you were supposed to be 16

I was nearly 18 when I got on. Again, someone I knew had a contact at the BBC and we weren't far away either.

I remember my mum said she went to the recording of TOTPs and the staff poked them with sticks to
make them keep dancing 🤣

I like Mott the Hoople.

When people say they snorted at something they read on here, I never believe them…. But I just did!! Ha ha ha

A few times in the 90s and also once to the TOTP Christmas party which was legendary. It would have been 1993-1996ish and Whigfield was there. (Ex BBC staff)

I went to a recording in, I think, 1976. My friend’s mum was a make-up artist at the BBC and got us in. After the recording we went to the BBC bar and Pan’s People came in. I can’t even remember who was on the show. I remember I had a bob hairstyle and was wearing a red skirt.

I went in 1976, so there is a 1 in 52 chance we were there at the same time.

😁

When I think of Demis Roussos, I end up with Alison Steadman playing Delis Roussos records in Abigail Party

Yes. My brother and I went to a recording. Soft Cell we’re playing. It was all very pleasant.

My friend went and came back very upset as they'd made her stand at the back and pushed all the pretty girls to the front.

I would have liked to go as a teen, but I was too self-conscious about my dancing to ever want to be filmed doing it.

When watching TOTP, I often saw some very bored-looking audience members who looked as though they couldn't wait for the song to finish. I used to wonder why they'd chosen to gather around an act they didn't like. Now I know why. I would have been fed up if one of my favourite bands was playing elsewhere in the studio and I was made to listen to one I disliked instead. Giving audience members some choice would have made for a better atmosphere, or failing that, they could have tried to avoid putting the glummest teens at the front.

Hang on though, weren't they all miming anyway? No wonder the audience often seemed underwhelmed.

Yes, I went twice. The studio staff were really bossy.
Saw Oasis and Take That and met Jarvis who was hosting (really nice bloke). I have no idea who I saw the second time I went.
I remember you could see a bit of the Eastenders set which was next door.

I did. Must have been very early 00s.
Time flies..

🤣🤣

Ha! Brilliant.

I often watch the re runs and wonder what happened to people in the audience.So many girls who had clearly practised their dance steps.