It's Friday. It's BBC1. It's 7pm. It's....A Question Of Sport - Doesn't have the same catch to it somehow does it? A few years ago your weekend started with Britain's most watched music show, Top Of The Pops but then along came the gradually demising fall which led the show to go off air for good. Earlier this year TOTP became history and even cable TV didn't go near it. TOTP was gone for good, or so we thought.
There's a light at the end of the Pop's tunnel though as this Christmas Day the show returns for a one-off special and we were at BBC Center to catch all the news as it happened. So, if you can't wait until Crimbo allow us to give you a sneak preview to what you can expect.
Reggie Yates, Edith Bowman and Ferne Cotton will bring you over an hour of fairly decent live music as you start bingeing out on the alcohol and writing thank you cards to your Gran who brought you another bloody jumper.
To be honest, don't expect massive names on the show, well especially from the studio! The biggest name is Beyonce who played in the BBC car park back prior to the recording back in November and the likes of McFLY, Lilly Allan, The Automatic and Orson are studio based. Two of acts even play two songs (McFly, Lilly) which hides the fact the researchers were a bit strapped for guests! The current group at the front of the boyband conveyor belt, McFly sing a Xmas number, we will leave you in suspense for that and the show is broken up with the best music bits from the year. TOTP going off air for good not included!
What you won't hear is Ferne telling Reggie that she's 'Fucking please that she didn't have to do a link out of Beyonce as she didn't know what to say'. Another out-take on the producers floor will be a retake of the ending for Orson's number as the link was screwed up. Towards the end Ferne couldn't wait to leave the studio and dashed off as soon as 'That' a Wrap' was shouted missing the drinks afterwards which took place in the old Star Bar with crisps, mince pies and a chocolate log.
All in all it wasn't the best show we have witnessed but it will pass the time after the Queen has her annual little talk about the Commonwealth and let's face it anything is more entertaining than that isn't it?
