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The Story of 1981

The year the teens take over and 80s new pop is born with Depeche Mode, Human League, Kim Wilde and Duran Duran debuting, while Ultravox and Visage master the art of pop videos.

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.

Narrated by Mel Giedroyc.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 13 Nov 2022 00:05
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New Year

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1981 - Big Hits

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Depeche Mode

    Just Can't Get Enough

  • The Beat

    Drowning

  • Adam and the Ants

    Kings of the Wild Frontier

  • David Bowie

    Fashion

  • Duran Duran

    Planet Earth

  • Duran Duran

    Girls on Film

  • Depeche Mode

    Any Second Now

  • Depeche Mode

    New Life

  • The Human League

    Rock 'n' Roll Part 2

  • The Human League

    Boys & Girls

  • The Human League

    Seconds

  • The Human League

    Sound of the Crowd

  • Talking Heads

    Once in a Lifetime

  • Cliff Richard

    Wired for Sound

  • Shakin鈥� Stevens

    This Ole House

  • Ultravox

    Passing Strangers

  • Ultravox

    Vienna

  • Joe Dolce Music Theatre

    Shaddap You Face

  • Visage

    Fade To Grey

  • Pretenders

    Message of Love

  • Phil Lynott

    Yellow Pearl

  • UFO

    Young Blood

  • Visage

    Visage

  • The Flying Lizards

    An Age

  • The Specials

    Ghost Town

  • Marty Wilde

    A Teenager in Love

  • Lulu

    I'm A Tiger

  • Kim Wilde

    Kids in America

  • Kim Wilde

    Chequered Love

  • Kool & the Gang

    Steppin' Out

  • Light of the World

    I Shot the Sheriff

  • Imagination

    Flashback

  • Freeez

    Southern Freeez

  • Light of the World

    London Town

  • Beggar & Co

    Somebody Help Me Out

  • Spandau Ballet

    Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)

  • Imagination

    Body Talk

  • Stevie Wonder

    I Ain't Gonna Stand For It

  • Yarbrough & Peoples

    Don't Stop The Music

  • Chic

    Le Freak

  • Barry Manilow

    Bermuda Triangle

  • Quincy Jones

    Ai No Corrida

  • Village People

    Sleazy

  • Hazel O鈥機onnor

    Will You

  • The Tweets

    Birdie Song

  • Electric Light Orchestra

    Twilight

  • Earth, Wind & Fire

    Let's Groove

  • Racey

    Run Around Sue

  • Modern Romance

    Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey

  • Altered Images

    I Could Be Happy

  • Kim Wilde

    Cambodia

  • The Jets

    Yes Tonight Josephine

  • Bucks Fizz

    The Land of Make Believe

  • The Snowmen

    The Hokey Cokey

  • Wizzard

    I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

  • The Human League

    Love Action

  • The Human League

    Don't You Want Me

  • The Human League

    You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

  • Wham!

    Young Guns

  • ABC

    The Look Of Love

Credits

Producer Matt O'Casey
Director Matt O'Casey
Executive Producer Mark Cooper
Narrator Mel Giedroyc

Broadcasts

Featured in...

  • Back to the 80s

    Programmes showcasing and celebrating music from the decade.