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Behind the Scenes

An intriguing insight into the recording of the Christmas and New Year鈥檚 Day specials

This show takes a look behind the scenes of the recording of Top of the Pops Christmas and New Year鈥檚 Day specials. It offers an intriguing insight into what performing on Top of the Pops means to the artists taking part, from established global stars such as Coldplay to newer acts who鈥檝e made major breakthroughs with their songs in 2015. We catch up with artists in rehearsal and backstage in the alleys, corridors and dressing rooms of Elstree studios and get a sense of what recording the show really entails for them.
A key ingredient of Top of the Pops over the years has been the audience and the festive party atmosphere they experience in the studio is central to the show. We meet some of lucky few who got to attend this year as well as Dan Stegall whose job it is to warm up the crowd - amazingly he started working on Top of the Pops 34 years ago!
We also meet the studio and production teams who help to make this televisual wonderland a reality and see how the filming all comes together over two days.
Featuring contributions from presenters Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates and artists including Coldplay, The Vaccines, The Vamps, Years and Years, Tinie Tempah, Katy B, Fleur East, Grace and WSTRN

Release date:

15 minutes

Music Played

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

  • Years & Years

    King

  • Nick Jonas

    Jealous

  • Years & Years

    Shine

  • Jess Glynne

    Hold My Hand

  • Calvin Harris

    Thinking About You (feat. Ayah Marar)

  • Ellie Goulding

    Army

  • Coldplay

    Yellow

  • Coldplay

    Adventure of a Lifetime

  • KDA

    Turn the Music Louder (Rumble) (feat. Tinie Tempah & Katy B)

  • Five Star

    The Slightest Touch

  • Sigala

    Easy Love

  • WSTRN

    IN2

  • OMI

    Cheerleader

  • Sigma & Rita Ora

    Coming Home

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