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Have you got a favourite Top of The Pops Performance?
"’s ‘Satisfy my Soul’. The atmosphere was electric! They were playing the rhythm section live in the studio and it was so intricate and it was just fantastic. It gave me chills down my spine it was so magical. But you used to, and you still do, get some major acts from all over the world coming into the TOTP studio. They know that if you want a showcase, then your face and your song is going to be heard by people that are going to buy your music."
Is it fun to present?
"If you don’t take things too seriously! I thought that the atmosphere in the studio was very much like a party. We had a lot of fun and the audience used to enjoy what we were doing. The acts didn’t always enjoy what we were doing - I remember David Grant singing, and John Peel described him as looking like a fire hydrant."
Have you ever been star struck?
"Yes, by Bob Marley. Bob Marley and the Wailers wasn’t just the act you saw on television - which was maybe a dozen or so people. It was also a massive entourage, so they kept themselves very much to themselves. There wasn’t a lot of socialising or partying outside of their own group. Just to be in the same room as Bob Marley, because he was a charismatic figure, and he was magical -Ìýit’s something I’ll never forget!"
Have you ever embarrassed yourself on the show?
"Yes, by wearing a tank top when I was young and earnest."
Has anyone in the audience ever said anything funny to you?
"No, but co-hosting with John Peel would often reduce me to tears of laughter. It was really a lot of fun, and we were helped by Michael Hurll, who was Producer and Director at the time. He quite liked the idea of taking the mickey out of the show because it was an institution, but it was done affectionately. Actually - I once remember standing next to a girl about to introduce . I just assumed that she would like Hot Chocolate, and I said "Hey, we’ve got Hot Chocolate coming up!" and she said something like 'I can’t stand 'em.'
What’s the worst performance you’ve ever seen on the show?
's ‘Martha’s Harbour’ - a technical disaster!"
Who would you ban?
"People wearing animal/creature costumes!"
What’s your dream Top of The Pops line up?
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Any advice for someone who wants to be a presenter?
"Be natural, have fun and use lots of moisturising cream!"
What did you think of the music at the time you were presenting?
"It was an era of music that was probably no more special than the music of today isÌýfor those who really like the charts. Maybe the charts were a little more diverse then. A lot more market research has gone into hit records now, than at that time, I think. I presented at a time when bands became household names very quickly by exposure on Radio 1. Now the growth of other radio stations means that everybody is playing the same sort of songs, and it’s very difficult for bands to make a breakthrough."
What was the impact of that very first show? Did it change anybody’s life?
"The majority of the people didn’t watch it because it came at 6.30 on New Years Day. In 1964 a lot of people had hangovers. It didn’t change my life because it was just a pinnacle, it was a culmination. It did change the life of many people when it became a household name. Parents watched TOTP because it was the only time they could ever join in with anything with their kids. The kids could opinionate and tell them about this that and the other - it was a 30 minute reunion of a family which at that time was threatening to break apart. It was a great fusing together."
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