It has been two decades since Top Of The Pops aired its final weekly show on July 30, 2006. Former producer Chris Cowey has now shared insider secrets from the iconic BBC music programme, recalling the biggest divas, the worst guests, and a drugs scare that nearly derailed an episode.
David Bowie: The Best Guest
Cowey, 65, who produced the show for six years, singled out David Bowie as the most memorable artist. "The best, most amiable, most fun to work with and most courteous was David Bowie by a million miles. He was an absolute gent," Cowey said during a reunion at London's Riverside Studios, where TOTP was based in its later years.
Worst Guest and Diva Moments
When asked about the worst guest, Cowey pointed to the boyband 5ive, calling them "pretty boys" but lacking in professionalism. Madonna, however, earned praise for her hard work, while the Spice Girls were likened to "five Madonnas" for their single-mindedness. Mariah Carey almost lived up to her diva reputation when her team insisted she wouldn't use a dressing room because "Mariah doesn't do stairs." But when Cowey rejected her request for a pyrotechnic butterfly, she took it in stride, calling him funny and proving to be great fun.
Prince and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Prince arrived with an "over zealous" entourage that forbade eye contact with the star. Cowey recalled, "We were all told 'when Prince walks up you can't have eye contact with Prince.' That was not him. It was all the people surrounding him." The Red Hot Chili Peppers were kicked off the show after rehearsing in see-through white dresses with nothing underneath. "They did have their socks on," Cowey laughed.
Drugs Fear and Unauthorized Recording
Cowey also revealed a drugs-related incident involving an unnamed band, though he declined to provide details. In another bold move, he recorded U2 and Sting's tribute to 9/11 heroes without BBC permission. "I had to take a bit of a flyer on it, as I could not get hold of any BBC execs to get permission to spend the money. I just said 'oh forget it. I will just do it,'" he said.
The Show's Decline and Legacy
At its peak in the late 1970s, TOTP attracted 15 million viewers, peaking at 19 million in 1979. By the time it was axed, viewership had fallen to 1.5 million after being moved from BBC1 to BBC2. Cowey believes the show could have survived if BBC bosses had waited for the digital age. "If they'd just hung on until the digital thing really kicked in, TOTP could have been on YouTube. It could have been massive," he said.
Looking Back and Forward
Cowey, who left in 2003, criticized the new regime for turning the show into a "kids' karaoke show" and called its cancellation "cultural vandalism." He now hopes to launch a new music show inspired by The Tube, a 1980s Channel 4 live series. "The next time I do a music show I don't think it should be based on the charts. It should be like The Tube," he said.
