Top of the Pops: 1987
Season 24 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Top of the Pops Season 23.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 24 Progress Shield
January 1, 1987
Jan 1, 1987 · 29 min
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 1 January 1987, featuring Status Quo, a-ha, Alison Moyet, Elkie Brooks, Gary Moore, Spitting Image and Madonna.
January 8, 1987
Jan 8, 1987 · 32 min
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, featuring Swing Out Sister, Lionel Richie, The Gap Band, The Pretenders, Paul Simon, Jackie Wilson and Genesis.
January 15, 1987
Jan 15, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith takes a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from The Mission, The Style Council, Siouxsie & The Banshees, and Bangl
January 22, 1987
Jan 22, 1987 · 30 min
Gary Davies and Steve Wright present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 22 January 1987, featuring Dead or Alive, UB40, Randy Crawford, Curiosity Killed the Cat, Pepsi & S
January 29, 1987
Jan 29, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith takes a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Aretha Franklin & George Michael, Robbie Nevil, The Blow Monkeys,
February 5, 1987
Feb 5, 1987 · 29 min
Janice Long and John Peel present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 5 February 1987 and featuring The Blow Monkeys, Randy Crawford, The Smiths, Curiosity Killed the Cat,
February 12, 1987
Feb 12, 1987 · 29 min
Simon Mayo and Peter Powell present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 12 February 1987. Featuring Level 42, Ben E King, Pepsi & Shirlie, Five Star, Carly Simon, Vesta Wil
February 19, 1987
Feb 19, 1987 · 29 min
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 19 February 1987. Featuring performances by Westworld, Carly Simon, Curiosity Killed the Cat, Man 2 Man Meets Man P
February 26, 1987
Feb 26, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith and Steve Wright take a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Simply Red, Level 42, A-ha, and Ben E. King.
March 5, 1987
Mar 5, 1987 · 29 min
Janice Long and Gary Davies present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 5 March 1987. Featuring performances by The Christians, a-ha, Erasure, Mel and Kim, Jackie Wilson, F
March 12, 1987
Mar 12, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith and Steve Wright take a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Jackie Wilson, Freddie Mercury, Bruce Willis, and
March 19, 1987
Mar 19, 1987 · 29 min
Simon Bates and Peter Powell present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 19 March 1987 and featuring Boy George, Erasure, Genesis and The Mission.
March 26, 1987
Mar 26, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith takes a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from U2, Janet Jackson, Nick Kamen, and Club Nouveau.
April 2, 1987
Apr 2, 1987 · 29 min
Gary Davies and Janice Long present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 2 April 1987, featuring Madonna, Curiosity Killed the Cat and The Pogues & The Dubliners.
April 9, 1987
Apr 9, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith takes a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Club Nouveau, Judy Boucher, Bon Jovi, and Ferry Aid.
April 16, 1987
Apr 16, 1987 · 29 min
Janice Long and Peter Powell present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 16 April 1987 and featuring Fine Young Cannibals, David Bowie, Herb Alpert, Five Star, Bon Jovi and
April 23, 1987
Apr 23, 1987 · 29 min
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 23 April 1987, featuring Five Star, The Smiths, Kim Wilde & Junior, Judy Boucher, Starship, Tom Jones, Glenn & Chri
April 30, 1987
Apr 30, 1987 · 30 min
Peter Powell and Steve Wright present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 30 April 1987, featuring the Jesus and Mary Chain, Starship, Labi Siffre, Level 42, Spear of Desti
May 7, 1987
May 7, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith takes a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Fleetwood Mac, Spear Of Destiny, The Cult, and Starship.
May 14, 1987
May 14, 1987 · 30 min
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 14 May 1987 and featuring Johnny Hates Jazz, The Cult, Europe, Labi Shffre, Wet Wet Wet, Cameo, Tom Jones, Starship
May 21, 1987
May 21, 1987 · 30 min
Peter Powell and Simon Bates present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 21 May 1987 and featuring Marillion, Wet Wet Wet, Cameo, Donna Allen, Johnny Logan, Bruce Springste
May 28, 1987
May 28, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith takes a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Bruce Springsteen, Donna Allen, Gary Moore, and Johnny Logan.
June 5, 1987
Jun 5, 1987 · 30 min
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 5 June 1987 and featuring Erasure, U2, Pepsi & Shirlie, Jody Watley, Suzanne Vega, John Farnham, Beastie Boys, Wet
June 11, 1987
Jun 11, 1987 · 29 min
Peter Powell and Simon Bates present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 11 June 1987, and featuring John Farnham, Bruce Willis, Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Tom Jones, Whitesnak
June 18, 1987
Jun 18, 1987 · 31 min
Janice Long and Simon Mayo present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 18 June 1987, and featuring Samantha Fox, Whitesnake, Tom Jones, ABC, Chris Rea, Janet Jackson, Curio
June 25, 1987
Jun 25, 1987 · 31 min
Peter Powell and Simon Bates present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 25 June 1987 and featuring Chris Rea, Bruce Willis, Pet Shop Boys, Terence Trent D'Arby, Prince, Si
July 2, 1987
Jul 2, 1987 · 29 min
Simon Bates presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 2 July 1987 and featuring ABC, Atlantic Starr, Curiosity Killed the Cat, Black, Billy Idol, a-ha, Broken English, P
July 9, 1987
Jul 9, 1987 · 29 min
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 9 July 1987 and featuring Shakin' Stevens, a-ha, Black, Genesis, Jackie Wilson, Mel and Kim, Heart, The Christians,
July 16, 1987
Jul 16, 1987 · 32 min
Peter Powell and Simon Bates present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 16 July 1987 and featuring Bananarama, Bruce Willis, Hue and Cry, Kenny G, Mel and Kim, Los Lobos,
July 23, 1987
Jul 23, 1987 · 31 min
Janice Long and Simon Mayo present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 23 July 1987 and featuring Boy George, Atlantic Starr, Judy Boucher, Los Lobos, Errol Brown, Samantha
July 30, 1987
Jul 30, 1987 · 29 min
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 30 June 1987 and featuring Hue and Cry, Heart, Freddie McGregor, Bananarama, Stock Aitken Waterman, Spagna, The Gap
August 6, 1987
Aug 6, 1987 · 30 min
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast 6 August 1987 and featuring New Order, Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram, Sinitta, Samantha Fox, Wet Wet Wet, Motley Cru
August 13, 1987
Aug 13, 1987 · 30 min
Peter Powell and Simon Bates present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 13 August 1987 and featuring Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Rick Astley, Wet Wet Wet, Wax, Kim Wilde, Sh
August 20, 1987
Aug 20, 1987 · 29 min
Janice Long and Steve Wright present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 20 August 1987 and featuring Wax, Five Star, Sherrick, Bon Jovi, Prince and Sheena Easton, The Smit
August 27, 1987
Aug 27, 1987 · 29 min
Gary Davies presents the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 27 August 1987 and featuring Then Jerico, The Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield, Wet Wet Wet, Black, T'Pau, Rick
September 3, 1987
Sep 3, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith takes a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Levert, Cliff Richard, Johnny Hates Jazz, and The Fat Boys & The B
September 10, 1987
Sep 10, 1987 · 29 min
Peter Powell and Simon Bates present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 10 September 1987 and featuring T'Pau, Level 42, W.A.S.P., Wax, Jonathan Butler, Rick Astley and U2
September 17, 1987
Sep 17, 1987 · 30 min
Gary Davies and Mike Smith take a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Luther Vandross, Cliff Richard, Karel Fialka, and M
September 24, 1987
Sep 24, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith and Gary Davies take a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Abc, Jan Hammer, Ll Cool J, and Mick Jagger.
October 1, 1987
Oct 1, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith and Gary Davies take a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Michael Jackson, Gary Numan, Shakin' Stevens, and T
October 8, 1987
Oct 8, 1987 · 30 min
Gary Davies and Mike Smith take a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Kiss, Erasure, Steve Walsh, and LL Cool J.
October 15, 1987
Oct 15, 1987 · 29 min
Gary Davies and Peter Powell present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 15 October 1987 and featuring UB40, Five Star, The Alarm, Terence Trent D'Arby, Los Lobos, Bananara
October 22, 1987
Oct 22, 1987 · 29 min
Gary Davies and Simon Bates present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 22 October 1987 and featuring Was (Not Was), Los Lobos, Pet Shop Boys, Kiss, Erasure, The Cure, Ray
October 29, 1987
Oct 29, 1987 · 30 min
Gary Davies and Steve Wright present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 29 October 1987 and featuring The Style Council, George Michael, Rick Astley, Ray Parker Jr, Euryth
November 5, 1987
Nov 5, 1987 · 30 min
Janice Long and Mike Smith take a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from George Harrison, Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Cabal
November 12, 1987
Nov 12, 1987 · 29 min
Peter Powell and Gary Davies present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 12 November 1987 and featuring The Communards, Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, Mirage, Donna Summe
November 19, 1987
Nov 19, 1987 · 29 min
Steve Wright and Simon Mayo present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 19 November 1987 and featuring Maxi Priest, Whitney Houston, The Proclaimers, Barry White, Boy Georg
November 26, 1987
Nov 26, 1987 · 30 min
Simon Bates and Gary Davies present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 26 November 1987 and featuring Blue Mercedes, Boy George, The Communards, Shakin' Stevens, The Hoote
December 3, 1987
Dec 3, 1987 · 29 min
Janice Long and Gary Davies present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 3 December 1987 and featuring The Hooters, Alexander O'Neal, The Proclaimers, Def Leppard, Cutting C
December 10, 1987
Dec 10, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Smith takes a look at Britain's best-selling tracks and artists from the Top 40. Including performances from Michael Jackson, Johnny Hates Jazz, Mel & Kim, and T'pau.
December 17, 1987
Dec 17, 1987 · 30 min
Mike Read and Gary Davies present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 17 December 1987 and featuring Wet Wet Wet, Mel and Kim, Simply Red, The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, Le
Christmas Special 1987
Dec 25, 1987 · 53 min
In this special Christmas Day edition Mike Smith and Gary Davies present the popular hits of 1987, plus this week's Top 40 chart and the No. 1 best selling record of Christmas 1987
December 31, 1987
Dec 31, 1987 · 29 min
Peter Powell and Gary Davies present the pop chart programme, first broadcast on 31 December 1987 and featuring Krush, Nat King Cole, Climie Fisher, Belinda Carlisle, Morris Minor