Top of the Pops

The Story of 1996

Specials    Episode 140
April 23, 2022    59m
1996 saw mad cow disease and hostage crises dominating the news, but each week at Elstree, it was feuds and farewells that headlined the pop year. Take That said goodbye, prompting hysteria at the gates of the TOTP studios, and the Britpop battle was far from over. It was also a huge year for dance music, with the likes of Faithless and Underworld hitting the charts, helped by a certain film set in Edinburgh. There were also new stars from the world of hip-hop, as melody and hooks merged with beats to launch the careers of Fugees, Blackstreet and Mark Morrison. The summer saw football anthems and another dance craze courtesy of Los Del Rio’s Macarena, and once you've thrown in Peter Andre, Skunk Anansie, Reef, a controversial change of day and, of course, the Spice Girls, you have another classic year in the story of the UK’s biggest pop music TV show.

Watch on these services

This title is currently not available on any service.
Cast of The Story of 1996
  • Fearne CottonHost
  • Reggie YatesHost

Take Plex everywhere

Watch free anytime, anywhere, on almost any device.
See the full list of supported devices