Sam Fender Among Performers Announced For Year-End ‘Top Of The Pops’ Specials

Sam Fender is among the performers in the line-up for the newly-announced Top Of The Pops Christmas and New Year specials on UK television.

The storied show, which was launched in 1964, came to an end in its weekly format in 2006, but has lived on via the year-end specials featuring some of the biggest acts on the singles chart of the previous 12 months. The shows will feature new performances recorded at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, west London, as well as archive performances.

The Christmas edition will be hosted by BBC Radio 1 DJs Clara Amfo and Jordan North, the latter making his TOTP debut. It will air on BBC One in the UK on Christmas Day at 11.55am. Featured performers are Anne-Marie, Griff, Clean Bandit featuring Wes Nelson, Joel Corry featuring Mabel, KSI, Mimi Webb, Sigrid, and Tom Grennan.

The New Year special will be on BBC One on Friday, December 31 at 4.15pm, starring ArrDee, Becky Hill, Dermot Kennedy, Lola Young, Mabel, Mahalia featuring AJ Tracey, and Fender. Archive clips on the shows will feature Lil Nas X, Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish, Arlo Parks, Coldplay, and others.

“Top Of The Pops equals Christmas to me!”, said Essex-born hitmaker Anne-Marie. “Me and the family would sit down every crimbo [Christmas] to watch and listen to our favorite songs from the year! So excited to be returning for the festive special!”

Amfo says that Top Of The Pops “remains an iconic and beloved show…to be part of it at Christmas is so very special and I’m delighted to be presenting alongside the joyous Jordan North! We’re very much looking forward to celebrating some of the UK’s favorite chart stars with the audience at home.”

North adds that making his TOTP debut is “a childhood dream.” He notes: “We can’t wait to bring you all the best musical highlights from the past year, and to show everybody watching at home what bands and artists that we are excited for in 2022.”

Buy or stream Sam Fender’s Seventeen Going Under.