'Top of the Pops' bows out after 42 years

[BGonaSTICK]

Britain bade farewell on Sunday to "Top of the Pops", the world's longest running weekly music show, which at the ripe old age of 42 finally succumbed to the 24-hour music channel and the Internet.

The groundbreaking programme, which began on New Year's Day 1964, was required viewing for generations of teenagers who switched on in their millions to watch favourite acts and discover who had topped the charts.

But the show's popularity was gradually eroded by the advent of MTV, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this week, and more recently by social networking Web sites like MySpace where young people meet online and download music tracks and videos.

From peak viewing figures of more than 15 million, Top of the Pops has seen audiences slump to 1 million, forcing the BBC to pull the plug on a show that has gone from cool to kitsch in recent years.

The show saw miming disasters, Cliff Richard showered by wigs, stage invasions and Justin Timberlake disguised as a dolphin, but remained a British institution to the end.

The final, 2,204th show, on BBC2 on Sunday evening, was more nostalgia than new acts, featuring highlights from the last four decades including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Madonna, Prince, Queen, David Bowie, Bob Marley and the Jackson 5.

Jimmy Savile, who hosted the first Top of the Pops, was back at 79, donning a golden track suit and his trademark cigar.

In a throw back to his signature catchphrase, Savile signed off with the words: "Don't forget it's number one, it's still Top of the Pops." His final act was to switch off the studio lights, leaving the screen in darkness.