Decline and fall

It's down, pop-pickers, but not quite out. After 40 years and countless facelifts, Top of the Pops is to be relegated to Sunday night on BBC2. There can be little surprise, however, since audiences have slumped and the format looks anachronistic. Everything has been tried in recent years to resurrect its glory days. First, it was moved to Friday, then they inserted interviews. They even reintroduced a few live performances. But nothing worked; the programme is now on its last legs. Perhaps it is time for the nuclear option: bring back Pan's People. That would give The Antiques Roadshow something to think about.

It's down, pop-pickers, but not quite out. After 40 years and countless facelifts, Top of the Pops is to be relegated to Sunday night on BBC2. There can be little surprise, however, since audiences have slumped and the format looks anachronistic. Everything has been tried in recent years to resurrect its glory days. First, it was moved to Friday, then they inserted interviews. They even reintroduced a few live performances. But nothing worked; the programme is now on its last legs. Perhaps it is time for the nuclear option: bring back Pan's People. That would give The Antiques Roadshow something to think about.