Totp And Jonathan King

[Misky]

When Top of The Pops 1978 / 79 etc, is shown, they have stopped showing the ones where Jimmy Saville and DLT were presenting. However they still showed Jonathan King singing his "One for Me...." song. Surely he should be deleted too? Or am I missing something?

[factor-fiction]

He was appearing as a guest artist on TOTP rather than as an employee of the BBC, so maybe they see no reason to remove him. I have seen Gary Glitter on something- TOTP2 I think- but I have noticed he is rarely on and I never hear his songs on the radio

[Misky]

Thanks F-F, I guess that makes sense. I was surprised to see him but now I get it. I haven't seen Gary Glitter on anything for ages... X

[Buenchico]

The songs that were in the charts at any particular time form part of our history, which can't be deleted.

It would be ridiculous to show a documentary about the early 1940s without pictures of Nazi soldiers. It would be equally false to show a programme recalling the music of the 1970s without including the music of Jonathan King and Gary Glitter.

However the presenters of TOTP were only ancillary to the main history being represented, so there's no need to include them in the programmes.

[jno]

King's offences were less serious, I think - 15-year-olds? (I may be misremembering.) He wasn't a paedophile.

DLT, perhaps the BBC are being over-cautious, it is probably until his case is heard.

Also, as f-f says, he wasn't representing the BBC, just performing.

[princerupe74]

it is interesting that these episodes of TOTP started shortly after Glitter's big successes dwindled. Yet some weeks this programme is not broadcast, with no explanation. Early on King's performances were omitted, he complained to the BBC and got a personal apology from the Director General. So it's unlikely he'll be edited out again.