Christmas 1984. Exactly 40 years ago this month, Toyah guested on the Pop Quiz Christmas Special on BBC1. The programme aired at 4.15pm on Christmas Eve.
This was the penultimate edition of the original Pop Quiz. There were four series, plus five specials, 48 episodes in total, with Toyah guesting four times. The final Pop Quiz Special aired a few days later on 28th December 1984. Though there have been a number of revivals since.
Pop Quiz was a British television quiz programme that originally aired on BBC1 from 4th July 1981 to 28th December 1984 with a Top of the Pops special on 4th January 1994 hosted by Mike Read. It was then revived from 21st May to 9th July 1994 on the same channel but this time hosted by Chris Tarrant (Toyah also guested on this series, alongside Pete Burns). It was revived again on Red TV from 14th June to 30th August 2008 with Mike Read returning as host. He also hosted two specials on BBC Four in December 2016 and January 2017 – Please click on the caps below for larger versions.
Christmas 1984, Toyah guested on the Pop Quiz Christmas Special on BBC1. The programme aired at 4.15pm on Christmas Eve.
This was the penultimate edition of the original Pop Quiz. There were four series, plus five specials, 48 episodes in total, with Toyah guesting four times. The final Pop Quiz Special aired a few days later on 28th December 1984. Though there have been a number of revivals since.
Pop Quiz was a British television quiz programme that originally aired on BBC1 from 4th July 1981 to 28th December 1984 with a Top of the Pops special on 4th January 1994 hosted by Mike Read. It was then revived from 21st May to 9th July 1994 on the same channel but this time hosted by Chris Tarrant (Toyah also guested on this series, alongside Pete Burns). It was revived again on Red TV from 14th June to 30th August 2008 with Mike Read returning as host. He also hosted two specials on BBC Four in December 2016 and January 2017.
Christmas 1984. Toyah guested on the Pop Quiz Christmas Special on BBC1. The programme aired at 4.15pm on Christmas Eve.
This was the penultimate edition of the original Pop Quiz. There were four series, plus five specials, 48 episodes in total, with Toyah guesting four times. The final Pop Quiz Special aired a few days later on 28th December 1984. Though there have been a number of revivals since.
Pop Quiz was a British television quiz programme that originally aired on BBC1 from 4th July 1981 to 28th December 1984 with a Top of the Pops special on 4th January 1994 hosted by Mike Read. It was then revived from 21st May to 9th July 1994 on the same channel but this time hosted by Chris Tarrant (Toyah also guested on this series, alongside Pete Burns). It was revived again on Red TV from 14th June to 30th August 2008 with Mike Read returning as host. He also hosted two specials on BBC Four in December 2016 and January 2017 – Please click on the caps below for larger versions.
Screen caps from Toyah’s 1982 guest appearance on Pop Quiz on BBC1. Meanwhile, 2016’s Pop Quiz: The Comeback, also featuring Toyah, is still available to watch online at BBC iPlayer…
• The Comeback: The original Pop Quiz returned to the BBC last night with a great episode.
• Bring it Back!: Reaction to the first of two new episodes has been overwhelmingly positive, with some already calling for a full series. There’s also been a a number of press reports on the revival.
• ITV/Good Morning Britain: Mike Read and the pop quiz comeback: Mike Read was live in the studio this morning talking about bringing back his iconic Pop Quiz with a host of 80s pop stars. Mike looked back on his 40-year career as a DJ on Radio 1, host of the 1980s Saturday morning children’s show Saturday Superstore and the original 1980s music panel game Pop Quiz which he’s bringing back – Continue reading…
• Classic Pop Magazine: Toyah thought last night’s Pop Quiz was a whole heap of fun. Hopefully BBC Four will commission a full series – Continue reading…
• Scottish Daily Mail: Music Show Revived: Pop Quiz – The Comeback, 9.30pm, BBC4: The delight of Mike Read’s Eighties series was that it brought together so many famous musicians who loved talking about music. The delight is intact for this revival, for which Read returns as host along with former conteestants Toyah Willcox, Nick Heyward and Cheryl Baker.
• BBC Four: Episode One is repeated tomorrow night, late – at 1.05am on BBC Four…
• Pop Quizzing at Dreamscape: Browse all of our news on PQ here…
Screen captures from last night’s Pop Quiz – The Comeback. Click below to view larger.
BBC Four were tweeting a-plenty last night about Pop Quiz – The Comeback airing, including a couple of retro images of Toyah from previous Pop Quiz guest appearances (in 1981 and 1984).
Review: a blissfully self-indulgent chance to reminisce for pop-pickers of a certain vintage
Who got a lifetime ban from a Manchester hotel for swinging from a chandelier and stealing a zebra? Ginger diva Toyah Willcox. Who bought an Austin A40 convertible so she could poke her beehive hair out of the roof? Jazz chanteuse Mari Wilson. What did this pair have in common? They were both on Pop Quiz: The Comeback (BBC Four), a revival of the retro gameshow which pitted two teams of Eighties pop stars against each other for no apparent reason other than festive fun.
• Continue reading at The Telegraph.
Watch Pop Quiz – The Comeback at BBC iPlayer by clicking below.
BBC Four’s online schedule now includes details on Pop Quiz: The Comeback, along with a new photo of the cast of Episode 1. See the cast of Episode 2 here.
Episode 1 of 2: It was the Saturday night smash hit music quiz show that ran for four years between 1981 and 1984. Over 30 years later it’s back, with the original presenter Mike Read hosting the first of two special celebration shows where the biggest pop stars from the 1980s go head to head in a test of their 80s music knowledge. Guests include Toyah Willcox, Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Andy McCluskey (OMD), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), Mari Wilson and Leee John (Imagination).
Some years there’s so much good festive telly on offer, it makes your head spin like a Christmas tree bauble crashing to the floor. In 2016, not so much – Still, there are a few gems across the schedules. Here are a few…
Pop Quiz: The Comeback (28 December, BBC4, 9:30pm)
DJ Mike Read (‘Mike Read, 275 and 285, Mike Read, Mike Read, National Radio 1’) revives the Eighties teen show in which pop stars answered questions on pop. How will the likes of Toyah, a Thompson Twin and one of ‘the Spands’ fare in this two-part treat?
• Continue reading at The Scotsman.
Official Charts guide to the best music shows on TV this Christmas
We all love lounging on the sofa with eggnog in one hand and a Chocolate Orange in the other, glued to some of the year’s best TV. But what to choose when you win the battle for the remote and the channel-flicking power is all yours?
If you’re done with present opening, turkey stuffing and The Great Christmas Bake Off (we’ll miss you Mel, Sue and Mary!) – we round up the very best music telly on offer this Christmas.
Wednesday 28 December
Pop Quiz: The Comeback – 9:30pm, BBC4
Mike Read hosts the revival of the 80s music quiz with guests including Toyah Willcox, who is best known for fronting 80s band Toyah. And narrating The Teletubbies, of course.
• Continue reading at Official Charts.
Exciting! Mari Wilson, Leee John, Tom Bailey, Steve Norman, Andy McCluskey and Toyah from yesterday’s recording of Pop Quiz, with original BBC host Mike Read. See Toyah’s tweet/photo. The programme airs on December 28th. (Photo © Mari Wilson)
Broadcast details for Pop Quiz: The Comeback have now been confirmed, with the first show airing on BBC4 on Wednesday 28th December, and the second on Wednesday 4th January.
Both editions of the revived classic pop programme are being recorded tomorrow at Media City, Salford, with tickets to attend being allocated earlier this month.
Pop Quiz: The Comeback: BBC4: Wednesday 28th December: 9.30pm
Pop Quiz: The Comeback: BBC4: New Year’s Eve/Hogmanay: 1.05am
1/2. The music quiz that proved to be a Saturday night hit in the early 1980s is back, hosted by the original presenter Mike Read. He’s joined by a host of pop stars from the era, including Toyah Willcox, OMD’s Andy McCluskey, Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins and Spandau Ballet’s Steve Norman, who’ll be going head to head as they put their musical knowledge to the test.
Pop Quiz: The Comeback: BBC4: Wednesday 4th January: 9.30pm
Pop Quiz: The Comeback: BBC4: Saturday 7th January: 1.05am
2/2. Guests include Nick Heyward (Haircut 100), Carol Decker (T’Pau), David Grant (Linx), Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston (Bucks Fizz) and Ranking Roger (The Beat).
First seen in 1981, Pop Quiz was the BBC’s Saturday night smash hit music quiz show.
Over 30 years later it’s back, with the original presenter Mike Read hosting two special celebration editions where the biggest pop stars from the 1980s will go head-to-head in a test of their Eighties music knowledge – this is Pop Quiz The Comeback!
Tickets will be allocated by random draw. You can register at any time until 10pm on Wednesday 7 December. You can apply for a maximum of two tickets per recording and should you be successful in the random draw you will only receive tickets for one recording. Good luck!
Thursday 15 December, 3.30pm: Guests include Nick Heyward (Haircut 100), Carol Decker (T’Pau), David Grant (Linx), Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston (Bucks Fizz) and Ranking Roger (The Beat).
Thursday 15 December, 6.00pm: Guests include Toyah Willcox, Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Andy McCluskey (OMD), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), Mari Wilson and Leee John (Imagination).
• Continue reading/Apply for tickets at BBC Shows and Tours.
• BBC Media Centre: Pop Quiz returns packed full of 80s stars: It’s time to dig out your leg warmers, ra-ra skirts and grab your Walkmans as BBC Four revives the classic 80s programme, Pop Quiz: The Comeback, for two specials in celebration of 80s pop music – Continue reading…
• ATV Today: Pop Quiz returns to the BBC: 1980s music based game show Pop Quiz is being revived by the BBC once more. The series has previously seen short-lived revivals in the 1990s and 2000s – Continue reading…
BBC Four is set to revive the classic TV show Pop Quiz for two Christmas specials in celebration of ’80s pop music.
Original presenter Mike Read is set to host alongside teams of competing ’80s pop stars.
Guests will include Toyah Willcox, Nick Heyward (Haircut 100), Carol Decker (T’Pau), Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), Andy McCluskey (OMD), Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet), David Grant (Linx), Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston (Bucks Fizz), Ranking Roger (The Beat), Mari Wilson and Lee John (Imagination).
“I’m delighted to be working with a great BBC team to bring back the classic TV series Pop Quiz,” said Read. “Once again the brows of the famous will be furrowed, lips pursed and eyes narrowed as we test their music knowledge, watch some great classic footage and have some fun along the way.”
• Continue reading at Music Week.
