Top Of The Pop Back 'Bigger And Better' At Christmas

Top of the Pops is to return “bigger and better” over the Christmas period, the BBC has announced.

Two editions of the pop show, a Christmas and New Years Eve special, will be hosted by Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates.

The announcement comes just weeks after the BBC dropped the programme from its winter schedule because of falling viewing figures.

“The shows will form the centrepiece of a massive musical offering during the festive season that we hope viewers are really going to enjoy," BBC One controller Jay Hunt said.    

The BBC has faced renewed calls of late to revive the weekly edition of TOTP which dropped off the air after 42 years in 2006.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has campaigned for a similar programme to be launched in order to help new bands achieve wider attention.

Speaking at In the City in Manchester in October, Mr Burnham said TV was “relying on safe formats” instead of driving the search for new talent.

"That was what was great about the past - The Smiths did become a national name, even though I can remember my dad moaning about them on Top of the Pops.”

The Christmas edition of the programme will see the official announcement of the coveted Christmas number one.