29th May

1980: In a packed programme Liquid Gold ham it up no end, Elton John settles for simplicity (and a hat, and a hamfisted drum machine), Legs & Co's interpretation of Crown Heights Affair becomes a living thing with the aid of some pom poms and careful choreography (fans, not troupe), OMD invest in some natty orange slats and frying pans for drums, Stiff Little Fingers wear the colours and a besuited Lena Zavaroni, still not yet 17, is growing up fast in musical terms. And that was it for a while. In protest at the BBC shutting down some of its orchestras, the Musicians Union went on strike and kept the programme off the air for nine weeks. When it returned Johnny Pearson and co had been stood down, Michael Hurll had come in as producer and a glorious new chapter in the show's history was on the horizon.

1986: Janice Long and John Peel are really quite keen on Pete Wylie's presence on the show and he repays all with thematic backing dancers and a pop art bass. Peel has a celebrated comment/threat to make at the end. Here, by the way, is that chart rundown and some other bits and pieces, John pulling out a superb non sequitur for the first of the Breakers. The Real Thing were still hanging around and by now were able to some degree to get their outfits in some sort of harmony. Another minor piece of note in the last link - as Peel boasts he's off to see Bogshed, apparently that's a young Zoe Ball to his right in the golfing trousers.