Top of the Pops: The Story of 1984

Contributors including Howard Jones, Nik Kershaw, Paul Young, Nigel Planer and Midge Ure recall the year of big hair and big tunes, when a BBC ban on Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Relax led to an embarrassing gap on the show when it reached the top of the chart. The year saw the rise of one-man acts such as Nik Kershaw and Howard Jones, while Sade brought a stripped-back soulful vibe to jazz pop. German singer Nena hit the top spot with 99 Red Balloons, while the Special AKA's Free Nelson Mandela combined a political message with an irresistible tune. The year ended with the stars of the day pooling their talents with Band Aid's charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?