Top of the Pops on BBC Four

[Ade Jacobs]

Adrian Rose/Woolfe's Instagram account is still there, by the way.

Ah ok., Looks like I've been blocked then.

Did you message him then? I hope it wasn't abusive.

I replied to his TOTP Video saying that I was sorry we wouldn't see him on screen and wished him well.

[James2001]

If he's blocked you just for saying that, then it really doesn't reflect good on him at all. I could understand with the aggressive and abusive comments, but something like that doesn't feel like it warrants blocking, unless he's just sick of the attention he's recieved and wants to distance himself from the show entirely.

You can argue that if he'd just allowed the episodes to be shown, any attention would have been limited to the sort of "who is this prat with bad hair who can't present for toffee" comments like Tony Dortie sarcastically replies to on twitter, rather than what he has ended up with.

[Ade Jacobs]

If he's blocked you just for saying that, then it really doesn't reflect good on him at all. I could understand with the aggressive and abusive comments, but something like that doesn't feel like it warrants blocking, unless he's just sick of the attention he's recieved and wants to distance himself from the show entirely.

You can argue that if he'd just allowed the episodes to be shown, any attention would have been limited to the sort of "who is this prat with bad hair who can't present for toffee" comments like Tony Dortie sarcastically replies to on twitter, rather than what he has ended up with.

I know nothing, but I am beginning to wonder if he sees himself as being too important to be reminded of this. As you say Tony dortie ahs the right attitude. I try not to be too negative about anything Top of the Pops related because I love the show, but some eras I like better than others and that obviously has an effect on my viewpoint. FWIW 1997-2003 is a poorer show than Year Zero in my uneducated opinion.

[James2001]

I don't know if it's poorer than year zero, but it's certainly poor. Not a patch on what was to come in 2003 though...

Year Zero at least wasn't full of the same performances being repeated week after week, things being shown on their way down the charts even though there's other songs they could have shown instead and the reluctance to show videos (even if they were scaled back in the early days of year zero. We got the Vic Reeves video even after he'd performed for example, which wouldn't have happened under Cowie, we'd just have had the performance shown twice again, however bad it was).

As I said on DS, the fact UK Gold were repeating TOTPs from 1993 makes me wonder if they inserted terms for repeats into the presenters contracts from that point knowing repeats were possible? Would solve any future issues with presenters if that was the case.

[mumu03]

Year Zero at least wasn't full of the same performances being repeated week after week, things being shown on their way down the charts even though there's other songs they could have shown instead and the reluctance to show videos.

That's a point, as with one or two exceptions, there seems to have been no pre-recorded or repeated performances allowed under the 'Year Zero' rules whatsoever. One of the only periods of TOTP without them, as there are a few examples (usually for number one acts) under Ric Blaxill before Cowey comes in.

You could argue that at least keeps each show in this era quite fresh, though the format was clearly being tested to its limits by the end of 1993 and also needed to be revised - regularly editions with just 6 or 7 songs given proper slots, and then as many as 8 short breaker clips to accommodate all of the new entries.

[Ade Jacobs]

That's a point, as with one or two exceptions, there seems to have been no pre-recorded or repeated performances allowed under the 'Year Zero' rules whatsoever. One of the only periods of TOTP without them, as there are a few examples (usually for number one acts) under Ric Blaxill before Cowey comes in.

By the time you get to 98/99 it seems every show is 85% Repeat performances with maybe one or two new ones per edition. For me it ruins the flow of the show.

[James2001]

Even when they're "new", but pre-recorded as many were in that era, it's much the same when it comes to ruining the flow.

[Joe]

I know nothing, but I am beginning to wonder if he sees himself as being too important to be reminded of this.

That’s completely unfounded speculation and extrapolation.

[James2001]

I did say last week we should stop speculating on the reasons, though admittedly it seems hard not to do so. Especially when he's blocking people who aren't even being unpleasant to him.

[Ade Jacobs]

I know nothing, but I am beginning to wonder if he sees himself as being too important to be reminded of this.

That’s completely unfounded speculation and extrapolation.

It is unfounded, as I said I know nothing. But 'beginning to wonder' is the theory in my own mind after he blocked me for saying It was a shame we wouldn't see him or his shows. If he is trying to avoid attention it is certainly failing.

Just to confirm: I know nothing. I'm beginning to wonder (maybe thanks to the Pop Bitch article that appeared last week) I have never once stated it as fact! Thanks

If you think that is bad wait until you hear my theory about the Mike Smith editions!

[James2001]

Tony's tweets are spot on again tonight ????

https://twitter.com/TonyDortie/status/14...4112247812

I've watched Adrian's first two episodes, and I'd argue he does quite a good job. Nothing exciting or memorable, but he doesn't come across as nervous, trip over his words or try to play up to the camera like the other year zero presenters have to various extents. Can't see why he'd be ashamed or embarrased of them being shown, he comes across as reasonably competent, more so than the presenters he's paired with.

[Ade Jacobs]

Tony's tweets are spot on again tonight ????

https://twitter.com/TonyDortie/status/14...4112247812

I've watched Adrian's first two episodes, and I'd argue he does quite a good job. Nothing exciting or memorable, but he doesn't come across as nervous, trip over his words or try to play up to the camera like the other year zero presenters have to various extents. Can't see why he'd be ashamed or embarrased of them being shown, he comes across as reasonably competent, more so than the presenters he's paired with.

Totally this, maybe he looks a bit awkward when he tries to smile at the end of a link but otherwise he's pretty competent.

Poor Elayne Smith though, she started well but again it looked like at least one of here links was re-recorded and edited back in. I think this is the last we see of her hosting the show.

The best presenter for me (this is just my opinion) is Mark Franklin, he talks clearly and steadily and doesn't shout.

[James2001]

Poor Elayne Smith though, she started well but again it looked like at least one of here links was re-recorded and edited back in. I think this is the last we see of her hosting the show.

Blatantly obvious, as we see the camera pan to her, then there's an obvious cut and change in camera angle when she starts talking, There was an obvious reshot link on her first edition too, probably one of the main reasons why they got rid of her.

[VMPhil]

I know nothing, but I am beginning to wonder if he sees himself as being too important to be reminded of this.

That’s completely unfounded speculation and extrapolation.

Indeed. He's perfectly within his rights to block complete strangers from interacting with him. He doesn't have to respond to you. Particularly if you start out nice and then turn nasty, which I'm sure you would not, but I have experienced that many a time.

If he had a bad experience on the show, then having complete strangers moaning at him on the internet about it isn't going to help matters.

[Ade Jacobs]

I know nothing, but I am beginning to wonder if he sees himself as being too important to be reminded of this.

That’s completely unfounded speculation and extrapolation.

Indeed. He's perfectly within his rights to block complete strangers from interacting with him. He doesn't have to respond to you. Particularly if you start out nice and then turn nasty, which I'm sure you would not, but I have experienced that many a time.

If he had a bad experience on the show, then having complete strangers moaning at him on the internet about it isn't going to help matters.

But if he had a bad experience on the show would he really have posted a video in the first place on a public social Media Network? If I blocked everyone that started nice on the theory that they may turn nasty then everyone would be blocked. Indeed he is right to block me for whatever reasons.

Edited: Not wanting to get deeper in this conversation! lol