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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Gavin Haynes

Fake snow! Bored Anne-Marie! Ten things to expect from the Christmas Top of the Pops

1

Pan’s People perform on Top Of The Pops, 1975.
Pan’s People perform on Top of the Pops, 1975. Photograph: Michael Putland/Getty

Dancers in white “snow” bikinis in front of a white “snow” grand piano with “snowflakes” taped to the ceiling.

2

Anne-Marie.

A “dance hit of the year” featuring Anne-Marie looking bored as she makes her third consecutive appearance.

3

American flag.

The year’s most universal US hit, conspicuous only by its makers’ absence.

Clara Amfo.

4

Presenter Clara Amfo pondering, apropos of nothing, whether you have eaten too much turkey.

5

Ariana Grande.

Presenter referencing a “legendary” artist who’s still under 26.

Fearne Cotton.

6

Fearne … Cotton making the auto … cue’s scripted ad libs sound … like … Pinter …pauses.

7

Ibiza.

A jarringly wintry performance of an Ibiza summer banger.

8

Ed Sheeran.

Artists grinning as they finally fulfil their childhood dream of appearing on TOTP in front of their parents.

9

Post Malone.

Post Malone in a Christmas jumper.

10

A red megaphone on white background

Baffling insider statistics designed to make tracks sound more impressive: “Broke the record for most non-consecutive weeks inside the Top 15 for a non-brass trio.”

Top of the Pops, Christmas Day, 12.30pm, BBC One

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