Pop pickers

The BBC has turned to someone more noted for production to be its first Commissioning Editor of Pop Music TV. Sally Wood first worked for the BBC in 2003, when the dull foot of ratings was on the neck of Top of The Pops. She got her first producer credit in 2004, when the show was hosted by Tim Kash. She was there when it moved to BBC2 in 2005, with Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates.

In those dying days, there were all sorts of attempts to resuscitate the patient. Sally produced Top of The Pops Alfresco, an hour long edition from Gateshead Quays; Andi Peters was brought in as an executive producer; they tried Chris Moyles as a host; Fearne Cotton was paired with Jeremy Clarkson, then Phil Tufnell; Andi Peters was replaced by Mark Cooper; Rufus Hound and Richard Bacon had goes at presenting; a February show came from the ski resort of Sauze d'Oulx, with Colin Jackson and Sue Barker; Jo Brand joined Fearne for two shows, gardener  Diarmuid Gavin got one outing.  Absolutely thrashing around. 

Mark Cooper and Sally Wood produced the last show at the end of July 2006, with hosts Sir Jimmy Savile, Tony Blackburn, Janice Long and Mike Read.

Sally left the BBC in 2010, after producing a long list of shows around individual artists, with a Christmas Top of the Pops special.