BBC Pop Music TV has unveiled its Christmas highlights, including new BBC Two documentaries on Tina Turner and Motown
On Christmas Day, BBC Two presents When Tina Turner Came To Britain. Featuring previously unheard interviews with Tina Turner, the programme tells the story of the superstar’s relationship with the UK.
Tina Turner said: “The love, energy and support I’ve had from Britain over the years has been amazing. I couldn’t have enjoyed the career I’ve had without my time spent in the UK and collaborations with amazing British songwriters, musicians and producers. From my very first visit to London in 1966 I always enjoyed visiting Britain and performing for fans across the country – it felt like my second home.”
The film features contributions from those who have met and worked with Tina Turner, including Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware of Heaven 17; singer P.P. Arnold; Skunk Anansie’s Skin; Arlene Phillips, who choreographed the music video to Private Dancer, filmed in the Rivoli Ballroom, London; and promoters Jenny and Barrie Marshall.
The film begins with Tina Turner’s first visit, when, alongside her then husband Ike, she supported The Rolling Stones on tour in 1966. It spans more than five decades with footage of her attending the world premiere of Tina: The Musical in London, in 2018.
On New Year’s Day, BBC Two tells the story of the very first UK tour undertaken by musicians on the label, including Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles in When Motown Came To Britain (pictured).
In 1965, some of Motown’s brightest new stars arrived in the UK for a pioneering tour which saw them perform in Liverpool, Leicester, Wigan, Bristol, Newcastle, London, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Manchester and Glasgow.
The programme, produced by Wise Owl, features a range of artists and Motown fans, including The Miracles’ Claudette Robinson; The Temptations’ Otis Williams; Ready Steady Go! Producer Vicki Wickham; singer-songwriter Mica Paris; authors Stephen Stevlor and Keith Rylatt; former Billboard editor-in-chief Adam White; The Supremes and The Temptations manager Shelly Berger; and former Motown Records UK general manager Keith Harris, among others.
Jonathan Rothery, BBC head of Pop Music TV, said: “Both films take a fascinating look at much loved stars through the filter of the times they’ve visited our shores.”
Accompanying When Motown Came To Britain on New Years’ Day is Lamont Dozier at the BBC (BBC Two) – a selection of BBC archive performances of the legendary Motown songwriter’s best loved and most recognisable hits. In addition, BBC Two will show Marvin Gaye: Live at Montreux, a film which captured Gaye’s performance at Montreux Jazz Festival in July 1980.
The love, energy and support I’ve had from Britain over the years has been amazing
Tina Turner
As well as exploring these historical musical moments, BBC Pop Music TV celebrates contemporary music. Top Of The Pops Review Of The Year 2022 (Saturday, December 24, BBC Two), hosted by Radio 1’s Clara Amfo and Jack Saunders, takes a look back over the last 12 months, including the biggest stories and artist performances from some of the hottest artists of 2022.
The Year In Music At The BBC: 2022 (Friday, December 30, BBC Two) takes a look back at musical performances on the BBC. The programme revisits moments such as Paul McCartney at Glastonbury, Diana Ross at The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Party at the Palace and Harry Styles at Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
On New Year’s Eve, Jools Holland returns with the 30th Jools’ Annual Hootenanny with special guests including Andy Fairweather Low, Cat Burns, Gabrielle, George Ezra, Roland Gift, Ruby Turner, Self Esteem, The Real Thing and Tom Odell.
On BBC One on New Year’s Eve, Sam Ryder rounds off a hugely successful 2022 in Sam Ryder Rocks New Year’s Eve.
On BBC Four, Country Music Christmas 2022 (Friday, December 23) will see country artists including Dan & Shay, Maren Morris, The War and Treaty, Steven Curtis Chapman, Scotty McCreery, Molly Tuttle and Old Dominion come together for a night of holiday classics.
Also available on BBC iPlayer from Thursday, December 15 is BBC Radio 2 in Concert: Lewis Capaldi. In the programme, Capaldi performs in front of a small audience of Radio 2 listeners at the BBC’s Radio Theatre in London. The show will also be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Thursday, December 15 (7pm-9pm).
Other Pop Music TV highlights to be broadcast throughout December include performances from Self Esteem (December 10), Idles (December 18) and Mykki Blanco (December 18 ) at the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2022 in Cardiff on BBC Two, with festival sets from Father John Misty, Johnny Marr and Wet Leg also available on BBC iPlayer now.
Feeling Good: The Radio 2 Piano Room (BBC Two, Saturday, December 10) features performances from artists who have recently appeared on the Radio 2 Piano Room for Ken Bruce’s Radio 2 programme, including Craig David, Sigrid, Paolo Nutini, Sam Smith, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott and Michael Bublé.
First up this week is MOBO Awards 2022 (BBC One, Wednesday December 7), in which BBC Radio 1Xtra’s DJ Target gets behind-the-scenes access at the ceremony in London’s Wembley Arena and brings viewers exclusive interviews as well as performances from the night.
Looking ahead to early 2023, Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World is a new four-part documentary box set, featuring and executive produced by Chuck D. It features contributions from Eminem, Ice-T, Killer Mike, LL Cool J, Monie Love and Will.i.am.
The series will drop on BBC iPlayer on Saturday, January 21, 2023.