Top of the Pops - Episode 300 (23rd October 1969) - Missing Episode Reconstructed

At 7.05pm on Thursday, 23rd October 1969, the BBC broadcast Episode 300 of Top of the Pops, presented by 42 year-old Radio 1 disc jockey, Jimmy Savile.

The episode was wiped not long afterwards, but thankfully an audio recording exists, recorded by a viewer on quarter-inch reel-to-reel tape.

Although some of the songs would have used the original sound recordings, many feature the Top of the Pops orchestra, directed by Johnny Pearson, as backing.

The number one record this week was "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies, an American fictional rock band featured in media produced by, and related to, Archie Comics. It stayed at the top for eight weeks in the UK, and was a number one hit around the world.

This reconstructed episode allows you to once again enjoy the hits from this week, 55 years ago. How many of these songs do you remember?

Please like and follow if you would like us to post similar reconstructions for other missing episodes!