Editing Pick of the Pops (section)

==Original format (1955–72)==
Initially, the show did not feature chart music, but in September 1957, [[Alan Dell]] introduced the format of running through the charts of the week; he played the top tens from various music papers, plus entries to the top 20s.

[[David Jacobs (broadcaster)|David Jacobs]] broadcast the first averaged BBC Top 20 to the helm on Saturday 29 March 1958. [[Alan Freeman]] took over in September 1961, taking the show to a regular Sunday slot in January 1962. The programme ended in September 1972, while the Top 20 continued as part of ''Solid Gold Sixty''.

Freeman, who became the show's longest-serving presenter, had been a radio announcer in [[Melbourne]], Australia. He arrived in Britain in 1957 and joined the Light Programme in 1960 to present ''Records Around Five''. That same year, he replaced David Jacobs as presenter of ''Pick of the Pops'', which was then part of a Saturday evening programme called ''Trad Tavern'', named after traditional jazz, which had a following at the time. ''Pick of the Pops'' became a separate programme in January 1962;<ref name="radiorewind1">{{cite web|url=http://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio1/alan_freeman_page.htm |title=BBC Radio 1 People – Alan Freeman – Not Arf! |publisher=Radio Rewind |date=28 November 2006 |access-date=3 March 2013}}</ref> it was produced by [[Derek Chinnery]].

Denys Jones (producer 1961–72) and Freeman split the programme into four sections: chart newcomers, new releases, LPs and the Top 10.<ref name="radiorewind1"/> The programme attracted large audiences, as the BBC had "[[needle time]]" restrictions and could play relatively few commercially available recordings each week. Freeman continued with the show when it moved to Radio 1 and stayed until the programme ended on 24 September 1972.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20231117152606/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3445b73a1e3347b38052030e5aa5a7ef] </ref>