The Tube

In the 1980s one serious music programme came on the scene and soon became the programme every artiste wanted to be on. The Tube aired on Channel 4 with Jools Holland and Paula Yates as the principal anchors with various contributions from the likes of Muriel Gray and Leslie Ash.

It ran from 1982 until 1987 when the programme was stopped possibly at the peak of it's power. The show was a great avenue for more of the contemporary artistes and was responsible for many first. We first saw Madonna in the UK on the Tube, we also saw bands like The Proclaimers and Frankie goes to Hollywood gain more fame and record deals after appearing on the show.

The two main characters of the Show were Jools Holland and Paula Yates. Holland was a member of the group Squeeze before he left the band in 1981 to pursue a solo career and then he branched into presenting when he landed the role in The Tube. He was a huge success on the show but was suspended for 6 weeks when he did the cardinal sin of swearing live on TV. Following his suspension he was allowed back for his slip of the tongue. Yates was a broadcaster and writer and was at the time of the show was married to Boomtown Rats lead singer Bob Geldof. Paula was more famed for her relaxed style of interviewing which put many acts at ease.

The show did launch many new acts but also gained exclusives such as interviews from U2, Ringo Starr and ZZ top amongst others and was really the show to be on particularly in the rock and pop genre. The shows popularity was based on the live performances and The Jam performed live on the first show but was equally to be there last as the band split.

The programme started with a blend of interviews, fashion and comedy and saw the appearances of many household names such as Vic Reeves and Frank Sidebottom. It would end with live performances from several bands and this proved to be a great success.

The show ending came with Jools Holland swearing incident and with it's early start in the evening this caused a flood of complaints, on the back of this and viewing figures declining the programme never got a new series and thus the programme ended.

The programme did make some one off specials and the brand name has been used on Radio and the Internet but never quite the same as it original format. The programme was ground breaking for it's production of live music but ultimately time moves on.