Take That

Journalist and Editor Samantha Bartlett happened to stumble upon an iconic 1999 episode of Top of the Pops recently, and one thing left her floored after watching it

The weekly broadcast of Top of the Pops (TOTP) officially ended on 30 July 2006. The iconic British music show concluded its 42-year run with a special final edition, titled “The Final Countdown,” which featured a mix of archival performances and a final chart rundown.

However, despite not being around for a decade, repeats of the show are still shown on BBC Four on Friday nights. I was one of the people tuning in last Friday and happened to stumble upon an iconic 1999 episode of Top of the Pops presented by Gail Porter. Being a 90s baby, I love a bit of cheesy pop, but as they went through the chart countdown I was struck by how many absolute tunes and iconic bands were in there.

At number 12 was Backstreet Boys with ‘I Want It That Way’, followed by the very silly but iconic ‘Doodah!’ From Cartoons at 11.

Number 10 was The Chemical Brothers’ ‘Hey Boy, Hey Girl’, while number 9 was also boyband favourite – N-Sync’s ‘Tearin’ Up My Heart’.

At number 8 was Shanks + Bigfoot ‘Sweet Like Chocolate’, while at 7 was Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)’.

Number 6 was another iconic tune, with Shania Twain’s ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’, while the fifth position was taken by Adam Rickitt’s ‘I Breathe Again’.

Madonna’s ‘Beautiful Stranger’ was then at number 4, while Britney Spears took the third spot with ‘Sometimes’.

Just missing out on the top spot at number 2 was S Club 7s ‘Bring It All Back’, meanwhile at number 1 was one other than Vengaboys ‘Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!’, that no doubt all you fellow 90s babies jumped around to in your bedroom.

I actually couldn’t believe how many iconic acts and tunes were just in those 12 slots. I mean, I know some of them are cheesy, however, many of those songs were massive UK hits where literally everyone, including your gran, would know all the words.

I was so struck by the clip I decided to share it to my TikTok,

I just find it quite sad that shows like Top Of The Pops were huge back then and listening to the chart with part of your weekly routine.

I remember I used to go round my nan’s with my dad and sister on a Sunday so me and my sister would always run out to the car and listen to the radio to find out what was number one. Now I don’t think anyone really cares apart from maybe the artist themselves and their record label.

It just feels like a lot of fun has gone out of today’s music and charts and there doesn’t seem many good pop bands around for kids, apart from all the K-Pop stuff that is big at the moment.

The only pop bands that seem to do well these days are those 90s ones that come back for a revival, such as Blue or Take That.

I’m not sure if it’s all to do with money and that labels just aren’t putting the money behind bands and acts anymore or what but I certainly miss the glory days and am glad I have all the memories from my favourite 90s acts.

TAKE That’s Howard Donald has revealed he is selling off his beloved campervan home for a FIVE figure sum, and said that ‘it saddened” him to part with it.

The singer, 57, owns an impressive car collection, but now is selling off his VW camper – but asked fans: “What am I doing?”

The minted star, who has made his millions from touring and making records with Take That, is now giving fans the opportunity to snap up the luxury motor.

For £50K, Howard‘s loyal followers can buy the campervan from him.

The star shared the news on Instagram with a slew of pics of the cosy looking vehicle.

In one snap, Howard is seen standing next to the campervan, as he got ready to say goodbye to it.

GARY’S BATTLE

I ate until no one recognised me – I wanted to kill the pop star, says Barlow

THAT’S MAGIC

Take That announce 11-date The Circus tour & promise ‘big, bold’ shows

He captioned the pictures with: “FOR SALE!!! VW rare double door 4 berth camper van.

“It saddens me to sell this but I never used it!

“I even look at it now and think what am I doing?!”

Howard’s post got some cheeky comments from his fans, with one writing: “Can you be the driver please?!”

Another said: “Does the model come with the car???”

A third quipped: “I think a few of us Take That fans should put in some cash together and buy it and use it at the venues on tour to queue up!”

This saucy fan added: “Does it come complete with you tied up in the back of it?! If so I’ll sell my house and buy it instantly!”

Howard is well known for his impressive car collection, with his VW camper being just one of the multi-millionaire’s impressive motors.

Among the collection, the singer owns a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, which he uses to drive his family, a 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet, and a 1959 Chevrolet Brookwood.

Howard previously revealed he believes he has around 17 supercars – but that he finds it hard to store them all.

The star told the Fuelling Around podcast in 2023: “It’s come to a point where you’re trying to put them in other people’s garages and you’re thinking, “No, it’s too ridiculous’.”

At the time he said that he was planning to sell some of his cars to pay for his children’s education.

“One day, it’ll come to the crunch where Take That probably will stop eventually, and then you think, ‘I’m going to have to sell one of my cars’,” the star said.

He joked: “I really hate my kids for that, though.”

Howard shot to fame in the early 90s as one of the five original members of Take That.

The Lancashire lad completed the line-up consisting of Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Robbie Williams and Jason Orange.

The band went onto to have huge success with songs like Back For Good, Relight My Fire and Never Forget.

Robbie left the band in 1995, and the rest of the group parted ways the following year.

However, they got back together in the early noughties as a foursome, with Jason parting ways with the group in 2014.

But Howard, Gary and Mark continue to fly the Take That flag and are heading out on tour this summer.

Since January 2015, Howard has been married to illustrator Katie Halil, and they share two kids.

He also has two daughters from two separate relationships.