Beginning as a radio series in 1950, Top Town was an inter-town competition, although unlike It’s A Knockout (with which it is often compared) the competition here was not physical, but essentially a talent contest with the town with the best variety acts winning their heat.
The series ran for two years on the radio and, in 1954, transferred to television, where it was broadcast live on the BBC and ran until 1960.
The debut TV broadcast featured Harrogate competing against Hull.
The show was presented at various times by Neal Arden, Peter Haigh, Peter West and David Jacobs, and all the artists were amateurs.
Each team was allowed 12 minutes to present its act, with each team given half the programme to convince the judges that it was worthy of progressing to the next round.
The panel of independent judges who, at the end of the programme, decided which team provided the better entertainment, comprised ‘professionals’, viewers’ representatives, and guest judges.
Each episode would conclude with the judges passing their verdict.
Presenter
Neal Arden (1954 – 1955)
Peter Haigh (1955)
Peter West (1956)
David Jacobs (1959 – 1960)
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The debut TV broadcast featured Harrogate competing against Hull.
