[Keith]

I didn't watch the 2022 programme as it was on far too late, but having had a scan through it on iPlayer this morning, it feels like a cynical attempt to keep the TOTP name alive by attaching it to a programme that otherwise bears no resemblance at all to any TOTP we ever seen before.

Arguably doing as per the original weekly show. Moving it from BBC One to Two with tweaks to the format, so they can initially claim they're not axing it and minimise the negative publicity. Then by being on BBC Two fewer people watch it and ratings decline further. BBC can then finally axe it with less negative headlines, as more of the public will say 'they stopped watching it years ago'.

I've no idea how far in advance this year's TOTP was commissioned. Watching the first few minutes it feels like someone wanted to axe TOTP completely, but cold feet and this was the result. I wouldn't be surprised if this programme was already planned as being "Radio 1's review of 2022", before someone decided to rebrand it as TOTP to disguise the loss of the normal Christmas show. The change of channel, broadcast slot and currently being hard to find on iPlayer makes me suspect their hoping it rates low enough to get away with axing it completely next year.

It'll be interesting to see if this year's programme returns next year under a Radio 1 or BBC Sounds programme title name though.