September 6, 2005 8:11

Top Of The Pops executive producer announces his departure

Andi Peters is set to return to presenting…

’TOP OF THE POPS’ executive producer ANDI PETERS has announced that he is leaving the music show following its move to a Sunday slot on BBC TWO.

He is set to return to presenting and host BBC One’s City Hospital.

Peters said: "After seven years of making telly, it's great to get to return to the box and even more exciting to be joining a live show, City Hospital.”

However, a spokeswoman denied that he was leaving ’TOTP’ because of its move to BBC Two and declining ratings, saying that he simply wanted to be back in front of the camera.

’Top Of The Pops’ currently attracts an audience of about 1.1 million a week. Peters took charge of the programme two years ago and introduced a new look, logo and presenters.

Despite the change, its ratings stuck at around the three million mark. In the mid-1990’s, the show was attracting more than double this amount of viewers.

’Top Of The Pops’ had spent more than 40 years on BBC One until in was moved to its Sunday slot on BBC Two in July.

According to BBC News, the spokeswoman revealed that Peters had been considering a move back to presenting “for some time” but wanted to oversee the ’Top Of The Pops’ transfer first.

She said: “The show is performing solidly each week in its BBC Two slot so this isn't the end of the show or time for another re-launch. BBC Two is committed to evolving the ’TOTP’ brand to broaden the appeal to older and younger viewers - it's an important part of its music portfolio.”

”It really is just the case that Andi fancies returning to screen having spent most of his recent years behind the scenes,” she added.

Head of BBC Entertainment Wayne Garvie praised Peters, describing him as a "brilliant creative leader" of Top of the Pops.

He added: “The programme and all of us will miss him, but he's a born presenter and it's in his blood.”