New TOTP: The Story of 2003 documentary featuring Busted, Girls Aloud and The Libertines stars is streaming now.
TOTP: The Story of 2003 is now officially available to stream on BBC iPlayer, ahead of its broadcast this Saturday night on BBC Two.
TOTP: The Story of 2003 is now officially available to stream on BBC iPlayer, giving pop culture lovers an immediate dose of early-2000s nostalgia ahead of its television premiere.
iPlayer Availability: Stream TOTP: The Story of 2003 right now on BBC iPlayer.
TV Broadcast: Airs Saturday at 9:30pm on BBC Two.
Prequel Special: Top of the Pops: Big Hits 2003 airs Saturday at 8:30pm on BBC Two and iPlayer (not available on-demand until after broadcast).
Star Contributors: Features new interviews with Busted (Matt Willis & Charlie Simpson), Girls Aloud (Kimberley Walsh), The Darkness (Justin Hawkins), The Libertines (Carl Barât & Peter Doherty), Mis-Teeq (Sabrina Washington), Panjabi MC, and Electric Six (Dick Valentine).
Relive 2003’s Genre-Bending Pop Revolution on BBC iPlayer
Music fans can now step back into a year defined by wall-to-wall bangers, genre mashups, and chart upheaval. TOTP: The Story of 2003 chronicles an era where pop rules were thrown out the window—from Busted’s pop-punk breakthrough and Panjabi MC’s global bhangra hit “Mundian To Bach Ke” (remixed by Jay-Z) to the rise of stadium rockers The Darkness and post-punk poets The Libertines.
The documentary explores how 2003 reshaped UK pop culture. Beyoncé dominated the summer with her debut solo single, reality TV powerhouses from Popstars and Fame Academy battled for chart dominance (with Girls Aloud taking the crown), and Electric Six brought high-octane disco rock to the studio.
It was also a pivotal year behind the scenes for Top of the Pops. As executive producer Chris Cowey stepped down after six years, Andi Peters took the reins, overhauling the series with a fresh theme, new graphics, a new presenter in Tim Kash, and an expanded spin-off show on BBC Three. The documentary culminates in the dramatic race for Christmas Number One, where Gary Jules and Michael Andrews’ melancholic cover of “Mad World” famously pipped The Darkness’s “Don’t Let the Bells End” to the top spot.
Don’t Miss the ‘Big Hits 2003’ Special
Before diving into the main documentary on Saturday night, viewers can tune into “Top of the Pops: Big Hits 2003” at 8:30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Note: Unlike the main documentary, this one-hour special will NOT be available on-demand on iPlayer until immediately after its linear broadcast.
The compilation special showcases an iconic roster of artists who graced the Top of the Pops stage in 2003, including:
Pop & R&B Royalty: Beyoncé, Sugababes, Madonna, Jamelia, Rachel Stevens, Mis-Teeq, and Black Eyed Peas.
Rock & Alternative Icons: Coldplay, The Darkness, Electric Six, OutKast, and Busted.
Unforgettable Moments: The Flaming Lips featuring a bassist in a dolphin suit, t.A.T.u.’s controversial performance, Panjabi MC’s explosive set, and The Libertines’ only full-lineup TOTP appearance.
Chart Phenomena: Girls Aloud proving their longevity, and Gary Jules & Michael Andrews delivering their haunting holiday hit.
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