RIP TOTP :(

A television institution is coming to an end after more than 40 years tonight. The final Top Of The Pops is to be broadcast this evening following a steady decline in viewing figures. Sir Jimmy Savile, who presented the very first programme back in 1964, has returned to host the final show alongside 1970s Dance troupe Pan's People, who used to interpret songs if performers could not make it.

Dave Lee Travis, Tony Blackburn, Janice Long, Mike Read, Pat Sharp, Reggie Yates, Edith Bowman, Sarah Cawood and Rufus Hound - some of the 150 stars who have presented the show are all fronting the final goodbye.

Sir Jimmy signs off one last time on the final - recorded - show, saying: "Don't forget it's number one, it's still Top Of The Pops."

Despite the claim, a poll of TV viewers has found that TOTP has been usurped as the nation's favourite music show.

Later With Jools Holland, which launched in 1992, was voted the surprise favourite.

Another BBC show, The Old Grey Whistle Test, presented by the likes of Andy Kershaw, Bob Harris and Annie Nightingale after it began life in 1971, came third.

It is followed by ITV1's CD:UK and Channel 4's cult alternative rock show from the 1980s, The Tube, which was fronted by Jools Holland and Paula Yates.

Yahoo! Music editor Gareth Bellamy said: "We're really surprised by the outcome of this poll. We were sure that TOTP would be seen as the favourite music programme of all time despite its recent axing. However, our poll has shown that live sets seem to outshine having the latest acts or the best presenters."