True North, the biggest factual indie in the north of England has been commissioned by BBC Music and BBC Four to produce The 80’s Pop Road Map (working title) to air later in the spring. This 3×60” series, commissioned for BBC Four by Owen Courtney and Executive produced for True North by Paul Murray, sees Ultravox front man Midge Ure and Kim Appleby (of pop due Mel & Kim) take to the road to reveal just how the 80’s was the most revolutionary musical decade in British pop history.

The series will circumnavigate the country to cover a decade of extraordinary change, and see how different sounds emerged from distinct parts of the nation. Along the way Midge and Kim will meet the musicians who enjoyed unprecedented critical and commercial success all over the world. Covering everything from the aftermath of punk to Live Aid, the rise of Indie labels, music videos and the birth of British dance music, the series aims to document the rise and rise of British and Irish artists on both sides of the Atlantic and the lasting impact they’ve had on music and popular culture.

Midge Ure says: “The 80’s was a period of huge creativity, great songwriting and massive musical diversity, so to understand why this small country generated so many different musical styles I am embarking on a road trip with the lovely Kim Appleby to catch up with the people who shaped that decade. The people who conceived the looks, styles and sounds that took on the world. The artists themselves.”

True North Co-Founder and Creative Director, Andrew Sheldon said: ‘The question we’ll be looking to answer in the series is how cities like Sheffield, Coventry and Manchester evolved music scenes that were so brilliant, and yet so different across the same few years. There are lots of theories, but we’ll be hearing from those who were actually there’.

Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor, BBC Four, says: “In a world of infinite music choice, BBC Four is the home of music on the BBC.  Midge Ure and Kim Appleby’s journey round the UK will give a fresh and innovative look at the music from the seminal decade that was the 80s.”

True North Press contacts:

Faber & Bishopp PR

Steph Faber or Tamara Bishopp

steph@faberbishopp.co.uk or tamara@faberbishopp.co.uk

About True North

True North is one of the fastest growing television and media producers in the UK – creating smart contemporary shows and devising entertaining factual formats. In the past twelve months, we have made and transmitted more than 150 hours of content, with our high-profile productions airing on BBC One, Channel 4, Channel 5, MTV, National Geographic, CBBC, UKTV and Crime and Investigation Network. We’re proud of our ability to make first-class content that’s watched in almost every territory in the world.

True North has its own post-production house with outstanding facilities and resources. From our base in the North of England, we create sought-after content for global audiences.

We are proud of our integrity and our commitment to the very highest production values. As one of the 2018 Broadcast Best Places to Work, our exceptionally friendly and supportive atmosphere means that we’re the company of choice for many of the UK’s most talented content creators.

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