Richard Desmond, who bought Channel 5 back in July 2010, is said to be offering the BBC a substantial fee for rights to its music magazine style show, Top of the Pops. 

Despite Desmond's plight the BBC is reluctant to part ways with the popular title and Paul Dempsey, who oversees Top Of The Pops, said:

"It's a brand that is very precious to the BBC and they have got no intention of it being in anyone else's hands."

The programme, which is a product of the BBC, is often shown in the form of reruns or special editions over Christmas and significant holidays, but Channel 5 screened the 1985 festive episode on Boxing Day (December 26) this year. 

British newspaper The Independent wrote in an article that:

"If Desmond cannot buy the Top of the Pops brand he will acquire classic episodes from its archive."

Watch a video of this year's Christmas 'Top of the Pops' here: