Smash Hits started to run it's Annual Poll Winners Poll in 1980.  It involved asking their readers to complete a form that was printed in the magazine.  The Form detailed, among other things The Best Dressed Person and Favorite Single from the year and the readers would send them in to the Smash Hits Offices.

 

The completed forms would then be compiled into a list of the winners and runner up's and Smash Hits would then print them in the Magazine.  For the first couple of years the results were printed in either February or March of the next year.  However in 1982 the results were printed in the December of the same year.  

 

In 1988 the Poll changed from just being published in the Magazine to being a TV Event and was renamed the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party.  The Awards Ceremony ran from 1988 to 2005 and was still voted for by the readers of the magazine.  The Smash Hits Poll Winners Party ended with the closure of the magazine in 2006.

 

The event was initially produced by concert promoter, Harvey Goldsmith and Janet Street-Porter. Steps manager Tim Byrne, also worked on the show.

 

The awards ceremony was shown on BBC 1 from 1988 to 2000 then later on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2005. During 2004 and 2005 it was renamed to T4 Smash Hits Poll Winners Party. Past presenters have included Phillip Schofield, Simon Mayo, Andi Peters, Toby Anstis, Lily Savage, Ant and Dec, Will Smith, Melanie Sykes, June Sarpong and Vernon Kay.

 

The award itself was seen as a gimmicky object by many outside the magazines readership, including winners such as rock bands (who only were eligible to win "Best Rock"). It was an over sized fake gold disc bearing the magazine's logo, turned slightly by 45 degrees to the left placed in a black stand.

 

By selecting the appropriate year you can then find out the Winners (and Runners Up) of that year and relive the experience.