The demise of Top of the Pops is sad for many and varied reasons but the fact that the Fat White Family aren’t able to invade the nation’s living rooms on a unsuspecting Thursday night is surely one of the most unfortunate.

The sight of this hairy, lairy bunch of South London-based freaks performing their biggest hit, Touch The Leather – the sleaziest love song since Venus put on her furs – could well have given the BBC’s postman an aneurism from lugging all the letters of complaint.

The Fat White Family have gained a reputation for drug-fuelled lunacy but at Concorde 2 everyone was on their best behaviour, assaulting a willing audience with a sound that veered from droning, sludgy prog to Rage Against The Machine-style rock-outs via some surprisingly poppy harmonies.

Their ramshackle appearance was deceptive – like all the greatest comedy films, coming across as crude and unpolished successfully requires hard work, skill and discipline.

The highlight of an all-too-short gig was the aforementioned Leather, although quality dripped from the rest of the set like the sweat from bare-chested lead singer Lias Saudi, demonstrating that the band have the musical chops to annoy the mainstream for years to come.

Top Of The Pops may not be coming back, but this family are only just beginning.