The BBC has announced a raft of programming to mark the release of The Beatles’ final song, Now and Then.
On November 1st, there will an extended episode of The One Show, featuring 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne. Laverne will introduce and comment on an exclusive UK TV broadcast of Now And Then – The Last Beatles Song – a short film, written and directed by Oliver Murray, which tells the story behind the track
There will also be Eras: The Beatles, presented by Martin Freeman and recorded in Liverpool. The 6 x 30 minute podcast from BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds is described as “the definitive look at how the most famous band on earth shaped music today.”
It features extensive archive from the band themselves, including a newly rediscovered interview with George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – unheard for almost 60 years – as well as a new interview with Paul McCartney on the making of ‘Now And Then’
The recording was unearthed by BBC archivist Elliot Gibson at the BBC Archive Centre in Perivale, the interview was originally recorded on 5 February 1964 for the BBC programme Radio Newsreel (1940-1988). The interview captures George, Paul and Ringo at London (now Heathrow) Airport on their return to England after performances in France, and just before they set off for their first visit to the USA.
“I found this interview which was originally on a physical reel of tape which contained news clips whilst undertaking a project to digitise 30,000 quarter inch reels from the BBC archive,” he explained.
“There’s often something surprising to be found in old archive material when you scratch the surface, but I never expected to find something of this quality – a complete Beatles interview by reporter Reg Abbiss. Initially I assumed it was a copy of an interview that was widely known, so when I checked and discovered it was unique and hadn’t been heard since its broadcast – almost 60 years ago – I was amazed. It’s extremely rare to unearth material this valuable in the archive. What makes it truly great is that it shows The Beatles on top form – playful and quick-witted – and captures them just before their first visit to America which would turn out to be a pivotal moment in their career. Who knows what I will find next!”
BBC Two and BBC iPlayer will broadcast a night of programming celebrating The Beatles on Saturday 4 November, this series of new and archive programmes will include The Beatles & The BBC, a new compilation featuring performances and appearances from the band and its individual members on programmes such as Doctor Who (1965), A Degree of Frost (1964) and Our World (1967).
“The BBC’s relationship with The Beatles spans seven decades, with appearances from members of the band woven throughout our extensive archive,” explained Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music.
“This relationship with their music continues today and so to be the first UK broadcaster to show the special film will be a real treat for fans old and new. We’ll be celebrating the band’s continued influence across BBC iPlayer, Sounds, radio and TV.”
