The Beatles made their debut on television on this day, with an appearance in Manchester on the local programme People And Places.
The show was made by Granada Television, and was broadcast only in the north and north-west of England. It was filmed in Studio Four of Granada TV Centre on Quay Street in Manchester.
The Beatles rehearsed before cameras from 3-4pm, and again from 4.15-6pm. The show was broadcast live from 6.35-7pm, and the group sang two songs: ‘Some Other Guy’ and their new single ‘Love Me Do’.
Last updated: 28 October 2012
Also on this day...
- 2017: Paul McCartney live: Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte
- 2015: Ringo Starr live: Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- 2015: Paul McCartney live: Air Canada Centre, Toronto
- 2014: Ringo Starr live: Hard Rock Live, Biloxi, Mississippi
- 1993: Paul McCartney live: Flanders Expo, Ghent
- 1989: Paul McCartney live: Westfalenhalle, Dortmund
- 1967: Memorial service for Brian Epstein
- 1963: Recording: The Beatles’ Christmas Record, You Really Got A Hold On Me, I Want To Hold Your Hand, This Boy
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1961: The Beatles live: David Lewis Club, Liverpool
- 1960: The Beatles live: Kaiserkeller, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
I’d always been led to believe it was Irish broadcaster, Gay Byrne who introduced The Beatles first on TV (Granada’s ‘People & Places’, 17th Oct ’62); though other sources say it was Bill Grundy. Anyone know who it was – and, more importantly, does any footage exist?
“People and Places” was jointly fronted by Gay Byrne and Bill Grundy. I’m pretty sure I saw this broadcast, because we always watched “People and Places” and I had definitely heard of The Beatles by the end of 1962. However, I was only 6 years old at the time, so my memories are a little bit hazy.
Hi ErnieG, it was definitely Gay Byrne who interviewed The Beatles. I have seen the interview many times on RTE (the Irish National TV Station). Brian (Dublin)
it was most definitely Gay Byrne and not Bill Grundy
I watched this as a young teenager
What is never talked about is this–i always watched the show , they always had a pop singer on-i watched it for years–they ALWAYS lip synch to the current record–why did the Beatles play live?
Which they certainly did–for this first show Lennon played harmonica when later on on other live radio broadcasts they used only guitars.
Also at that time i had never seen acoustic guitars with pick ups-both Lennon and Harrison used them
I also saw the performance a few weeks later–they were also playing live–i remember Gay Byrne saying after Lennon finished Twist And Shout “the Beatles can also play loud songs ”
I suppose the sound live was very loud in the studios
For years before and years after these performances no other artist ever played live on People and Places
Howard Duncalf–Devon, uk
It was definitely Bill Grundy who introduced them, I watched it at the time on Granada TV. They wore black polo neck sweaters. Irishman Gay Byrne did the interview.
Bill Grundy
According to the NME (30/11/1962) they were to be guests on Granada’s People & Places on 17 December, the day before they set off for Hamburg. As this was printed after 17 October, is that possibly the right date?
I was 13, I remember watching the Beatles on People and Places.
The passing of Gaye Byrne today reminded me of that special time, resulting in searching “People and Places” on the internet.
Such exciting times. On the school bus the next morning…
“Did you see that group last night on telly?”
I knew then the Beatles were different, something special.
There are a couple of articles on the internet claiming that Gay Byrne was asked by Paul McCartney (during the soundcheck) to be their agent. Though they already had a contract with Brian Epstein at the time.