Live: The Beatles’ Christmas Show

This was the second night of performances at the Astoria Theatre, Finsbury Park, London, for The Beatles’ 1963 Christmas season specials. The Beatles flew from Liverpool to London during the day, following their Christmas Day break.

The first act on stage was the Barron Knights and Duke D’Mond. Next came short sets from Tommy Quickly and The Fourmost, and Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas closed the first half. Following the interval there was a return from the Barron Knights and Duke D’Mond, then Cilla Black, and Rolf Harris. The Beatles were the final act of each show, with a performance lasting just 25 minutes.

The Beatles performed nine songs: ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, ‘All My Loving’, ‘This Boy’, ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’, ‘She Loves You’, ‘Till There Was You’, ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’, ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’ and ‘Twist And Shout’.

Also on this day, The Beatles Say From Us To You, a two-hour radio special, was broadcast at 10am by the BBC on the BBC Light Programme.

The two-hour show was introduced by Rolf Harris, and also featured Susan Maughan, Jeanie Lambe, Kenny Lynch, Joe Brown and the Bruvvers, Alan Elsdon’s Jazzband with Mick Emery, and The Kenny Salmon Seven.