Radio: Pop Go The Beatles

The initial run of The Beatles’ BBC radio show Pop Go The Beatles was intended to have four editions. The last of these was recorded on this day, though more were to follow once the BBC realised they had a hit show.

The session took place at the BBC’s Maida Vale studios. The Beatles arrived at 10.30am, and rehearsed and recorded six songs: ‘I Saw Her Standing There’, ‘Anna (Go To Him)’, ‘Boys’, ‘Chains’, ‘PS I Love You’ and ‘Twist And Shout’.

The recording of ‘PS I Love You’ is the only known surviving BBC version, although they are known to have performed it on two 1962 sessions as well. The version of ‘Boys’, meanwhile, was released on the ‘Baby It’s You’ EP in 1995.

This half-hour fourth edition of Pop Go The Beatles was first broadcast on Tuesday 25 June 1963 from 5pm. The guests were The Batchelors.

Afterwards the group ate in the BBC staff restaurant, accompanied by photographer Dezo Hoffman, who had taken a number of pictures during the session. They all then went outside the studio to Delaware Road for a separate photo session, before The Beatles returned to Liverpool.