Following the previous night’s concert at the Cavern Club, The Beatles drove down to London for a brief appearance on the BBC radio show Parade Of The Pops.
The group had a rehearsal at 11.15am, and the show was broadcast live on the BBC Light Programme service from 12.31-1.30pm. The Beatles performed two songs, ‘Love Me Do’ and ‘Please Please Me’, and the show was presented by Denny Piercy.
This was their first live radio performance. Afterwards, The Beatles travelled 160 miles to Doncaster, Yorkshire, where they performed an evening concert.
Page last updated: 2 June 2020
Parlophone released an LP of a ‘typical’ Parade of the Pops show in March 1961, 2 years before the Beatles performance. Denny Piercy was still the host and it was released on cat no PMC 1134. It featured 20 tracks including two by new star Matt Monro. Recorded live with a small studio audience it is a great example of radio shows of the time.