The first week of filming for the Magical Mystery Tour television special saw a number of scenes being filmed between Newquay and London.
The coach party had stayed for three nights at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay. Following breakfast on this morning, a brief scene was filmed in front of the coach and hotel in which the entire party cheered and waved to the cameras.
The coach then left for London, stopping for several scenes en route. The first of these was unused in the final edit, but involved people crowding into a tiny chip shop, Smedley’s at 108 Roman Road in Taunton, Somerset. The Beatles were filmed firstly from behind the counter ordering food, and then in the main part of the shop eating their lunch.
The shop’s proprietors, James and Amy Smedley, were said to be the grandparents of “little” Nicola Yale (or Hale, as she was known in the film). Mrs Smedley’s niece was employed to recruit extras for Magical Mystery Tour, hence the connection.
More filming took place in a country pub, a hall, a hostel and on board the coach. During the latter, accordionist Shirley Evans led the coach party with a number of singalong songs including ‘Toot Toot Tootsie’, ‘When Irish Eyes Are Smiling’, ‘When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along’ and ‘The Can Can’.
The coach dropped John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr off in Virginia Water, Surrey. Paul McCartney remained on board until its final destination, Allsop Place in London.
A second week of filming for Magical Mystery Tour began on Monday 18 September 1967.
Update
The stop at Smedley’s fish and chip shop in Taunton, was not the first stop, of the return trip. It was filmed on Slate 50, various takes were taken but of different scenes.
Slate 47 was filmed at Moorlands Garage & Café and after extensive research, of OS maps and local authority records I have established that this was filmed at Cheriton Cross, Devon, numerous photographs have also been published. I have yet to identify some early slates, so can not guarantee that this was the first stop, but it was definitely before ‘lunch’ at Smedley’s.
Slate 53 was filmed at The Swan Inn, Wylye, Wiltshire, and the final slate, 56, and takes of the day are of the sing-a-long you report.