Television: 24 Hours: The World Of John And Yoko – day one

The British Broadcasting Corporation filmed John Lennon and Yoko Ono over a five-day period for a television documentary titled 24 Hours: The World Of John And Yoko, first broadcast in the UK on 15 December 1969.

The documentary was filmed at Tittenhurst Park, the Lennons’ estate in Ascot, Berkshire. Extensive access was granted in exchange for the BBC surrendering the rights to the footage.

On this first day Lennon and Ono were also taking part in Man Of The Decade, a documentary for rival broadcaster ATV and, unusually, the BBC crew filmed the other programme being made.

Desmond Morris, who chose Lennon for the ATV documentary, was filmed walking with Lennon and Ono around the estate and asking a question. They were also filmed talking off the record in the mansion’s kitchen about politicians.

Filming for 24 Hours continued daily until 6 December 1969. The 35-minute documentary was first shown from 10.30pm on BBC 1 on 15 December, and extracts were also used in the 1988 documentary Imagine: John Lennon.