The Beatles on Thank Your Lucky Stars

The Beatles on Thank Your Lucky Stars: Never plugged in.

Thank Your Lucky Stars was a British television pop music show made by ABC Television, and broadcast on ITV from 1961 to 1966. Many of the top bands performed on it, and for millions of British teenagers it was essential viewing. As well as featuring British artists, it often included American guest stars. The Beatles appeared on Thank Your Lucky Stars eight times between January 1963 and March 1965, eleven if you count "Summer Spin", a kind of summer edition of Thank Your Lucky Stars. One of the show's hosts was Brian Matthew, who also hosted many radio shows with the Beatles on BBC.

November 1964: Rehearsal with casual clothes

Below: The Beatles topped the bill on their appearance on ABC Television's Thank Your Lucky Stars, recorded at the Alpha Television Studios in Birmingham, England.
The show was recorded on the afternoon of Sunday 20 October 1963, and was broadcast the following Saturday from 5.50-6.35pm. The Beatles mimed to three songs: All My Loving, Money (That's What I Want) and She Loves You.

18. August 1963: The Beatles drove to the Alpha (ATV) Studios in Birmingham for an appearance on Summer Spin, the summer version of Thank Your Lucky Stars.

Two of the EMI recordings had not been heard before; the show's producer Philip Jones had been given advance acetate discs of them, and successfully persuaded Brian Epstein to have them premièred on Thank Your Lucky Stars before the release of With The Beatles.
While The Beatles were inside the studios, 3,000 fans blocked the streets outside and attempted to storm the building.

October 1963 in colour

Saturday 14 November 1964: The Beatles rehearsed and recorded their contribution to the television show Thank Your Lucky Stars at Teddington Studios on this day. It was screened on ITV the following Saturday, 21 November 1964, from 5.50pm.
The group mimed to four songs: I Feel Fine, She's A Woman, I'm A Loser and Rock And Roll Music. There was no studio audience present.
Despite their numerous previous appearances on the show, by November 1964 The Beatles were so famous that it was a coup for the producers to have them even mime for an edition. In recognition of this, the show was renamed Lucky Stars Special.

The Beatles' appearances on Thank Your Lucky Stars 

The dates refer to the taping and not the broadcast dates.

13 January 1963 Please Please Me
17 February 1963 Please Please Me
14 April 1963 From Me To You
12 May 1963 From Me To You and I Saw Her Standing There.
23. June 1963 "Summer Spin" Liverpool Special. From Me To You and I Saw Her Standing There.
18 August 1963 "Summer Spin" She Loves You and I'll Get You.
20 October 1963 All My Loving, Money (That's What I Want) and She Loves You.
15 December 1963 "Lucky Stars On Merseyside" I Want To Hold Your Hand, All My Loving, Twist And Shout and She Loves You.
11 July 1964 "Summer Spin" A Hard Day's Night, Long Tall Sally, Things We Said Today and You Can't Do That.
14 November 1964 I Feel Fine, She's A Woman, I'm A Loser and Rock And Roll Music.
28 March 1965 Eight Days A Week, Yes It Is and Ticket To Ride.

June 1963: Lucky Stars (Summer Spin)

The final regular episode of the programme, 'Goodbye Lucky Stars', was presented by Jim Dale and broadcast on Saturday 25th June 1966. The Beatles appeared, courtesy of two promo clips: Paperback Writer and Rain.

Thank Your Lucky Stars Complete Episode Guide 1961-1966

July 1964: Lucky Stars (Summer Spin)