'Lost' Beatles show found

The Beatles were stars by the end of 1963

A recording of The Beatles appearing on BBC TV show Juke Box Jury in 1963 has been unearthed.

A viewer of the show recorded the programme - on which the band gave their opinions on the music of the day - on reel-to-reel tape.

The tape was handed over to the BBC, who did not have a copy in its archives, after the corporation put out a public appeal.

It's right good that one, it's the bestest gear

John Lennon on a song by The Chance

Screaming fans can often be heard drowning out the band members, and it is hoped that the tape can be matched up with a silent film of the programme, which is also thought to exist.

On the show, The Beatles had to say whether they thought new singles by artists including Elvis Presley, the Swinging Blue Jeans and The Chance would be chart hits.

Of Elvis's Kiss Me Quick, Paul McCartney said: "I love his voice and I love all the records like Blue Suede Shoes, but I don't like the songs now.

"Kiss Me Quick - it sounds like Blackpool on a sunny day."

George Harrison added: "Elvis is great but the songs are not for me."

Juke Box Jury: Many shows were not recorded

But the band decided the song would be a hit - and it went on to reach number 14 in the chart.

They also correctly predicted that Hippy Hippy Shake by the Swinging Blue Jeans would do well.

"I think it could possibly be a hit - I know for a fact it's a popular song round here, we used to do it ourselves," Harrison said.

John Lennon said it would be "a small hit at least".

Hits

Lennon was more positive about I Could Write A Book by The Chance - but the song failed to chart.

"It's right good that one, it's the bestest gear, that's the sound boys," he said.

The show, which took place in Liverpool's Empire Theatre, was hosted by Nicholas Parsons and was broadcast on 7 December 1963 - two days after the band scored their third UK number one with I Want to Hold Your Hand.

The half-hour show was one of many not recorded by the BBC at the time.

Rediscovered

The recording is not of broadcast quality, a BBC spokeswoman said. "But it's marvellous to have it."

Only two recordings of the show from the early 1960s were thought to exist.

Earlier this year, an appeal went out to viewers who had any such rare recordings.

Other previously lost shows to be rediscovered through the appeal include episodes of comedies Dad's Army and The Likely Lads.