It’s turning out to be quite the moment for the Beatles on screen. Not only are four films on the way from Sam Mendes, with each one centred on a different member of the band, but we have just got an update on the TV drama series Hamburg Days, about the band’s formative years.
The six-part series, which has now begun filming in Hamburg, Munich and Liverpool, will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and has been inspired by German artist Klaus Voormann’s autobiography.
The synopsis for the series reads: “Hamburg Days is set in the 1960s, in the smoke-filled clubs of Hamburg’s St Pauli red-light district, where an inexperienced young rock ‘n’ roll band from Liverpool collide with two young artists, Klaus Voormann and Astrid Kirchherr.
“Together they help spark a transformation that turns a scrappy group of teenagers into the greatest music phenomenon the world has ever known: the Beatles.”
After the BBC acquired the show last year, two first-look images have been unveiled, as the cast has also been confirmed.
Rhys Mannion (Freud’s Last Session) will play John Lennon, while Ellis Murphy will play Paul McCartney and Harvey Brett will play George Harrison.
Also taking on crucial roles will be Louis Landau (Rivals) as the band’s original bass guitarist, Stu Sutcliffe and Patrick Gilmore as original drummer Pete Best.
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Meanwhile, Luna Jordan (Wild Republic) will play Astrid Kirchherr, Casper von Bülow (Druck) will play Klaus Voormann and Laura Tonke (22 Lengths) will play Nielsa Kirchherr.
The series has been developed by Benjamin Benedict (Generation War) and written by Succession’s Jamie Carragher, while Christian Schwochow (The Crown) and Laura Lackmann (Call My Agent Berlin) will direct.
The show’s music has been curated by BAFTA-winning producer David Holmes (Killing Eve).
Hamburg Days will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
