Doctor Who Vs. A Hard Day's Night

The Beatles' first cinematic venture (shot in black and white) was a fictionalised version of the band's hectic touring lifestyle, and was directed by Richard Lester. Released by United Artists at the height of Beatlemania in 1964, the influencial production was critically acclaimed and a huge box office success, especially in America - Alun Owen's screenplay received an Oscar nomination.

Side one of the Fab Four's third

studio album (also titled A Hard

Day's Night) provided the sound-

track to the film.

Help!, Magical Mystery Tour,

Yellow Submarine and Let It Be followed between 1965 and 1970.

Shown on BBC2 today, the musical featured Wilfred Brambell, Norman Rossington, John Junkin, and twenty-four Doctor Who cast connections:

• John [Winston] Lennon, [James] Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr [born Richard Starkey] performed Ticket to Ride in (episode 1 of) The Chase
• Juba [Elgar] Kennerley (Passenger) was Old Man in The Massacre (2)
• Lewis Alexander [born Herbert Alexander Lewis] (Patron) was Army Officer in The War Machines (3)
• Roger Avon (Policeman), Robin Burns (Sweeper), Chick Fowles (Reporter), Bob Raymond (Stagehand), Maxwell Craig (Barman), Jim Brady [born George Clifford Watkin] and Fred Wood (Patrons) all appeared in Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 AD - Avon was also Saphadin in The Crusade, and Daxtar in The Daleks' Master Plan (4), whilst Raymond was Priest in The Underwater Menace (1)
• Isla Blair (Actress) was Lady Isabella Fitzwilliam in The King's Demons, then voiced Paula Taylor for Exotron (2007), Marge for Out of This World, Charn for Palindrome (both 2020), Old Mary Mortimer for Friend of the Family (2023), and Pars for Unknown Soldiers (2024)
• Julian [Robert Stanley] Holloway (Adrian) was Sergeant Paterson in Survival
• Billy Dean and Aileen [Mary] Lewis [born Halsey] (Patrons) were Guard in The Curse of Peladon (1), and Extra on The Silurians (6)
• Jeremy Young (Policeman) was Kal in 100,000 BC, and Gordon Lowery in Mission to the Unknown
• Neil [Kingsley] Wilson (Doorman) and Fred Davis (Manager) were Seeley and Passerby in Spearhead from Space - Davis was also Priest in The Underwater Menace (1)
• Len Saunders (Guard) and Jane [Katherine] Lumb (Extra) both starred in Dr. Who and the Daleks, as Dalek operator and Thal - Saunders was also Slave/Cameraman in Day of the Daleks
• Stanley [Alfred] Simmons (Workman) was Resistance Man in The War Games (8)
• John [Kenneth] Tatham (Policeman) was Villager/Coven member in The Daemons