Rare 1964 Beatles ‘Top Of The Pops’ Footage Rediscovered and Set for Restoration

Lost film footage of The Beatles performing on the BBC’s Top Of The Pops has reportedly been recovered and is slated for professional restoration.

The legendary group appeared on the program on March 19, 1964, to record performances of “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “You Can’t Do That.” These tracks served as the A and B sides of a single released the following day, which eventually became the band’s fourth UK Number One hit.

Due to the BBC’s historical practices of not preserving many early episodes of Top Of The Pops, this specific footage had remained unseen for decades.

The film preservation organization Film Is Fabulous announced that a 35mm BBC negative of the performance was presented to them during a recent British Film Collectors’ Convention in Surrey. The material was reportedly handed over by the family of a deceased industry professional. The group intends to restore the film and return it to the BBC Archives, noting on Facebook that they are coordinating with the broadcaster to ensure the footage is eventually shared with the public.

The Beatles on ToTPs

Film is Fabulous! is delighted to confirm the 35mm negative presented to John Franklin at the recent film convention in Oxted, contains the The Beatles first appearance on Top of the Tops. pic.twitter.com/hPvOjqPR8u

— filmisfabulous (@filmisfabulous) June 18, 2026

Describing the discovery, the group stated that the footage—recorded at the BBC’s Television Theatre (now the Shepherd’s Bush Empire) in London—beautifully captures the “Fab Four” during the height of Beatlemania.

The recording includes behind-the-scenes glimpses of the studio, technicians, and makeup artists. It features four takes of “Can’t Buy Me Love,” two of which were aborted due to technical glitches. Between takes, the band can be seen joking and dancing to entertain themselves.

Additionally, two takes of “You Can’t Do That” were recovered, including a moment where John Lennon makes a funny face during a close-up shot, adding a charming human element to the historical archive.

Throughout the 1960s, the BBC routinely erased and reused magnetic tapes, leading to the permanent loss of countless episodes of its most popular shows. If restoration is successful, this will stand as the oldest surviving footage of the band on Top Of The Pops.

In other news, June 25 has been designated as Global Beatles Day to commemorate the 1967 international satellite broadcast of “All You Need Is Love.” The Beatles and Apple Corps Ltd will host various global events to mark the occasion, including the first-time release of a colorized version of the original broadcast.

Furthermore, director Sam Mendes is set to helm a four-film series about the band, scheduled for a simultaneous release in April 2028. The cast features Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, with each film exploring the band’s history through a different member’s perspective.

Recently, Paul McCartney released his latest album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, featuring his first-ever duet with Ringo Starr on the track “Home To Us.” In a recent interview with NME, McCartney reflected on his legendary career, discussed his contributions to an upcoming Rolling Stones album, and addressed questions regarding his future retirement.

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