The band appeared on the iconic show on 19 March 1964 to record performances of ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ and ‘You Can’t Do That’, the A-side and B-side of a single released the following day which went on to become their fourth UK Number One. (NME report)
Like many early episodes of Top Of The Pops, however, the footage was not preserved by the BBC and it has not been seen for decades.
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
Now, the film preservation group Film Is Fabulous have said that they were presented with a 35mm BBC negative of the performance at the recent British Film Collectors’ Convention in Surrey.
They claim the family of a deceased former industry professional passed the precious film to them, and they will work to restore the footage and return it to the BBC Archives. “Discussions will also be held with other parts of the corporation to ensure the content is made available to a wide audience,” Film Is Fabulous wrote on Facebook.
Describing the footage, the group said: “Recorded on the 19th March 1964, at the BBC’s Television Theatre (since renamed The Shepherd’s Bush Empire), in London, the inserts beautifully captured the Fab Four at the height of Beatlemania.”
