Beatles cross into Northern Ireland, interviewed for ‘Ulster News’ 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 8 1963)


Video: 'The Beatles Car Breaks Down In Belfast, Ireland - Color Home Movie - 8 November 1963'

(Friday, November 8, 1963; afternoon GMT) — The Beatles were interviewed today in Killeen by Jimmy Robinson for Ulster News, shortly after the rock music band from Liverpool, England, crossed the border while being driven from Dublin in the Republic of Ireland to Belfast, Northern Ireland, for the seventh stop the group’s 1963 Autumn Tour.

The border crossing interview was included in the evening bulletin, broadcast from 6:25-6:35 p.m. GMT.


Video: 'The Beatles Interviewed In Belfast, Northern Ireland - Ulster News - 8 November 1963'

At one point during the drive, George Harrison filmed Paul McCartney waiting around while the car The Beatles where traveling in broke down.

The Beatles arrived in Belfast at 2:00 p.m. and were taken to the BBC television studios, where they recorded an interview with Sally Ogle for the Six Ten programme. The interview took place from 3:00 p.m., and was broadcast later that evening from 6:10 p.m.


Video: 'The Beatles At Belfast Press Gathering - Ritz Theatre, Belfast - ITN News - 8 November 1963'

That evening The Beatles performed in Belfast’s Ritz Cinema (at 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.), located on Fisherwick Place. Just before that night’s concert at the Ritz theatre in Belfast, The Beatles held a impromptu press gathering for journalists.

For the second consecutive day, the group was accompanied by Alun Owen, who had been commissioned by producer Walter Shenson to write the script for The Beatles’ first film A Hard Day’s Night.