Video: 'The Beatles Christmas Greetings - Interview - ITN News - 25 December 1963'

(Thursday, December 19, 1963) — During rehearsals of The Beatles Christmas Show at the Astoria in Finsbury Park in London, photo calls and press interviews were held today, including a short interview for “ITN News” for airing on Dec. 25, 1963.

John Lennon sported the top hat he would wear as “Sir Jasper,” the villain of the melodrama sketch.

Each Beatle sends out holiday greetings to the fans (George Harrison says, “Send me jacket back, it’s cold!”), and they all sing a medley of “Garry Chrimble to You” and “Doo-dah, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” very similar to the rendition on their Beatles fan club flexi.

John then holds out his hat to appeal for donations.