{"id":477262,"date":"2026-05-10T04:32:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T04:32:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/477262\/"},"modified":"2026-05-10T04:32:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T04:32:24","slug":"bbcs-60s-set-new-beatles-drama-reveals-first-look-at-cast-transformations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/477262\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC&#8217;s &#8217;60s-set new Beatles drama reveals first look at cast transformations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"3\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The BBC has confirmed the casting for its new Beatles-based drama, while sharing a first look at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a69620266\/bbc-hamburg-days-the-beatles\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a69620266\/bbc-hamburg-days-the-beatles\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"the upcoming series\" data-node-id=\"3.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the upcoming series<\/a>. Titled Hamburg Days, the six-part series follows the band&#8217;s early evolution in 1960s Germany.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The synopsis reads (via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/mediacentre\/2026\/hamburg-days-casting-first-look\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/mediacentre\/2026\/hamburg-days-casting-first-look\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"BBC\" data-node-id=\"9.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\">BBC<\/a>): &#8220;Hamburg Days is set in the 1960s, in the smoke-filled clubs of Hamburg&#8217;s St Pauli red-light district, where an inexperienced young rock &#8216;n&#8217; roll band from Liverpool collide with two young artists, Klaus Voormann and Astrid Kirchherr.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"13\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;Together they help spark a transformation that turns a scrappy group of teenagers into the greatest music phenomenon the world has ever known: the Beatles,&#8221; continues the logline for the series, which is based on Voormann&#8217;s autobiography of the same name.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"ellis murphy, paddy gilmore, harvey brett, rhys mannion, louis landau, hamburg days\" title=\"Ellis Murphy, Paddy Gilmore, Harvey Brett, Rhys Mannion,  Louis Landau, Hamburg Days \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4516\" height=\"2710\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/34447ec4-9806-43f7-9f97-dcd560bc9316.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>BBC<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"18\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"18.0\">Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Best streaming services UK 2026 \u2013 including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV\" data-node-id=\"18.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong data-node-id=\"18.1.0\">Best streaming services UK 2026 \u2013 including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"22\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The BBC has released two first-look images, showing the cast in character, with Rhys Mannion starring as John Lennon, Ellis Murphy as Paul McCartney, and Harvey Brett playing George Harrison (there&#8217;s no Ringo Starr here).<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"26\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Also in the cast are Louis Landau as the band&#8217;s original bass guitarist, Stu Sutcliffe, and Patrick Gilmore as the original drummer, Pete Best. Rounding out the cast are Luna Jordan as Astrid Kirchherr, Casper von B\u00fclow as Voormann, and Laura Tonke as Nielsa Kirchherr.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"31\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Filming is already under way in Hamburg, Munich and Liverpool, with the series set to air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK. There might be some wait, however, as a release date is yet to be confirmed.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"35\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">This update arrives as filming continues in Liverpool and London on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/a68981128\/beatles-movie-cast-ranked-saoirse-ronan\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/a68981128\/beatles-movie-cast-ranked-saoirse-ronan\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Sam Mendes&#039;s four-part Beatles saga\" data-node-id=\"35.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sam Mendes&#8217;s four-part Beatles saga<\/a>, The Beatles &#8211; A Four-Film Cinematic Event, which is set to debut in April 2028.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"ellis murphy, paddy gilmore, harvey brett, rhys mannion, louis landau, luna jordan, casper v bulow, lasse klene, hamburg days\" title=\"Ellis Murphy, Paddy Gilmore, Harvey Brett, Rhys Mannion, Louis Landau, Luna Jordan, Casper v Bulow, Lasse Klene, Hamburg Days\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4664\" height=\"2623\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/c55700da-85de-4299-a164-dad573e280e8.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>BBC<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"40\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"40.0\">Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/a70201388\/paul-mescal-joseph-quinn-beatles-transformations-first-look\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/a70201388\/paul-mescal-joseph-quinn-beatles-transformations-first-look\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"First look at Paul Mescal and Joseph Quinn&#039;s transformations for 4-part Beatles movies\" data-node-id=\"40.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong data-node-id=\"40.1.0\">First look at Paul Mescal and Joseph Quinn&#8217;s transformations for 4-part Beatles movies<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"44\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Starring as the Fab Four are Harris Dickinson as Lennon, Paul Mescal as McCartney, Joseph Quinn as Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Starr. The supporting cast is also stacked, with James Norton, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/a69641468\/sherwood-david-morrissey-beatles-movies\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/a69641468\/sherwood-david-morrissey-beatles-movies\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"David Morrissey\" data-node-id=\"44.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">David Morrissey<\/a> and Saoirse Ronan all appearing. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"48\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Back when the films were announced, Mendes said (via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sonypictures.com\/corp\/press_releases\/2024\/0220\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.sonypictures.com\/corp\/press_releases\/2024\/0220\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Sony Pictures\" data-node-id=\"48.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\">Sony Pictures<\/a>): &#8220;I&#8217;m honoured to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"52\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"52.0\">Hamburg Days has no release date.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"57\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><strong data-node-id=\"57.0\">The new edition of <\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"57.1\">Living Legends<\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"57.2\">, a 100-page all-colour celebration of Sir David Attenborough, is here! <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/livldavidattenborough\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/livldavidattenborough\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Buy Sir David Attenborough in newsagents or online\" data-node-id=\"57.3\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong data-node-id=\"57.3.0\">Buy <\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"57.3.1\">Sir David Attenborough<\/strong><strong data-node-id=\"57.3.2\"> in newsagents or online<\/strong><\/a><strong data-node-id=\"57.4\">.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-dynamic-svg=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/images\/logos\/lettermark.05d81be.svg?primary=%2523000\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"dynamic-svg-base\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" alt=\"Lettermark\" class=\"css-7mevzh ev8dhu50\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Reporter, Digital Spy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">TV<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">movies<\/a> at <strong>Digital Spy<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A horror enthusiast, she joined <strong>Digital Spy<\/strong> after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The BBC has confirmed the casting for its new Beatles-based drama, while sharing a first look at the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":477263,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[265],"tags":[150409,341,209028,343,18,117,19,17,201411,342,209027,128],"class_list":{"0":"post-477262","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tv","8":"tag-collection-latest-news","9":"tag-content-type-news","10":"tag-contentid-3c76456e-dc2c-4b18-98d9-153146679303","11":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","12":"tag-eire","13":"tag-entertainment","14":"tag-ie","15":"tag-ireland","16":"tag-issyndicated-false","17":"tag-locale-gb","18":"tag-shorttitle-bbcs-new-beatles-drama-reveals-first-look-at-cast","19":"tag-tv"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116548412833347671","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=477262"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477262\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/477263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=477262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=477262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=477262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}