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Doctor Who meets The Beatles

While The Beatles have been referenced many times in Doctor Who, The Devil's Chord (2024) isn't the first time the band have been seen on screen in the show.

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Publicity images of Millie Gibson (Ruby) and Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor)

"I had no idea you knew about The Beatles!" Ian Chesterton (1965)

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Contact sheet of photos of The Beatles, held in the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Archive (c1965)

In the first episode of a story called The Chase (1965), The Beatles are listed as taking part in a pre-recorded clip, as can be seen in this programme paperwork.

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Programme paperwork for "The Executioners", episode one of The Chase. The Beatles can be seen listed half way down the second section of text.

Changes in copyright law mean that this clip is not available on iPlayer today. However, it is still preserved in the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Archives as the only recording of The Beatles performing on Top of the Pops that exists, as these screenshots show -

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The Doctor and his companions are watching moments from history on a Time-Space Visualiser in the TARDIS. Vicki, who is from the 25th century, selects a moment that is historical to her - 1965

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An announcer appears on screen to introduce ... the fabulous Beatles!

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The TARDIS crew briefly watch The Beatles performing Ticket to Ride

"They're marvellous, but I didn't know they played classical music!" Vicki (1965)

The clip of The Beatles used in the episode had been pre-recorded for Top of the Pops, as the band had been unable to appear live. Interestingly they recorded this performance of Ticket to Ride in Riverside studios, which was also where the Doctor Who story The Chase was recorded.

And this isn't the only location that The Beatles and Doctor Who have shared. in September 2015 Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaldi, with the help of a couple of Daleks, recreated the iconic Beatles album cover image on the crossing of Abbey Road.

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Publicity image for Series 9 with Jenna Coleman (Clara) and Peter Capaldi (The Doctor) on Abbey Road (2015)

Finally in The Devil's Chord (2024), The Doctor returns to Abbey Road for an adventure, this time with The Beatles.

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Ruby and The Doctor take their turn on the Abbey Road crossing in The Devil's Chord (2024)

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