Description
Paul McCartney at the BBC: Original Air Date Saturday, 11/20/2021: This BBC Two Special is presented here as a definitive DVD and Blu-ray archive release, compiling a carefully curated BBC Two retrospective that spans multiple decades of Paul McCartney’s television appearances. Structured as a seamless, chaptered viewing experience, the programme draws from key BBC music platforms including Top of the Pops, Later… with Jools Holland, and major BBC concert specials such as the *Electric Proms*, bringing together restored performances and interviews that chart McCartney’s evolution from Wings through to his modern solo career.
The opening section focuses on McCartney’s 1970s Wings and early solo television era, establishing his post-Beatles identity through landmark performances and early BBC exposure. This includes “Coming Up” (from Top of the Pops, 1980) alongside era-defining Wings material such as “Band on the Run” (as featured in BBC concert and performance programming, including later archival Electric Proms-era presentations). These sequences are framed with archive interview material that contextualises McCartney’s transition into a global solo performer while maintaining his strong presence on British television.
The middle portion moves into McCartney’s 1980s–1990s and early 2000s BBC performance period, where he appears in more reflective and performance-driven settings across BBC studio programming and concert broadcasts, most notably Later… with Jools Holland. This section includes standout renditions such as “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Live and Let Die,” and “Get Back,” presented within the context of his televised live appearances and BBC studio sessions. These performances are interwoven with interviews that reflect on songwriting, touring, and the sustained reinterpretation of his catalogue in a live setting. Also included are rarely seen backstage footage, interviews and a range of familiar faces, including a recent encounter via interview segments with die-hard Beatles fan Bob Mortimer..
The final section brings the programme into McCartney’s **modern BBC era (2000s–2010s)**, blending contemporary interview material with high-profile live performances drawn from later BBC appearances and concert broadcasts, including *Electric Proms* and *Later… with Jools Holland*. This closing sequence features iconic songs such as “Hey Jude,” “Paperback Writer,” and “Yesterday,” presented as part of a reflective career overview that highlights their enduring cultural weight. Presented in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, this release offers a permanent, high-quality archive of McCartney’s long-standing relationship with the BBC—allowing viewers to revisit a meticulously assembled broadcast history that functions as both a performance collection and a televised biography of one of popular music’s defining figures.
Presented in high-quality DVD and Blu-ray format, this release allows viewers to experience the programme as a archival journey—preserving McCartney’s BBC legacy as both a cultural document and a long-form musical portrait designed for repeated viewing and collector-grade permanence.
Track Listing:
1. Jools Holland in Concert 2011: 11/2011: “Band on the Run”
2. Radio 2 in Concert 2013: 10/2013: “Another Day”
3. In Conversation with Bob Mortimer 2021 (Part 1 of 6): 2021: Interview
4. BBC Radio 4 / TV Recording 2016: 2016: “Mastertapes”
5. Later… with Jools Holland 2007: 10/2007: “Lady Madonna (LIVE)”
6. In Conversation with Bob Mortimer 2021 (Part 2 of 6): 2021: Interview
7. Electric Proms 2007: 10/25/2007: “Eleanor Rigby”
8. Live / Promotional Performance 2005: 2005: “English Tea”
9. Wings-era Live Broadcast 1979: 1979: “Got to Get You Into My Life”
10. Early Archival Recording 1964: 1964: “A Degree of Frost”
11. Glastonbury Festival 2004: 06/25/2004: “Let It Be (LIVE)”
12. Wembley Stadium 1999: 1999: “My Brave Face (LIVE)”
13. In Conversation with Bob Mortimer 2021 (Part 3 of 6): 2021: Interview
14. Wings-era Performance 1977: 1977: “Mull of Kintyre”
15. Wings Over the World Tour 1976–1977: 1977: “Silly Love Songs”
16. In Conversation with Bob Mortimer 2021 (Part 4 of 6): 2021: “Interview
17. Electric Proms 2007: 10/25/2007: “I Saw Her Standing There”
18. Solo Era Performance 1983: 1983: “Pipes of Peace”
19. In Conversation with Bob Mortimer 2021 (Part 5 of 6): 2021: Interview
20. Top of the Pops 1980: 1980: “Coming Up”
21. Parkinson Show 1999: 12/03/1999: (SEE ENTIRE SHOW in DELUXE EDITION)
22. Electric Proms 2007: 10/25/2007: “Live and Let Die”
23. BBC Radio 4 2016: 2016: “Mastertapes II”
24. Parkinson Show 1999: 12/03/1999: “The Long and Winding Road”
25. In Conversation with Bob Mortimer 2021 (Part 6 of 6): 2021: Interview
26. Liverpool Sound Concert 2008: 06/2008: “A Day in the Life / Give Peace a Chance (LIVE)”
27. The Culture Show 2007: 2007: “That Was Me”
Total Running Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
DELUXE EDITION MATERIAL
The Parkinson Show Original Air Date Friday, The 3rd of December 1999: This special episode of Parkinson, originally broadcast on December 3, 1999, captures Paul McCartney at a uniquely pivotal moment in his life and career. Filmed not long after the loss of Linda McCartney, the program offers an unusually candid and reflective conversation with Sir Michael Parkinson, as McCartney opens up about grief, resilience, and the role music continues to play in his life. It’s an intimate, unscripted portrait that goes far beyond a standard promotional appearance.
Interwoven with the in-depth interview are electrifying live performances drawn from McCartney’s rock ’n’ roll roots and legendary catalog. Backed by a stellar band featuring David Gilmour, McCartney delivers high-energy renditions of classics like “Honey Hush” and “Twenty Flight Rock,” alongside timeless Beatles-era favorites including “Yesterday” and “The Long and Winding Road.” The balance between raw performance and personal storytelling gives the program a rare immediacy and emotional depth.
The broadcast also features standout moments that make it essential for collectors and fans alike, including the early live performance of “Your Loving Flame,” offering a glimpse into McCartney’s evolving songwriting at the time. More informal, stripped-back segments—such as rare piano-led pieces and spontaneous musical interludes—provide a behind-the-scenes feel, making viewers feel as though they are in the room during an unguarded creative session.
Presented here in its complete form, this DVD preserves a remarkable television event that blends conversation, history, and live music into a seamless experience. For admirers of The Beatles, students of songwriting, or anyone interested in the personal and artistic journey of one of music’s most enduring figures, this edition of *Parkinson* stands as both a compelling document and an unforgettable performance showcase.
Total Running Time: 1 Hour 3 Minutes
Total Running Time including DELUXE EDITION BONUS MATERIAL: 2 Hours 33 Minutes
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