BBC to Release Miniseries on the Beatles’ Time in Hamburg

The BBC has revealed plans for a new six-part miniseries, Hamburg Days, chronicling the Beatles formative period in West Germany. The series draws inspiration from an autobiography by Klaus Voormann, a close associate of the band.

Set in the vibrant, smoke-filled clubs of Hamburgs St. Pauli district, the story follows a young and inexperienced Liverpool rock band as they encounter artists Klaus Voormann and Astrid Kirchherr. Together, these collaborations help shape the raw musicians into the global phenomenon known today as the Beatles.

The production has already secured key creative personnel: Christian Schwochow, known for his work on The Crown, will serve as showrunner, while Mat Whitecross, who has directed music documentaries on Oasis and Coldplay, will direct the series. David Holmes has been tasked with composing the score.

Hamburg Days tells the remarkable tale of how, over just two years, a young band from Liverpool developed their sound in Hamburg before returning home to achieve instant international fame, said BBC executive Sue Deeks. Its a compelling story, paired with an unforgettable soundtrack.

Although the use of the Beatles original music has not yet been confirmed, the bands Hamburg performances prominently featured cover songs from the era.

This project is not the first dramatization of the Beatles time in Hamburg. The 1994 film Backbeat previously depicted this chapter of their early career, concentrating on original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe, who tragically passed away at 21 in Hamburg due to a brain hemorrhage.

Author: Zoe Harrison