The Beatles returned to the BBC on Sunday night, at least in some capacity, after the original pencil drawing of their first band’s logo appeared on Antiques Roadshow.
Expert Mark Hill was visibly stunned to discover that the drawings had been created for one of Ringo Starr’s drum kits in 1962, shortly before the band became one of the biggest and most successful groups of all time.
Filming Sunday’s episode from Sefton Park House in Liverpool, the band’s hometown, Hill received a condensed history of the artwork from its owner, a retired letterer who knew band members John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison before they signed their first album. deal.
“The Beatles approached me and wanted a logo for the drum,” he explained. “It was pretty close [to The Beatles] and they were all in my 21. I am a sign maker and store fitter.
Despite creating a distinctive logo, complete with two insect antennae atop a flourishing capital B, it was ultimately rejected by then-newly appointed drummer Starr in favor of what would become his definitive logo, with his famous dropped T, designed by Ivor Arbiter.
A retired sign maker was left speechless on Sunday night’s Antiques Roadshow after discovering two 60-year-old pencil drawing designs of The Beatles’ original logo were worth £15,000.
The drawings were created for one of Ringo Starr’s drum kits in 1962, shortly before the band became one of the biggest and most successful groups of all time.
Noticing a series of scribbles next to the completed drawings, Hill commented, “It’s interesting to note that next to these little antennae of this insect logo… you have little pencil drawings here, is that you?”
“No, that was John or Paul,” his owner admitted. ‘They had to do their bit, right?’
While Starr rejected the logo because he feared it would “interfere with his recording”, its creator insisted he had no hard feelings towards the band as they began their rise with the release of debut single Love Me Do, despite not being paid for their work. .
“I was incredibly busy,” he recalled. “I was an incredibly busy boy. It was just another job. We were good friends at the time and they didn’t pay me, I might add.
However, Hill gave him positive news and assured him that the humble drawings would be a hit at auction.
“So what we’re looking at here are the first logos ever produced for The Beatles with their band name… they’re a couple of objects,” he said.
‘My feeling is that if these went to auction, they would probably fetch around £15,000. So sixty years later, you’re finally getting paid!’
“At the moment I don’t really want to sell them,” responded their owner. ‘But who knows?’
Expert Mark Hill was visibly stunned after being presented with the drawings during Sunday night’s show, filmed at Sefton Park House in Liverpool, the Beatles’ hometown.
The expert pointed out a series of curious scribbles next to the finished drawings and asked if their owner was responsible for them.
“No, that was John or Paul,” his owner admitted. ‘They had to do their bit, right?’
He was given positive news by Hill, who assured him that the humble drawings would be a hit at auction with a potential value of £15,000.
Antiques Roadshow is proving invaluable to the BBC in the ratings war, attracting more viewers than soaps and Ant and Dec.
In the week of March 18, the 45-year-old touring show was Britain’s fifth most popular show, with 4.9 million viewers.
That beats all the soaps and Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.
An episode of Coronation Street came in sixth place with 4.5 million viewers, the best soap broadcast of the week. Ant and Dec came in ninth place with 4.4 million.
Author Kathy Lette attributed the success of Sunday night’s roadshow to “no quick car chases, no killings, no brutality, no bad language, no psychopaths, no sci-fi monsters.” Just kind, curious, knowledgeable and calm people.”
Barb Audience viewing figures include those watching live and catching up. In the week of March 11, the roadshow also came in fifth place, narrowly beaten by an episode of Coronation Street.
Last night, roadshow presenter Fiona Bruce said she was delighted with the viewing figures. She said: “Even humble items from a car boot sale can turn out to be precious, like the vase bought for £1 that turned out to be a Lalique treasure that sold for £32,000.”
“But the program is much more than a monetary value: it is also a window to our common history, to human stories that we can all share. It is a pleasure to work on it.”
The Beatles at the height of their fame in 1967 (LR: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison)