Friday 18 June 1965 | BBC Lime Grove Studios, London, England
On 18 June 1965, John Lennon made an appearance on the final edition of the BBC television programme Tonight, presented by Kenneth Allsop. The programme was filmed at the BBC's Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd's Bush, London, and broadcast from 7pm to 7.35pm.
Lennon was interviewed by Allsop and read extracts from two pieces from his forthcoming second book, A Spaniard In The Works: 'We Must Not Forget The General Erection' and 'The Wumberlog (Or The Magic Dog)'.
Kenneth Allsop and Tonight
Tonight had been one of the BBC's flagship early evening current affairs programmes since its launch in 1957. Presented over the years by figures including Cliff Michelmore, Derek Hart, and Alan Whicker, it had established a reputation for intelligent, accessible journalism that mixed hard news with cultural interviews. By 1965 it was coming to the end of its run ā this edition, on 18 June 1965, was its final broadcast.
Kenneth Allsop was one of the programme's most respected presenters ā a journalist, author, and broadcaster known for his literary sensibility as much as his news instincts. His choice to interview Lennon about A Spaniard In The Works rather than about The Beatles or pop music was characteristic: Allsop took Lennon seriously as a writer, and the interview treated the book on its own terms.
A Spaniard In The Works
A Spaniard In The Works was Lennon's second book of comic writing and drawings, following In His Own Write (1964). It was published by Jonathan Cape on 24 June 1965 ā six days after this television appearance.
The title is a pun: a spanner in the works ā the English idiom for a disruptive element ā rendered as a Spaniard, a foreigner, an outsider causing trouble.
'We Must Not Forget The General Erection' is a political satire ā a mock speech full of deliberate malapropisms and Joycean wordplay, skewering the language of political rhetoric. The title's pun on 'General Election' (Harold Wilson had won the 1964 general election the previous October) is the most obvious joke, but the piece sustains its comic energy well beyond the initial gag.
'The Wumberlog (Or The Magic Dog)' is a nonsense story in the tradition of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear ā the literary lineage Lennon most clearly inhabited. It features invented words, surreal logic, and the kind of affectionate absurdism that runs through both of Lennon's books.
The appearance on Tonight was part of a deliberate promotional push for the book. Lennon had also appeared on Tonight the previous year to promote In His Own Write, and the BBC ā and Allsop in particular ā had been among the first mainstream cultural institutions to take his literary work seriously.
Lime Grove Studios
Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd's Bush had been the BBC's primary television production facility since the corporation acquired the former Gaumont film studios in 1949. By 1965 it was the home of major BBC programmes including Tonight, Panorama, and early editions of Doctor Who. The studios were eventually closed in 1991 and demolished in 1994.
Key Facts: 18 June 1965
| Date | Friday 18 June 1965 |
| Programme | Tonight (BBC Television) ā final edition |
| Presenter | Kenneth Allsop |
| Location | BBC Lime Grove Studios, Shepherd's Bush, London |
| Broadcast time | 7pm ā 7.35pm |
| Extracts read | 'We Must Not Forget The General Erection'; 'The Wumberlog (Or The Magic Dog)' |
| Book | A Spaniard In The Works (Jonathan Cape, published 24 June 1965) |
BBC Lime Grove Studios, Shepherd's Bush, London ā the BBC's primary television production facility from 1949 to 1991. Demolished 1994.
The Beatles: 1965
The year Lennon published his second book. Officially licensed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did John Lennon do on BBC TV on 18 June 1965?
John Lennon appeared on the final edition of BBC Television's Tonight programme, presented by Kenneth Allsop at Lime Grove Studios. He read extracts from A Spaniard In The Works. Broadcast 7ā7.35pm.
What is A Spaniard In The Works?
John Lennon's second book of comic writing and drawings, published by Jonathan Cape on 24 June 1965, following In His Own Write (1964).
Who was Kenneth Allsop?
A British journalist, author, and BBC broadcaster known for his literary sensibility. He interviewed Lennon about his books rather than his music.
What was the BBC Tonight programme?
A BBC Television early evening current affairs programme, 1957ā1965. The 18 June 1965 edition was its final broadcast.
ā 18 June in Beatles History
ā June in Beatles History
ā John Lennon: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
ā Paul McCartney: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
ā George Harrison: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
ā Ringo Starr: Beatles History, Solo Career, Songs & Legacy
ā The Beatles Knowledge Hub
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