Radio: John Lennon on Late Night Extra – 15 July 1971

July 14, 2026

Thursday 15 July 1971 | BBC Radio 2, Late Night Extra | London, England

On 15 July 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave an interview to BBC Radio 2’s Late Night Extra. The interview took place at a press reception held in a back room at Selfridges on Oxford Street, London, following their signing session for Ono’s book Grapefruit. One of the interviewers was Bob Holness, whose exchange with Lennon and Ono was broadcast later that evening by the BBC.

The Context

The interview followed directly from the Grapefruit signing session at Selfridges, which had been attended by around 400 people. After the public signing, Lennon and Ono moved to a press reception in a back room of the store, where journalists and broadcasters — including Holness — were able to speak with them.

Grapefruit — Yoko Ono’s collection of conceptual art instruction pieces, originally published in Tokyo in 1964 — had recently been reissued as a paperback, and the London events were part of the promotional effort around the reissue. John Lennon had written the introduction to the new edition.

Bob Holness

Bob Holness (1928–2012) was a British broadcaster best known as the host of the television quiz show Blockbusters (1983–1995). In 1971 he was working as a presenter and interviewer for BBC Radio 2, where Late Night Extra was a popular evening programme. His interview with Lennon and Ono was one of many celebrity encounters in a long broadcasting career.

Late Night Extra

Late Night Extra was a BBC Radio 2 programme that ran from 1967 to 1975, broadcast on weekday evenings. It featured music, interviews, and light entertainment, and was one of the BBC’s flagship evening radio programmes of the era. The programme regularly featured interviews with major music and cultural figures.

Key Facts: 15 July 1971

Date	Thursday 15 July 1971
Programme	BBC Radio 2, Late Night Extra
Interviewer	Bob Holness (among others)
Location	Press reception, Selfridges, Oxford Street, London
Context	Following Grapefruit signing session at Selfridges (attended by ~400 people)
Broadcast	Same evening, BBC Radio 2

Selfridges, Oxford Street, London — where the press reception and BBC interview took place on 15 July 1971.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Did John Lennon appear on BBC Radio 2 in 1971?

Yes. On 15 July 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono were interviewed for BBC Radio 2’s Late Night Extra at a press reception at Selfridges in London, following a signing session for Ono’s book Grapefruit. The interview was broadcast the same evening.

Who was Bob Holness?

Bob Holness (1928–2012) was a British broadcaster best known as the host of the television quiz show Blockbusters. In 1971 he was a presenter for BBC Radio 2, and he interviewed John Lennon and Yoko Ono for Late Night Extra on 15 July 1971.

What was BBC Radio 2’s Late Night Extra?

Late Night Extra was a BBC Radio 2 programme that ran from 1967 to 1975, broadcast on weekday evenings. It featured music, interviews, and light entertainment, and regularly featured major cultural figures.