BBC’s new Beatles drama series on early years in Hamburg unveils first look at cast

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The Beatles are having a big moment in film and television. Sam Mendes is directing four movies, each focusing on a different member of the band, and we’ve just learned more about the upcoming TV series, ‘Hamburg Days,’ which tells the story of their early years.

Filming has started on the six-episode series in Hamburg, Munich, and Liverpool. It will be shown on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK, and is based on the life story of German artist Klaus Voormann.

“Hamburg Days” takes place in 1960s Hamburg, specifically in the lively and smoky clubs of the St. Pauli district. The story follows a young, up-and-coming rock and roll band from Liverpool as their paths cross with two artists, Klaus Voormann and Astrid Kirchherr.

Working together, they ignited a change that transformed a humble group of teenagers into the most famous and influential band in history: The Beatles.

Since the BBC picked up the show last year, they’ve now released the first two images and announced the full cast.

Rhys Mannion, known for his role in ‘Freud’s Last Session,’ will portray John Lennon. Ellis Murphy will play Paul McCartney, and Harvey Brett will take on the role of George Harrison.

Louis Landau, known for his work on ‘Rivals’, will play Stu Sutcliffe, the band’s first bassist, and Patrick Gilmore will portray Pete Best, their original drummer.

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Luna Jordan, known for her work with Wild Republic, will portray Astrid Kirchherr. Casper von Bülow, from Druck, will play Klaus Voormann, and Laura Tonke, of 22 Lengths, will play Nielsa Kirchherr.

Benjamin Benedict, known for ‘Generation War’, developed the series, and Jamie Carragher, a writer from ‘Succession’, penned the scripts. Christian Schwochow (‘The Crown’) and Laura Lackmann (‘Call My Agent Berlin’) are directing.

The show’s music has been curated by BAFTA-winning producer David Holmes (Killing Eve).

Hamburg Days will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a global TV production company. He has a bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-05-08 14:37