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Samira Ahmed and Stuart Maconie

The Beatles: Friends, Fans and Fame

Hay Festival 2026, 

Two lifelong fans of The Beatles come together to share their love of the band and reflect on its enduring influence on popular culture. Broadcaster Samira Ahmed’s first book A Hard Day’s Night is a look at how the 1964 film captures the band’s charisma and the shifting cultural landscape of 1960s Britain. Fellow broadcaster Stuart Maconie has written With a Little Help from Their Friends, an epic tale of the people who made the band who made Britain, interspersed with his own experiences, encounters and conversations. This celebratory event is perfect for superfans of the band.