Sgt Pepper’s Musical Revolution with Howard Goodall review – what I knew didn’t even scratch the surface

Think you know about the Beatles’ defining album? This brilliant documentary will give you a whole new perpective. Plus: Nordic noir, Canadian-style, in Cardinal

It was 50 years ago today … actually, it was 50 years ago last Thursday. You would think that a documentary celebrating a big anniversary of the Beatles’ defining album would go out, if not on the actual day, then at least before, rather than two days afterwards. And that’s about all I can find wrong with the brilliant Sgt Pepper’s Musical Revolution with Howard Goodall (BBC2, Saturday).

I thought I knew Sgt Pepper quite well. I can sing along, and know some of the stories: Paul’s surprisingly generous reaction to a parking ticket from Lovely Rita, John’s circus poster that inspired Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite!, George’s adventures in the wonderland of Indian culture and Hinduism. But what I knew didn’t even scratch the surface.

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