Up Next
15:00 - 16:00
Woman's Hour
Weekend Woman’s Hour: Julianne Moore, Women’s Prize for Fiction winner Yael van der Wouden, ultrarunner Stephanie Case
16:00 - 16:30
PM
14/06/2025
16:30 - 16:54
The Mel Stride One
16:54 - 16:57
Shipping Forecast
14/06/2025
16:57 - 17:00
Weather
14/06/2025
17:00 - 17:15
Six O'Clock News
14/06/2025
17:15 - 18:00
Loose Ends
Ore Oduba, Amy Macdonald, Kim Blythe, Tom Newlands, Rose Room
18:00 - 18:15
Profile
Liz Carr
18:15 - 19:00
This Cultural Life
Jenny Saville
Before The Beatles were icons, they were just a bunch of teenagers playing in the basement of Mona’s large house in Liverpool. But without Mona and the work she did on their behalf, there might never have been a musical phenomenon called The Beatles.
This drama is based on the untold story of Mona Best and her unique role in the band’s early years, and of her scandalous relationship with their teenage roadie Neil Aspinall.
Pete Best and Neil Aspinall were best friends. Mona was 38 when she gave birth to 19-year-old Neil's child. Three weeks after the baby was born, Pete was sacked by the band, leaving Neil to make an impossible choice.
Mona Best ….. Jodie McNee
Neil Aspinall ….. Sam Denia
Pete Best ….. Alex Farrell
Rory Best ….. Lott Lee
Jennifer ….. Chloe English
Brian Epstein ….. James Mace
Johnny ….. Shaun Mason
Grimes ….. Raymond Waring
Beryl ….. Clare Corbett
News and Television Announcers ….. Tom Turner
Paul ….. James Bibby
Other parts played by members of the cast.
Pete’s drumming performed by Antonio Feola.
Jazz guitar performed by Adonis Garcia Garcia with additional guitar by Peter Twomey and Carl Prekopp.
Live band performances by Dr Orange, produced by Jon Withnall and recorded at Jon Withnall Studios in Ormskirk.
Written by Norman Hull and Stewart Richards.
Sound Recordist: Alisdair McGregor
Sound Design: Lucinda Mason Brown and David Chilton
Production Runner: Natasha Biggs
Production Manager: Eleanor Mein
Director and Script Associate: Carl Prekopp
Producers: Lucinda Mason Brown and Stewart Richards
Executive Producer: Polly Thomas
An Essential production for BBC Radio 4