I caught a bit of Tom Odell's cover today on Graham Norton's R2 show - if I hadn't read the news earlier in the week I wouldn't have recognised it as a John Lennon song.  I'm looking forward to seeing the advert. I listened to the radio for most of the day - too wet to venture out.  No Beatles number in Tony Blackburn's chart show but he did introduce his first countdown as "long before the Beatles ... 1958".

Of course I also watched "Strictly".  And very glad I did.  Pixie Lott danced to When I'm 64. Tess Daly couldn't resist the temptation to say that she hoped the routine would get them A Ticket to Ride to Blackpool - next week's venue.

Monday, 27th October-

I've had a few days in Yorkshire. Quite a few Beatles references: LP covers in shop window display (Whitby) and more of the same in a York music store; a young girl wearing a John Lennon New York T-shirt (Selby); a reference to Strawberry Fields forever on the news because this warm autumn may gives us  us strawberries for Xmas; a clip on "Have I got news of you" of a UKIP rep supporting Mike Reid's recent calypso debacle - by saying white men, including The Beatles, have always stolen music from the black man.

I heard "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright on R2 this afternoon.  Johnny Walker explained the song was based on a poem in a book that was given to the songwriter by George Harrison.

I went to the movies last night so missed "Strictly Come Dancing" so watched it tonight.  One couple danced the Paso to Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die". It was a good performance - got them second place on the leader board.

I went along to our Art students exhibition today.  One of artists was wearing a T-Shirt sporting Dr Who

Beatles-inspired Dr Who t-shirt

characters walking across a zebra crossing in the style of that famous Beatles album cover. In conversation with two other members of staff (who noticed my Beatles decorated purse) the subject of Liverpool came up which led, of course, to talk of visits to The Cavern.

I had two references before 8.00 am.! The first was Twist and Shout on the radio and the second ... a picture of The Beatles on Libby Piggott's tote bag as she crossed the bridge at Hinckley Station.  I was waiting for my train, she was on her way to catch the bus.  Both of us en route to College.

Chris Evans' "Beatles Monday" tune was Strawberry Fields. I listened to it in my coat at the bottom of the stairs to make sure I got the right song, then dashed out of the house.

Tonight's "Only Connect" came up with a reference too.  The first clue in a four-part sequence was Peace.  One of the contestants mentioned John Lennon.  In fact, the clues revealed the answer to be "Nineteen Eighty-Four" by George Orwell (Peace, Love, Truth, Plenty - the names of the regime's ministries!)

A contestant on "Only Connect" tonight, Tom Fassnidge, was introduced as a "teacher and a Beatles maniac"

I was waiting for the bus in Regent St, Hinckley and spotted a poster for a Beatles tribute band in Harry's Bar ... and on the opposite there's a bar called Sgt Peppers - not sure I've noticed it before.

Friday, 3rd October

As promised the second part of "Music of the Movies" including Hard Day's Night: "the first film to embrace the pop phenomenon" in its soundtrack.

Sadly a new musical Love Me Do although set in 1962 "the year the Beatles released their first single"  doesn't include any Beatles tunes. Maybe that's why The Times critic only gave it one star!

"Celebrity Antique Road Trip" (BBC2) went to a village outside Stratford-upon-Avon tonight.  As I ate my tea and started the T2 crossword I heard one of the experts say about a shop that it covered all periods from Beau Brummell to The Beatles.

I watched "Only Connect" tonight.  During Round One the teams have four sequential clues.  Clue 1 in one sequence was "we all stand together". Three phrases later, the connecting word turned out to be frogs.  And that initial clue was, of course, from Paul McCartney's "Frog Chorus"

I'm watching the second part of "Oh you pretty thing".  Rick Wakeman's wardrobe gets a lot of attention and we're introduced to the man that created his clothes and other rock stage outfits.  He said: "I stopped listening to music in 1967 - when the Beatles went mad"

"Later" with Jools Holland started on Saturday.  I caught up with it tonight and to my surprise one of his guests was Olivia Harrison promoting a new box set of George's music!

I watched episode 2 of "Cilla" tonight: much better than the first one. No sight of the Beatles this time, but lots of references in conversations between the characters (and there was a poster in Brian Epstein's Office too).  But the big one was when she recorded Lennon and McCartney's "Love of the Loved" at Abbey Road with George Martin.  Mike would have smiled with me at that point - he knew I have a soft spot for him (& his voice).

I heard on Simon Mayo's show tonight as I did a bit of painting in the kitchen When I'm 64. 

I've put my brushes down now to watch "Oh You Pretty Things: The story of Music and Fashion" (BBC4) - It starts in the 1960s so I'm fully expecting to see at least one picture of The Beatles ... 10 minutes in there was a bit about the tailor shop "Lord John": there's a cape hanging on the wall, made for John Lennon but he never collected it. 

And in a segment about the "Granny takes a trip" shop there's a shot of George Harrison wearing a floral jacket - the very one shown in this photo.

I watched a documentary about Carole King tonight (BBC4). One of the talking heads remarked that her LP "Tapestry" (a favourite of mine) was a real hit when it was released - heard everywhere.  He could only compare its popularity to Sgt Pepper. I also learnt that she wrote the song Chains - which I also like very much not just because it was covered by The Beatles but because Stranded did a very good version too. 

Best Beatle reference ever!  One of our new students is called Eleanor Rigby - and yes, she was named after the song.

It was Hinckley Carnival today.  I didn't see the parade but I did wander around the stalls in the town centre and watched some of the acts in Argents Mead.  At one point I found a quiet spot to enjoy a coffee and a lemon cupcake.  Two elderly ladies, in mobility scooters, drove past  - one had a large wooden heart hanging from her chair with the inscription "All you need is love"

I learnt tonight that members of Blondie had different musical influences.  Frank, the guitarist, was into The Beatles - after hearing them he bought a guitar and got a Beatle haircut ("Blondie's New York ... BBC4)

"Kings of Rock n' Roll" repeated on BBC4 again tonight.  I'm watching it now.  I'm not expecting a Beatles reference but a picture of John Lennon with Chuck Berry did pop up a few minutes ago.

PS And a bit later on Paul McCartney remembers Little Richard saying to him "Paul, I taught you everything you know" and Paul kinda agreed.  At the end of the programme with the "Kings" in decline for one reason or another the rock n' roll mantle was taken up by the ... Beatles.