Brian Epstein & the Beatles - what he did and what he hid episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 9, 2026 · 29 MIN

Brian Epstein & the Beatles - what he did and what he hid

from Word In Your Ear

Philip Norman has written books about the Beatles – and John, Paul and George - and now turns the spotlight on the man who launched them and the extreme personal and professional obstacles in the dramatic path of his short life, the man who built a shield around them but couldn't protect himself. We talk to him here about ‘Mr Moonlight: Brian Epstein and the Making of the Beatles’ with particular attention to … … how he changed Britain’s image and was mortified to get no recognition for it … the Beatle whose demands he was always fastest to execute … the level of homophobia and anti-Semitism he had to absorb … his reckless pursuits in the days when homosexuality could mean life imprisonment … contract killers, blackmail, rigged roulette wheels and why the Krays said “it wasn’t us” when they heard he’d died … the way he fashioned his own myth and airbrushed others who’d helped the Beatles succeed … why McCartney’s 21st birthday party could have ended the band … his genius (and fraudulence) as a salesman    … the double catastrophe of Brian’s US merchandising deal … John, Aunt Mimi and “a story about the British class system” … and the chaperone on George and Pattie’s first date. Order copies of ‘Mr Moonlight’ here: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/Mr-Moonlight/Philip-Norman/9781398542266Help us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 9, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Brian Epstein & the Beatles - what he did and what he hid

0:00 29:47

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Word In Your Ear?

This episode is 29 minutes long.

When was this Word In Your Ear episode published?

This episode was published on June 9, 2026.

Can I download this Word In Your Ear episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!