Parkinson - 17th July 1971

Recorded: 17th July 1971. Transmitted by: BBC1 Colour 17th July 1971 (10:30pm-11:15pm)

The Lennon's were guests on the fifth edition of the new late-night Saturday BBC 1 chat show Parkinson hosted by Michael Parkinson who agreed that if he mentioned "The Beatles", he would have to conduct the rest of the interview inside a black bag! John and Yoko took to the stage to the accompaniment of 'Help!' as performed by the resident studio house band - the Harry Stoneham Five - who later in the show backed Marion Montgomery performing a version of John's composition 'Love'. Yoko read extracts from her book Grapefruit which Parkinson admitted to finding "incomprehensible!"....
Parkinson: "You've made a film about a fly crawling up a woman's body, you've made your famous Bottoms film and there's also been a film made of your penis, isn't there John?" John: "That was a joke really." (Roars of laughter from the studio audience.) "I made a film called Self Portrait, you know, and at that time I was a bit of a prick!" (More laughter and this time applause).......

John: "The British press actually called her [Yoko] ugly. I've never seen that about any woman or man, even if the person is ugly. You don't normally say that in the papers. She's not ugly, and if she were you wouldn't be so mean! They even say attractive about the most awful looking people to be kind..." Parkinson: "Recently, another reason for people taking a dislike to you, is because you're known again through the newspapers, as the woman who broke up The Beatles."

John (interrupting) : "But that's not true! listen, I tell ya, people on the streets and kids do not dislike us...It's the media; I'm telling ya. We go on the streets and the lorry drivers wave. 'Hello John, hello Yoko', all that jazz, and I judge it by that. My records still sell well. Her records sell all right." Parkinson: "Did Yoko's presence put tension on the group?" John: "The tension was already there you see....after Brian died." With the mention of Beatles, John tells Michael he must now get inside the bag. After a round of applause - he does so, the interview continues with questions being asked by a large black bag.