English musician, songwriter and activist; cofounder of the Beatles
A rare collection of Beatles letters and photos from 1960–62, including the only letter with words from both Paul McCartney and John Lennon, is being shown in Hamburg during Hafengeburtstag. The items offer insight into the band’s early days and development as they lived in the city.
Steven Soderbergh’s Cannes debut of John Lennon: The Last Interview has sparked debate over its use of AI visuals and the film’s focus on Lennon and Yoko Ono, with critics split on how the interview is presented against the era’s context.
Oxfam shops have benefited from notable donations of rare memorabilia. A signed Paul McCartney book has sold for £950, while a Tolkien first edition Hobbit has raised £38,400. Donors remain unknown in at least some cases, but proceeds support Oxfam’s poverty relief and emergency appeals.
Obituary confirms Michael Byrne has died on 20 June 2026. A veteran British actor with a long film and stage career, Byrne played Ernst Vogel in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Ted Page in Coronation Street, among other roles. His career spanned theatre work with the National Theatre and major screen performances.