The area was cordoned off this afternoon

Police have shared an update following a cordon being in place after reports of a “suspicious item” inside an address in Wisbech on Tuesday, May 12. Cambridgeshire Police confirmed that a precautionary 100m cordon was put in place around an address in Oil Mill Lane, Wisbech, earlier today.

People were advised to avoid the area around Aldi, Oil Mill Lane, and Old Market Street. A 33-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of possessing explosive items.

He remains in custody at King’s Lynn Police Investigation Centre. In a new update, police have confirmed that the suspicious item has been deemed not to be dangerous or explosive.

A spokesperson from Cambridgeshire Police said: “The suspicious item inside a property in Old Mill Lane has been examined and deemed not to be dangerous or explosive.

“The cordon has been scaled back to the property, and we thank residents for their patience. The man arrested remains in custody.”

Elsewhere, Tuesday’s semi-final was opened by Moldova’s Satoshi, who performed his song Viva, Moldova!, while interesting performances came from Croatia’s Lelek, who performed with face tattoos against a fantasy-themed backdrop, and Greece, whose entrant Akylas performed in a striking tiger print outfit.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, is resigning after a rocky tenure that drew months of complaints from health industry executives, anti-abortion activists, vaping lobbyists and other allies of President Donald Trump.

News of Makary’s departure Tuesday came just 13 months after he was confirmed to lead the powerful regulatory agency.

A surgeon and health researcher, Makary came to prominence among Republicans as an outspoken critic of public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he frequently appeared on Fox News Channel. But he struggled to manage the FDA’s bureaucracy and failed to win the confidence of its staff after mass layoffs, leadership upheavals and a series of controversies in which the agency’s scientific principles appeared to be overridden by political interests, including those of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“He’s a great doctor, and he was having some difficulty,” Trump told reporters outside the White House. “But he’s going to go on and he’s going to do well.”

Trump later confirmed in a social media post that Kyle Diamantas, the agency’s chief for foods, is expected to take over as acting commissioner. Diamantas is an attorney with personal ties to Donald Trump Jr.

In that post, the president included what appeared to be a text message from Makary submitting his resignation. In it, he noted: “I announced 50 major FDA reforms. Joe Biden’s FDA had none.” He thanked Trump for the chance to serve.

The FDA commissioner, as the leader of an agency that regulates billions of dollars in consumer goods and medicines, is often required to juggle competing priorities that straddle science and politics.

Makary faced a unique challenge in balancing calls by Trump and other Republicans to cut red tape at the FDA, while also tending to Kennedy’s interest in scrutinizing the safety of vaccines, drugs and food additives. The decision to get rid of Makary was made by Kennedy, and then the White House signed off on it, according to an administration official who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to describe internal dynamics.

Virtually all of the FDA’s senior career officials resigned, retired or were forced out in the first year of the second-term Trump administration, leading to a steady stream of leaks and negative stories in the media cataloging low morale, dysfunction and frustration among staff.

Makary’s handpicked deputy, Dr. Vinay Prasad, was pushed out of the agency twice in less than a year for running afoul of specialty drugmakers and groups for patients with rare diseases. Makary appeared poised to weather the controversy, despite an ongoing pressure campaign calling on Trump to fire him.

Recent weeks brought fresh criticisms from other interest groups that the White House considers key to Republican chances in November elections.

Anti-abortion groups have accused Makary of slow-walking an internal review of the abortion pill mifepristone, which has been on the market for 25 years but remains a target for conservative activists. They are seeking to roll back FDA rules that currently allow the pill to be sent through the mail.

“We look forward to a new FDA commissioner who will put an end to the mail-order abortion drug regime,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

Vaping executives told Trump that Makary was blocking approval of their products, including new flavored e-cigarettes seen as crucial to the industry’s survival.

Advertisement

Advertisement

A string of initiatives from Makary aimed to speed up or streamline FDA drug reviews, including dropping certain study requirements, incorporating artificial intelligence into drug evaluations and offering expedited reviews to medicines that support “national interests.”

But pharmaceutical executives rely on the predictability and consistency of FDA decisions, even more than speedy reviews. Makary’s efforts on drug reviews were overshadowed by internal conflicts and disputes that created headaches for drugmakers, investors and patients.

More than a half-dozen drugmakers studying therapies for rare or hard-to-treat diseases said they received rejection letters or requests to run additional studies for drugs that had previously been given the go-ahead by FDA staff. Those drugs were primarily overseen by Prasad, who stepped down for a second time from his role as the FDA’s vaccine and biotech chief in April.

Prasad repeatedly overruled vaccine staffers to restrict eligibility for new coronavirus shots. In February, Prasad initially refused to even consider Moderna’s mRNA shot for flu. The FDA was forced to reverse itself after Moderna pledged to formally challenge the decision and called for intervention by the White House.

Some of Makary and Prasad’s most controversial vaccine proposals never came to fruition, despite stoking confusion and anxiety within the FDA and beyond.

In an internal memo in November, Prasad claimed — without publishing evidence — that the FDA had linked COVID-19 shots to the deaths of 10 children. Prasad used that to justify a planned overhaul of the agency’s approach to approving vaccines.

A dozen former FDA commissioners issued a scathing denunciation of the plan, warning it would “undermine the public interest” and decimate vaccine development. The FDA has not released its analysis of the deaths or its plan for the vaccine overhaul.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Makary’s initial pick for the job, Dr. George Tidmarsh, was forced to resign after allegations that he used his FDA position to pursue a personal vendetta against a former business partner.

His replacement, longtime FDA cancer specialist Dr. Rick Pazdur, announced he would retire after just three weeks on the job, after clashing with Makary on multiple issues surrounding drug reviews.

With Makary’s departure, the fate of many of his fledgling initiatives is uncertain.

Most of the programs Makary introduced have not gone through federal rulemaking required to enshrine them in U.S. law. Democrats in Congress have questioned the legality of some of those efforts, including a program that offers drugmakers expedited reviews for innovative medicines.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Manchester United talisman Casemiro has named his pick to take over the club and agreed he’s “like Sir Alex Ferguson” in at least one sense

Departing Manchester United star Casemiro has given Michael Carrick his full vote of confidence to get the manager’s job full time. And the five-time Champions League-winner has even agreed with comparisons likening him to club legend Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 34-year-old, who is expected to join Inter Miami when his contract expires this summer, has enjoyed a rebirth since Carrick arrived at the helm in January. However, there’s one thing in particular he has demonstrated in that time that Casemiro believes makes him stand out as a candidate for the permanent job.

Casemiro, who missed Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Sunderland, appeared on the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel and described Carrick’s situation as a “big problem.” When pressed by his host on why that is, he proceeded to explain the rapid upgrades his soon-to-be former boss has implemented at Old Trafford.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

“He deserves to stay,” said the Brazilian. “The team plays very good. He will win any games. The team improves day by day. Game by game the team improves.

“So for me it’s a big problem because in my opinion he deserved this opportunity. So, especially for me, because he played in the midfield, he talked with me as a midfielder to a midfielder, it’s easier. But for me, he deserved the opportunity because the team is very comfortable. The team plays very good. We have big wins. So for me he deserved this opportunity.”

Ferdinand, 47, enquired further about what it is about Carrick and his work that makes him so easy to play for. Casemiro explained it’s because “he’s played at this level,” likening him to former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti in that sense.

More specifically, however, Casemiro said the best thing about Carrick is his knowledge and experience of United. And he used the recent example of their meeting with Leeds last month to illustrate the manager’s intellect and knowing what’s important to the club.

“He’s very intelligent,” Casemiro continued. “But for me, the best thing he knows about the club. He understands the club. I remember we played against Leeds, and the meeting is about the history this game…But not everyone knows about Leeds.”

He went on to note how Carrick also spoke about the 1958 Munich Air Disaster in the same week. And Ferdinand likened that kind of reference to his old boss: “Like Ferguson. This is what Ferguson does.”

“It’s amazing. Yeah,” said Casemiro. “Because you see in the meeting he knows where to be. He knows, and for me [this] is very important.”

United went on to lose that fixture 2-1 at home to Leeds following two fine finishes from Noah Okafor. Casemiro himself scored United’s only consolation, while Lisandro Martinez was shown his marching orders.

Carrick would likely feel flattered being compared to his former United chief. And it’s true that historical nous and experience of playing at United is one thing that would set him apart from certain predecessor in the hot seat, like Ruben Amorim.

In that sense, the Old Trafford icon has used his time well in utilising the strengths he has at his disposal. So while he may still be somewhat inexperienced as a first-team manager, he’s clearly drawing on what advantages he does have to prove his worth.

Head to the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel to watch part 2 of the full interview live from 8am on Wednesday 13th May

The Wednesday letters page is impressed by Sally Field’s dedication to Zelda, as a reader wonders why there’s so much controversy around Mixtape.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Too little, too late
While it’s good to know that Sega is giving up on live service games I still worry they’ve left things too late to start reviving their classic franchises. Even something like Sonic Adventure is over 25 years old at this point, let alone any of their Mega Drive or arcade games.

Shinobi: Art Of Vengeance wasn’t a hit and who can be surprised given how long it was since the last one and the fact that it kind of still looked like the old games anyway. The problem for Sega is they don’t have any old 3D games to remake, so they can’t follow the trend of doing Capcom style remakes.

Most of those games are PS1 titles but the Sega equivalent to that was the Saturn, which hardly anyone had. I’d love them to do a remake of Panzer Dragoon Saga but there’s no way that’s going to make financial success.

Maybe they could try NiGHTS but, really, everything is either too old or too obscure for the big budget treatment. Decades of neglect are starting to take their toll.
Ronson

The Legend of Krystal
So there’s a rumoured Star Fox ‘adventure’ game planned for next year or after, but what do we all hope this will be? I’m going to assume that when they say adventure they mean not just on-rails and probably where you can get out of the ship, which brings to mind the awful Star Fox Adventures.

It doesn’t have to though, it could be more like an actual space combat simulator or maybe a sort of Nintendo version of Elite. I could easily see that working well, if Nintendo adds some on-foot sections and a decent amount of humour.

You’d still have the excuse for lots of dogfighting and could even throw some on-rails sections in there. It could expand it into more of an action adventure kind of game, but rather than just copying Star Fox Adventures and trying to be a bit like Zelda this would be its own thing.
Paul

Lost decade
I really fear for Rocksteady with this Warner Bros. buyout. If some bean counter looks at their records, they’re going to see the only thing they made in more than a decade was a massive flop. Back in the Batman: Arkham era they seemed like one of the biggest developers in the world, one of the real up-and-commers, but now the best you can hope is that they don’t get shut down.

I liked the idea of a Batman Beyond game but if they don’t go for that there’s a billion other versions of Batman they could go for. Maybe they’ll try and tie it into the DCU, but I think that would be a mistake given how difficult that would be to organise. Much better to make a connected game universe, if you ask me, so the different characters can appear in other games. Maybe starting with this new Injustice style game.
Tamol

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

9999 AD
That story about the gamer that got banned for 7,973 years from playing Forza Horizon 6 completely baffles me.

I’m really not tech savvy enough to know how they can accomplish this.

For me it’s the equivalent of being banned from ever eating Snickers bars again, What’s to stop him playing it round a friend’s house or pretending to be someone else online?

Who is actually going to monitor it and are they really going to take him off their naughty list in 7,973 years’ time?

Or is it just good publicity for them? Hence, I’m talking about it on your website.
freeway 77

GC: They just increased the ban date to the highest it would go, which was the year 9999. They’re also currently threatening to ban people from the entire franchise, not just one game.

Don’t miss Gaming news! Add us as a Preferred Source

As a loyal GameCentral reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for gaming stories. We have all the latest video games news, reviews, previews, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Add us as a Preferred Source

Advertisement

Under new management
Katsuhiro Harada is starting his own studio under SNK?! Now that is a news story I didn’t expect to see. He must’ve really begun to hate it Bandai Namco because I would’ve thought they would’ve given him his own studio and let him do whatever he wants, especially after Tekken 8 was a big hit.

I guess sometimes you just want to move on. Good for him, but I hope he’s made the right choice with SNK, because The King Of Fighters was an embarrassment, in terms of the amount of interference in the game. I really don’t want to be playing not-Tekken 8 starring Ronaldo.

I’d say it’d be interesting to see him make a non-fighting game but even the name of the studio tells you it’s not going to be that. That’s fine, I just hope it works out for him. Now who’s going to make Tekken 9?
Winston

Losing patience
I can 100% relate to not being ashamed about looking up solutions in games. As someone who will be 50 next year, but still enjoys playing video games, I have found time to be more finite but also I am doing more chores than ever. Something else I have noticed in older age is having less patience to replay the same level over and over again to get past a certain point, or trying to work out a puzzle.

An example are the Resident Evil games, I always enjoy them but going back and forth to find out how to unlock a door gets tiresome really quickly. In my youth I would not have minded doing this, but I don’t have the luxury of time anymore that most young people usually enjoy.

I want to progress and enjoy the game, it becomes too much being frustrated every so often. I am not one of these people who brag on social media or forums, ‘I completed the whole game without dying’. Who cares? Games are to be enjoyed and that is it. The only thing that I still don’t agree with is online cheating and pay to win mechanics, because I always believe in fair and balanced gameplay.
orionz25

The Legend of Sally Field
Those comments from Sally Field about Zelda were hilarious (and boy has she aged well, good for her!). I don’t know who this dweeb is she was in the film with but if he’s 33 that means he’s a millennial so how did he manage to not ever hear about Zelda and think you could play it on a PC?

If he was a Gen Z I could kind of understand but this is a grown man who’s been shamed by someone about to enter her 80s on his gaming knowledge. I might watch Mrs. Doubtfire again after this, as a tribute to both Robin Williams and Sally Field – people with good gaming taste.
Hacker

Same old, same old
Man, I wished I hadn’t of looked up why people were getting upset about Mixtape.

You have the DEI message hating lot that seem to have lumped it in with that argument. Not sure why, it’s pretty bog standard teen stuff.

Then it seems there are those that see the game as a corporate lie, a game passing itself off as indie but is financed by billionaires, thus sucking out the indie room oxygen from real indie developers. The cost of the licenced soundtrack being the primary evidence of the sort of thing a normal indie couldn’t afford.

In that frame of mind some see the whole 90s nostalgia vibe as an angle and plastic.

Due to being financed by a big publisher. I remember Dave The Diver got similar criticism and at the BAFTAs, I think, when winning an award, they thanked BAFTA for not putting them in the indie category.

It sparked the usual debate of what exactly is indie these days. Is it budget, team size, is it sensibilities? No one knows to this day.

It seems also that IGN’s, admittedly crazy, 10/10 makes some suspicious of that backing money being used for influence.

To be fair there are legitimate criticisms like the characters not being relatable. I wouldn’t go that far but I did find them a bit too self aware for my liking. Also, that it’s not a game but an interactive experience, which is true.

But mostly it just seems like the usual rubbish of social media types creating controversy for clicks.
Simundo

GC: It’s just sexism and weird conspiracies, the same as always.

Inbox also-rans
All this speculation about Capcom is fun but unfortunately we might not get an answer on what they’re doing next until next year. The new Onimusha still hasn’t got a date and they’re not going to want to start hyping anything else up until it’s out.
Flowey

Personally, I’d like to see the next Soulslike be not open world. I miss the tight level design of the earlier games and feel that Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne were plenty open enough. Not that Elden Ring was bad, but I didn’t like it as much.
Korey

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

MORE: Games Inbox: What Nintendo Switch 2 games will be announced in June?

MORE: Games Inbox: Are you saving up for the PS6?

MORE: Games Inbox: Would you pay over £80 for GTA 6?

Benefit claimants are being urged to check the list immediately or risk penalties and Universal Credit fraud charges

Benefit claimants throughout the country are being urged to stay vigilant as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) steps up its demands for the prompt reporting of any alterations to personal circumstances.

Officials have cautioned that neglecting to keep the government department informed is not simply regarded as an administrative error, but may be deemed benefit fraud. This could result in substantial financial sanctions or the complete withdrawal of vital support.

The DWP insists that because benefits are worked out using accurate information from a claimant’s circumstances, any departure from that information can lead to considerable overpayments.

Those who neglect to inform the authorities of alterations may be required to repay substantial amounts of money and could face an automatic £50 penalty, reports the Manchester Evening News.

For those claiming Universal Credit, the consequences are even more serious, with the threat of substantial fines and possible court proceedings for those discovered to be in violation of their reporting duties.

The range of reportable alterations is extensive, covering virtually every significant life event. Below are list of things you must notify the DWP of.

Changes you need to report

• Changing your name or gender
• Finding or finishing a job, or working different hours
• Your income going up or down
• Starting or stopping education, training or an apprenticeship
• Moving house
• People moving into or out of the place you live (for example your partner, a child or lodger)
• The death of your partner or someone you live with
• Having a baby
• Starting or stopping caring for someone
• Getting married or divorced
• Starting or ending a civil partnership
• Planning to go abroad for any length of time
• Going into hospital, a care home or sheltered accommodation
• Any changes to your medical condition or disability
• Changing your doctor
• Changes to your pension, savings, investments or property
• Changes to other money you get (for example student loans or grants, sick pay or money you get from a charity)
• Changes to the benefits you or anyone else in your house gets
• You or your partner getting back-pay (sometimes called ‘arrears’) for salary or earnings you’re owed
• Changes to your immigration status, if you’re not a British citizen

For more information about how to report a change in circumstance and when, visit the gov.uk website.

He was sentenced in 2012 for sex offences including rape and sexual assault

A man convicted of historic sex offences has died in a Cambridgeshire prison. Barry Ford died aged 77 in August 2025 while serving his sentence at HMP Littlehey in Perry, according to a recently published report.

Ford was sentenced to 18 years in prison in December 2012 after being found guilty of sex offences. Ford was jailed for six counts of rape and 10 of sexual assault, as reported by the BBC. Some offences were committed with his son, Craig McKellar, who was also convicted.

A Prison Service spokesperson confirmed that Ford was born on January 31, 1948 and died on August 29, 2025 at the prison.

A report by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman stated Ford died of a brain condition caused by frailty in old age. The report says that HM Littlhey prison confirmed that Ford had no identified next of kin.

A clinical reviewer said the care Ford received at the prison was “equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community”. The reviewer also found that the end of life care was of a “high-standard” and no recommendations were made.

An inquest into his death was held on October 8, 2025 where the coroner concluded that Mr Ford died of natural causes.

A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson said: “The Pensions Commission is examining how we can ensure secure retirements for tomorrow’s pensioners, while our newly passed Pension Schemes Act will bring about major reform to the UK pensions system, benefitting millions of workers to the tune of up to £29,000 by the time they retire.

BEIJING (AP) — President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday for his highly anticipated summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a restless moment for a world worried about war, trade and artificial intelligence.

“We’re the two superpowers,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House on Tuesday. “We’re the strongest nation on Earth in terms of military. China’s considered second.”

While Trump likes to project a sense of strength, the visit occurs at a delicate moment for his presidency as his popularity at home has been weighed down by the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran and rising inflation as a consequence of that conflict. The president is seeking a win by signing deals with China to buy more American food and aircraft, saying he’ll be talking with Xi about trade “more than anything else.”

The Trump administration hopes to begin the process of establishing a “Board of Trade” with China to address differences between the countries. The board could help prevent the trade war ignited last year after Trump’s tariff hikes, an action China countered through its control of rare earth minerals. That led to a one-year truce last October.

But Trump comes to Beijing at a time when Iran continues to dominate his domestic agenda. The war has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, stranding oil and natural gas tankers and causing energy prices to spike to levels that could sabotage global economic growth. The U.S. president declared that Xi didn’t need to assist in resolving the conflict, even though Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Beijing last week.

“We have a lot of things to discuss. I wouldn’t say Iran is one of them, to be honest with you, because we have Iran very much under control,” Trump told reporters Tuesday.

Taiwan and trade are high on the agenda

The status of Taiwan also appears to be a major topic as China is displeased with U.S. plans to sell weapons to the self-governing island that the Chinese government claims as part of its own territory.

Trump told reporters Monday that he would be discussing with Xi an $11 billion weapons package for Taiwan that the U.S. administration authorized in December but has not yet begun fulfilling.

The U.S. leader has demonstrated greater ambivalence toward Taiwan, an approach that’s raising questions about whether Trump could be open to dialing back support for the island democracy.

At the same time, Taiwan — as the world’s leading chipmaker — has become essential for the development of AI, with the U.S. importing more goods so far this year from Taiwan than China. Trump has sought to use Biden-era programs and his own deals to bring more chipmaking to America.

Trump says relationship with Xi is on solid footing

But Trump was already portraying the trip as a success before he left White House grounds. He openly mused about Xi’s planned reciprocal visit to the U.S., lamenting that the ballroom under construction would not be completed in time.

“We’re going to have a great relationship for many, many decades to come,” Trump said of the U.S. and China. “As you know, President Xi will be coming here toward the end of the year. So that would be exciting. I only wish we had the ballroom finished.”

Trump said he had spoken with the Chinese leader and the meeting would be “positive” as he embarked on Air Force One with a coterie of aides, family members and business world titans, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Tesla and SpaceX’s Elon Musk. He will arrive in China on Wednesday evening and, after a ceremonial greeting, go to his hotel. He will attend a state banquet Thursday and have a working lunch with Xi on Friday before returning to the U.S.

Despite Trump’s outward confidence, China appears to be entering the meeting from “a much stronger place,” said Scott Kennedy, a senior adviser on Chinese business and economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

China would like to reduce tech restrictions on accessing computer chips and find ways to reduce tariffs, among other goals.

“But even if they don’t get much on any of those things, as long as there’s not a blow-up in the meeting and President Trump doesn’t go away and look to re-escalate, China basically comes out stronger,” Kennedy said.

Trump wants a three-way nuclear arms deal

Trump also intends to raise the idea of the U.S., China and Russia signing a pact that would set limits on the nuclear weapons each nation keeps in its arsenal, according to a senior Trump administration official who briefed reporters ahead of the trip. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House.

China has previously been cool to entering such a pact. Beijing’s arsenal, according to Pentagon estimates, exceeds more than 600 operational nuclear warheads and is far from parity with the U.S. and Russia, which each are estimated to have more than 5,000 nuclear warheads.

The last nuclear arms pact, known as the New START treaty, between Russia and the United States expired in February, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century. As the treaty was set to expire, Trump rejected a call by Russia to extend the two-country deal for another year and called for “a new, improved, and modernized” deal that includes China.

The Pentagon estimates China has more than 600 operational nuclear warheads and will have over 1,000 by 2030.

___

Boak reported from Washington.

The Cavern Club in Liverpool, the nightclub birthplace of the Beatles, promotes itself as “the place where it all began”. On May 11, Apple, the Beatles’ management company, announced its re-acquisition of 3 Savile Row, London, the building they might usefully conceive of as “the place where it all ended”.

In the Beatleverse, 3 Savile Row is perhaps most associated with the Beatles’ iconic yet bittersweet rooftop performance. Iconic because this improvised concert was first captured for posterity in their 1970 film (and album) Let It Be. It was then digitally zhuzhed up for Peter Jackson’s epic retelling, Get Back, in 2021. Bittersweet because that performance on a chilly January day in 1969 was the last time the world ever saw the magic of John, Paul, George and Ringo gigging together. Or in the words of the promotional trailer for Let It Be: “rehearsing, recording, rapping, relaxing, philosophising … creating.”

The Savile Row building was the Beatles’ third London office. They moved there after outgrowing 94 Baker Street, which had previously housed the Apple Boutique in 1967, and following a short-lived stay at 95 Wigmore Street in early 1968.

Purchased for a snip at £500,000 in June of that year, 3 Savile Row became general HQ for all things Beatles. It had a recording studio in the basement, offices for each of the Fab Four and, of course, an impromptu gig space on the roof. Beatles fans, immortalised in George Harrison’s song Apple Scruffs (1970), would gather round the front entrance, hoping for a glimpse, a quick chat or a hug from their favourite Beatle. Yet few would ever have the opportunity to cross that elusive threshold. Until now.

Apple’s new venture heralds seven floors of unseen material from Apple Corps extensive archives, rotating exhibitions, a fan store and the recreation of the original studio where Let it Be was recorded.

It will also give fans the opportunity to tread in the band’s footsteps as they relive the iconic rooftop concert on exactly the spot where it happened. In other words, it promises the rarest of Beatles finds: a genuinely new experience.

The Fab Four in the flesh

As we are so accustomed to seeing in Liverpool, Beatles fans the world over demonstrate a ceaseless fascination with the band’s origin story. In part, this is because no book, film or theatrical production can so tangibly communicate the extraordinary ordinariness of the Beatles’ lives as being there can do: seeing for yourself the sheer magnitude of the improbability of four young Liverpudlians’ journey from two up-two down terraced houses in south Liverpool to the 20th century’s most successful pop group.

In the same way as standing in the front room of the McCartney family home in Forthlin Road, at the gates of Strawberry Field or in the middle of the roundabout in Penny Lane, there is little doubt that clambering onto the roof of 3 Savile Row, gazing across the London skyline and standing in the very steps of John, Paul, George and Ringo will foster in Beatles people a kind of indescribable wonder: making the imagined real and the real imagined.

With the re-acquisition of 3 Savile Road back into the Beatles’ property portfolio, Apple has made a genius move. The museum will connect the flesh and blood, bricks and mortar world of the 1960s Beatles to the social media and big screen worlds of the post-60s Beatles. And theirs is undeniably a big story to tell. It took Peter Jackson nearly eight hours of documentary time. Sam Mendes requires four feature-length films. And coming soon to a rooftop near you: the chance to experience all the Beatle magic for yourself.