Saturday 20 July 1968 Paul McCartney, People 134 Comments
In an appearance on the BBC Television show Dee Time, Jane Asher announced to the host, Simon Dee, that her engagement to Paul McCartney was over.
I havenât broken it off, but it is broken off, finished.
I know it sounds corny, but we still see each other and love each other, but it hasnât worked out. Perhaps weâll be childhood sweethearts and meet again and get married when weâre about 70.
Jane Asher
Dee Time
Tellingly, Asher had failed to attend the world premiĂšre of Yellow Submarine three days earlier; all the other Beatlesâ partners were there.
I always feel very wary including Jane in The Beatlesâ history. Sheâs never gone into print about our relationship, whilst everyone on earth has sold their story. So Iâd feel weird being the one to kiss and tell.
We had a good relationship. Even with touring there were enough occasions to keep a reasonable relationship going. To tell the truth, the women at that time got sidelined. Now it would be seen as very chauvinist of us. Then it was like: âWe are four miners who go down the pit. You donât need women down the pit, do you? We wonât have women down the pit.â A lot of what we, The Beatles, did was very much in an enclosed scene. Other people found it difficult â even Johnâs wife, Cynthia, found it very difficult â to penetrate the screen that we had around us. As a kind of safety barrier we had a lot of âinâ jokes, little signs, references to music; we had a common bond in that and it was very difficult for any âoutsiderâ to penetrate. That possibly wasnât good for relationships back then.
Paul McCartney
Anthology
McCartney and Asher had been together for five years, since meeting at the Royal Albert Hall in 1963. However, McCartney had a string of other girls, mainly while The Beatles were touring â and in 1968 began an affair with an American woman, Francie Schwartz.
Asher arrived unexpectedly at McCartneyâs home in Cavendish Avenue, London, where she reportedly found him in bed with Schwartz. She walked out and sent her mother to collect her belongings, signalling an end to the relationship.
I think inevitably when I moved to Cavendish Avenue, I realised that she and I werenât really going to be the thing weâd always thought we might be. Once or twice we talked about getting married, and plans were afoot but I donât know, something really made me nervous about the whole thing. It just never settled with me, and as thatâs very important for me, things must feel comfortable for me, I think itâs a pretty good gauge if youâre lucky enough. Youâre not always lucky enough, but if they can feel comfortable then thereâs something very special about that feeling. I hadnât quite managed to be able to get it with Jane.
Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
Last updated: 3 March 2023
Also on this day...
- 2016: The Beatles Live At The Hollywood Bowl to be released in September
- 1987: Recording: Choba B CCCP by Paul McCartney
- 1967: The Chris Barber Band records Catcall
- 1967: George Harrison and Ringo Starr travel to Greece
- 1964: US single releases: And I Love Her, Iâll Cry Instead
- 1964: US album release: Something New
- 1963: Live: Ritz Ballroom, Rhyl
- 1962: Live: Bell Hall, Warrington
- 1962: Live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
- 1961: Live: St Johnâs Hall, Liverpool
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.