What do you get when you combine a fantastic performance from Sarah Lancashire with some of the best music of all time? Richard Curtis’ 2019 10-star (that's our own rating) rom-com, Yesterday, about a struggling musician who, in a strange turn of events, discovers he’s the only person who remembers The Beatles. It’s fun, charming and too good to stop watching once you start – and, more importantly, it’s available to watch for free tonight.
Leading the cast is Himesh Patel as struggling singer-songwriter, Jack Malik, who decides to adopt the songs of The Beatles as his own given no one else remembers him. And it turns out audiences really quite like them (surprise, surprise) - so much so that he becomes a star in his own right. With iconic music, an original storyline and a brilliant performance from Sarah, it’s a feel-good film that’s well worth some sofa time for.
With the series now available to stream on the BBC, here’s everything you need to know about Yesterday, including the full plot, cast, trailer and how to watch it.
What is Yesterday about?
The film has two geniuses behind it - director Danny Boyle and writer Richard Curtis – and stars Himesh Patel as Jack Malik, a struggling singer-songwriter who finds himself in a very bizarre situation. One night, he’s struck by a bus and when he wakes up, he’s the only person in the world who remembers the music of The Beatles. Does he use his memory of them to his advantage? Of course he does.
He begins performing their songs and, low and behold, audiences rather like them. Even Ed Sheeran (who plays himself in the film) invites Jack to perform on his tour. And yet despite Jack’s star rising faster than even he could have imagined, something just isn’t right. After all, he stole the music he’s now performing - and it seems not everyone has forgotten who The Beatles are - or were.
Sarah Lancashire and Justin Edwards play two fans who also remember the band's original music, and they decide to approach Jack about the situation. Far from being angry, however, they thank him for keeping the music alive and give him John Lennon’s address, who’s lived a happy life away from the spotlight.
Naturally, there’s no shortage of Beatles songs in the film, including the likes of Yesterday and Let it Be. And, rather impressively, Himesh Patel performed his own vocals - and he does an incredible job of it. He also learnt to play the guitar for the role, telling The Guardian: “When I was 14, I bought myself a cheap electric guitar and tried to teach myself. When this film came along, it was a reason to apply myself properly.
“I sat down with Adem Ilhan, who’s a great musician and composer, and we spent two months in a room, which we made to look like Jack’s bedroom, just jamming and learning to play my own way.”
He also admitted to being slightly weirded out by the idea of Paul McCartney or Ringo Star watching him perform. “We got their blessing – the project wouldn’t have gone ahead without that – but I’m not sure if they’ve seen it,” he said. “It’s weird to think about a Beatle watching me sing their songs.”
Who’s in the cast of Yesterday?
The main cast of Yesterday includes:
- Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley) as Liz
- Himesh Patel (The Assessment) as Jack Malik
- Lily James (Baby Driver) as Ellie Appleton
- Joel Fry (Plebs) as Rocky
- Kate McKinnon (Barbie) as Debra Hammer
- Sanjeev Bhaskar (Unforgotten) as Jed Malik
- Meera Syal (The Revenge Club) as Sheila Malik
- Harry Michell (The Mother) as Nick
- Sophia Di Martino (Flowers) as Carol
- Alexander Arnold (A Mother’s Son) as Gavin
- Ellise Chappell (Poldark) as Lucy
- Karl Theobald (Green Wing) as Terry
- Ed Sheeran as himself
Is there a trailer for Yesterday?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Yesterday below.
Is Yesterday any good?
Yes – it’s a fantastic film. If you love the music of The Beatles, we need not convince you any further, but even if you’re not a fan, it’s a story that stands on its own with a brilliant standout performance from Himesh Patel. It’s a charming, uplifting watch that you’ll very likely have a smile on your face after watching.
How can I watch Yesterday?
Yesterday is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
What other Sarah Lancashire dramas can I watch now?
If you’re partial to a period drama, we’d recommend Rose and Maloney. Sarah plays hard-drinking, rule-breaking detective, Rose Linden, and her performance deserves all the praise. You can watch Rose and Maloney now on Prime Video. For crime dramas fans, we’d suggest Kiri. The fictional drama stars Sarah as Miriam Grayson who finds herself in a horrifying situation when a young black girl, Kiri, is abducted just before she’s due to be adopted. You can watch Kiri on Channel 4.
