Passengers aboard a Beatles Magical Mystery Tour bus in Liverpool experienced a surreal moment on Monday when Sir Paul McCartney drove past them, waving from the back of a car while on the phone to fellow Beatle Ringo Starr. The chance encounter, which lasted about a minute, left fans and the tour guide in disbelief.
Tour guide describes the 'magical coincidence'
Tony Curley, 71, the Magical Mystery Tour bus guide, described the moment as 'surreal'. 'We pulled up at the red lights and there he was waving whilst sat in the back of a car,' Curley said. 'We pulled our window down and, like a proper Scouser, he said to us, “You alright, lads?” Of course we were – as a Beatles fan seeing Paul for the first time was amazing.'
Curley quickly grabbed his microphone and urged passengers to get their phones out. 'He then waved at everyone on the bus and pulled out Ringo on his phone,' Curley added. 'It probably only lasted a minute but was a magical coincidence.'
Fan captures the moment on social media
Breno Augusto, a Portuguese Beatles superfan and blogger, was among those on the bus. He posted on X: 'Imagine exploring Liverpool aboard the Magical Mystery Tour bus – [on Monday] – when, just when you least expect it, you glance at a car and see Paul McCartney inside, chatting with Ringo Starr!!!!'
The Magical Mystery Tour takes fans around Liverpool, highlighting locations where the Beatles grew up and began their careers. The two-hour ride concludes at the Cavern Club, a converted underground vegetable warehouse where the band performed in the early 1960s before achieving global fame. Liverpool now features numerous Beatles statues, museums, gift shops, and even rentable yellow submarine houseboats along the dockyards.
McCartney in Liverpool for award ceremony
Sir Paul was in his hometown to present actor Stephen Graham, star of the series 'Adolescence', with an award from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. The official Liverpool Instagram page shared a photo of Sir Paul giving a thumbs up from a car with the caption: 'Guess who’s back in town.'
