BBC Four and BBC iPlayer will show the new 75-minute documentary, The Making of Do They Know It’s Christmas? The song was recorded over the course of one day at SARM Studios in Notting Hill, and was filmed by director Nigel Dick. Whilst some of the footage was used for the iconic music video, much of what he recorded has remained unseen for four decades and some of it has never been seen before.

This documentary unearths 75 minutes of that original footage, shot on 16mm film and newly-restored and digitised. In rare and previously unseen moments, stars including Bananarama, Bono, Boy George, Duran Duran, George Michael, Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17, Paul Young, Phil Collins, Spandau Ballet and Sting, rehearse and record their parts and interact with each other during 24 hours which would make musical history. The film also includes interviews which were shot on the day with Bono, Gary Kemp, George Michael, John Taylor, Simon Le Bon and Trevor Horn, plus an appearance from Nigel Planer, who played Neil in the BBC TV series, The Young Ones. The Making of Do They Know It’s Christmas? is produced by Jill S Sinclair for the Band Aid Trust.

Jonathan Rothery, Head of BBC Pop Music TV, says: “The creation of the Band Aid supergroup and release of Do They Know It’s Christmas? was a hugely significant moment in pop music history, and BBC TV will be celebrating the 40th anniversary since its recording, and its incredible legacy which lives on today.”

(Image: Brian Aris)