SIR Paul McCartney has reportedly offered his famous back-catalogue to hit American TV show, Glee, after becoming a fan of the singing teenagers from William McKinley High.
The former Beatle, 68, sent a letter to show creator Ryan Murphy, who was so surprised he thought he had been tricked.
But a shocked Murphy discovered the ex-Beatle really was an admirer of show, about high school misfits singing in a “glee club” at a midwest school, and wanted his music to be part of it.
Sir Paul enclosed a mix of some of his tunes, including Michelle, in the “fan letter” and asked Murphy to consider using them on the series.
Speaking at the Television Critics Association’s summer meeting in Beverly Hills, California, Murphy said: “I was gobsmacked. I grew up with that guy.
“So, of course, we are going to do something.” Sir Paul will not be the only British name associated with Glee when it returns later this year.
Murphy, a former journalist and creator of Nip/Tuck, said Britain’s Got Talent discovery Susan Boyle was in talks to be part of the Christmas episode.
Glee, which combines pop songs, high school high jinks and drama into an upbeat hour, is the leading nominee at the August 29 Emmy Awards with 19 bids, including best comedy series and seven acting nominations for its cast and guest stars.
But it was not always so popular.
Coldplay and Brian Adams turned down requests to use their songs in the show’s early days.
Chris Martin’s band have since reversed that decision and other stars have flocked to be associated with it, including Rihanna, who offered hit single Take A Bow at a reduced rate.
Billy Joel made his whole back-catalogue available and Madonna had an entire episode devoted to her decades-long career.
Sir Paul’s people may be hoping for a similar result, given the immediate download popularity of any song featured on the show.
Last year, 7m songs by the cast of Glee were sold and the show has given fresh life to old hits, especially the Journey song Don’t Stop Believin’, which is iTunes’ most downloaded song not released in the 21st century.
Sir Paul, whose Beatles songs are famously still not available on iTunes, has branched out in recent years in an effort to pick up non-traditional fans.
In 2007, he released an album, Memory Almost Full, through the coffee shop Starbucks, which became his most successful hit in a decade.
Last year, the Fab Four were unleashed on a new generation with the release of the Beatles Rock Band computer game, which has sold more than 1m copies worldwide.
Although apparently a fan of the show, Sir Paul may be unaware of a musical link he shares with the cast.
In 2009, the Glee cast had 25 singles chart on the Billboard Hot 100 – the most by any artist since The Beatles had 31 songs in the charts, in 1964.
