IT was the day the quiet Beatle met the even-quieter future King of Pop.

A fascinating 1979 radio programme in which Michael Jackson and George Harrison reviewed the latest record releases has resurfaced after 40 years.

The edition of Radio One’s Roundtable, hosted by David ‘Kid' Jensen, was recorded in the same month that the Jacksons appeared at Poole Arts Centre, in a gig that would go down in local pop history.

The Jacksons were on their Destiny tour, which would pause for Michael to finish work on his solo album Off the Wall – the LP that would launch him towards superstardom.

A documentary, When George Met Michael, has been produced for BBC Radio Solent by Southampton-based producer Richard Latto.

The BBC had wiped its recording of the Radio One programme, but audio historian Richard White obtained a cassette recording which he remastered.

Richard Latto said: “Paul Gambaccini is presenting the programme and we’ve obtained fresh interviews from Kid Jensen, Judd Lander – who has fascinating stories of being Michael’s PR guy that day – and several others who were associated with the broadcast.

“The chat between the two star guests is superb – for Beatles and Jackson fans it’s fascinating to hear them talk so candidly about music, work and life in such a relaxed environment, expertly anchored by Kid Jensen, who last year announced he is currently battling with Parkinson’s disease.”

During the interview, Harrison talks about composing his first song, Don’t Bother Me – which he wrote at the Palace Court Hotel on Bournemouth’s Westover Road during the Beatles’ week of concerts at the Gaumont next door.

“I think the first tune I wrote was 1963, as an experiment, to see if I could write a tune,” he said.

“It’s called Don’t Bother Me, a grumpy song, which actually was all right for the first tune, but then it was really a matter of practice – the more you do, the more easy it becomes.”

Recalling how John Lennon and Paul McCartney had been writing songs since they were at school, he said: “They had a bit of a head start but because they did write such good tunes and the Beatles took off, well, it made it more difficult for me as a songwriter because … if there’s already so many good tunes, then I have to write better.”

Michael Jackson expresses his admiration for the Beatles’ tunes, telling Harrison: “I think the melodies are always important. Especially like some of the old Beatles things, I think the melodies are beautiful. That’s what I think has made them stay around so long.”

The pair shared their thoughts on records including You Angel You by Manfred Man’s Earth Band, Soul Man by the Blues Brothers, Lady Madonna by Lenny White.

* When George Met Michael is on Saturday, 11am, on BBC Radio Solent, exactly 40 years after its broadcast. It will be available on the BBC Sounds app for 30 days.