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For the edition broadcast on Saturday 23 November 1963, the day after the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy, TW3 produced a shortened 20-minute programme with no satire, reflecting on the loss, including a contribution from Dame Sybil Thorndike and the tribute song " In the Summer of His Years " sung by Martin with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer.

This edition was screened on NBC in the US the following day, and the soundtrack was released by Decca Records.

A clip of this broadcast, featuring Roy Kinnear, was shown in the David L. Wolper documentary film Four Days in November and more recently on the History Channel 2009 documentary JFK: 3 Shots that Changed America.

In addition to the Millicent Martin studio recording of " In the Summer of His Years " issued in the US by ABC-Paramount, other versions were recorded and released by Connie Francis ( MGM ), Mahalia Jackson ( Columbia ), Kate Smith ( RCA Victor ), Sarah Vaughan ( Vernon ) and The Chad Mitchell Trio ( Mercury ); the Francis recording became a Top 40 hit on the Cash Box pop singles chart in January 1964.

BBC presenter Richard Dimbleby, who broadcast the president's funeral from Washington, said that the regular programme was scrapped when news of the assassination was received and that the programme was a good expression of the sorrow felt in Britain.