The song was originally recorded during sessions for Queen’s 1974 album ‘Queen II’, however, it didn’t make the final cut. The remastered version is set to feature in the upcoming 2026 release of the album.

While a bootleg version of the song may have already circulated online by Brian’s pre-Queen band, Smile, the guitarist has said that “no-one” has heard this version.

Sir Brain said, “It’s a song that goes back a very long way, but to my knowledge no one has ever heard this version. It’s a work in progress and will appear on the forthcoming rebuild of the Queen II album – coming next year – but I’m sneaking this into my Planet Rock special because I’m fascinated to know what people think about it.”

Fans will be able to hear the song for the first time during Sir Brian’s Planet Rock Christmas Special at 6pm tonight. The radio special, which will also be repeated on Christmas Day, will also include a hand-picked selection of Sir Brian’s favourite Christmas and seasonal tracks. The musician will also reflect on the music, stories and memories that have shaped his own Christmases over the last few years.

Fans can expect a range of tunes from Bad News to Slade, Chuck Berry and The Crystals, including a Christmas hit by Sir Brian’s wife, singer and actress Anita Dobson.

Formed in the 1970s, Queen was made up of guitarist Sir Brian, drummer Roger Taylor, late frontman Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon. The group has since had six UK number one singles and 10 UK number one albums with some of their best known songs including ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Killer Queen’, ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’, and ‘We Are The Champions’.

They won multiple BRIT Awards, including Outstanding Contribution to Music, recognising their lasting influence on British culture. The band were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame, celebrating their historic impact. Queen also earned several Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting excellence. In 2020, they received the BRIT Billion Award for surpassing one billion UK streams, underlining their enduring popularity across generations.

Earlier this year Queen were named the most played rock act on UK radio and TV in the 21st century, according to the music licensing company, Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL).

Brian May’s Planet Rock Christmas Special will air on Planet Rock tonight at 6pm, with a repeat broadcast on Christmas Day at 1pm.

The track, titled “Little Darlin” was released this week by Rhino Entertainment and was originally recorded by McVie in 2004 when working on her solo album, In the Meantime.

McVie would have turned 80 on 12th July 2023, with Rhino working together with McVie’s nephew, Dan Perfect, to release a remastered version of “Little Darlin” on this date to celebrate the singer’s legacy. Perfect was involved in the original writing and production of In the Meantime back in 2004, and has continued to play a significant role in his aunt’s career.

Rhino have also shared further plans to release reissues of McVie’s solo album In the Meantime as a whole, in addition to a reissue of her self-titled 1984 album later this year. These projects are also being overseen by McVie’s nephew, Dan Perfect, who shared his thoughts in the liner notes of the re-release.

Perfect said, “When my aunt Christine McVie died unexpectedly last year, plans were already afoot for the re-release of this solo album, which is perhaps her most personal and intimate project.”

Perfect also shared, “Chris and I had been working for some time on remixing the original tracks in Dolby Atmos, and Chris was excited and intrigued by this process, which was bringing fresh life and contemporaneity to the songs… I dearly wish that she could have lived to see this re-release as she would have been delighted.”

McVie’s former Fleetwood Mac band member Mick Fleetwood also paid tribute to her to mark her 80th birthday. He released a spoken word adaptation of McVie’s track, “Songbird,” saying in the track, “As the songbird sings, now from the heavens, to you Christine, I wish you all the love in the world. But, most of all, I wish it from myself.”

Mick teamed up with Jake Shimabukuro to produce the track, with Mick on vocals and percussion.

“Songbird” was also performed by Mick Fleetwood, Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt in tribute to McVie at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this year.

McVie passed away in November of 2022 following a brief illness, and has left behind a huge legacy that is still being celebrated after her passing.

Fleetwood Mac shared their thoughts via social media, writing, “There are no words to describe our sadness at the passing of Christine McVie. She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure. She was the best musician anyone could have in their band and the best friend anyone could have in their life. We were so lucky to have a life with her. Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed.”