Love Actually director only realised he made ‘dreadful mistake’ in the film after it was released

Despite now being twenty years old, there’s one British Christmas film you’re guaranteed to be watching at least once at this time of year.

Love Actually, obviously. But the iconic rom-com isn’t just filled with legendary moments and stars, there’s some absolute bops too.

There’s Billy Mack and his 'Christmas Is All Around', of course 'God Only Knows' at the emotional ending and who could forget Hugh Grant dancing to The Pointer Sisters' 'Jump'.

I mean, music is core to Love Actually.

But despite the banger of a soundtrack, the film’s creator, Richard Curtis, says he made a ‘dreadful mistake’ choosing the songs.

Turns out back when they were making the Christmas movie, pop-rock band Keane had written a track especially for it.

The 'Somewhere Only We Know' hitmakers were unsigned at the time and keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley told The Independent: “While they were making the film, Adam suggested we should quickly write a song and he’d see if he could get it into Richard Curtis’s hands…

Fred Duval/FilmMagic/Getty Images

"And maybe we could sneak onto the soundtrack and get our big break!”

The song was actually titled ‘Love Actually’ and has since been released as a standalone track, in celebration of the film’s 20^th anniversary.

Of course, the once unsigned band went on to release plenty of hits - with a number one album only a year later.

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Curtis said: “When I first listened to ‘Love Actually’ by this totally unknown combo called Keane, I thought it was beautiful.

“I tried really hard to put it in the film, but in the end it was a little melancholy and, dare I say, a bit DEEP for the film I’d made.”

Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

But he continued: “Of course, I realised what a dreadful mistake that had been when six months later Hopes and Fears was No 1 in the charts. It is SO wonderful that the song is now being released for everyone to hear.

“I’ve listened to it a lot over the years and love it even more now than I did then. And this time, myself and my son Spike have made a little edit of the whole film to go with the song.

“I think I actually prefer that 3 minute version of ‘Love Actually’ to the long, chaotic film that’s been doing the rounds now for 20 years.”

Curtis recently spoke to LADbible about the classic Christmas film, including that controversial age gap with Keira Knightley and how his casting decisions have changed since.

Topics: Christmas, TV and Film

Jess Battison

Jess is an Entertainment Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include keeping up with the Twitter girlies, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021 and has previously worked at MyLondon.

@jessbattison_