Legendary producer Sir George Martin has made a public apology to replaced Beatles drummer Pete Best.

The 66-year-old musician was part of the fab four from 1960 to 1962, before Ringo Starr was drafted into the band to take his place - and the music mogul now insists he feels "guilty" over the dismissal.

Martin authorized the change just before the Beatles shot to fame, with Best going on to work as a civil servant for 20 years before establishing his own band years later.

Martin says, "I felt guilty. Maybe I was the catalyst that changed his life."