Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are in talks to take part in a TV tribute marking the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' first US TV performance.

The stars are discussing a return to New York's iconic Ed Sullivan Theater to commemorate the Fab Four's debut on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and US TV network CBS hope to convince them to perform together.

A source told The Sun newspaper: ''CBS knows that getting Macca and Ringo reunited will be a ratings winner and will be picked up globally.

''They rarely perform together so producers are desperately trying to persuade them to play a few Beatles classics.

''It would be a fitting way to mark the big anniversary.''

'The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles' will be filmed at the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 27, the day after the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, and will be broadcast on CBS on February 9.

Their debut on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' attracted an audience of 73 million, sparking Beatlemania in the US, and it became a landmark moment in history.

Sir Paul, 71, and Ringo, 73, last played together in 2009 at London's Royal Albert Hall to honour ex-bandmate George Harrison a year after his death.

It is hoped the pair will film their piece at the Ed Sullivan Theater in time to be included in the final edit for the show.

Sir Paul is also expected to head out on the road again soon after the success of his album, New, and six Asian gigs last year which made him £25 million.