EXPENSIVE OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY PHOTO UPDATE

 

Britain fires up the world: London gets the 2012 Games under way with the Greatest Show On Earth (rounded off by Macca, of course)

• Sir Steve Redgrave carries the Olympic torch into the Stadium, after David Beckham accompanied it into Stratford on a speedboat
• Seven young athletes then light the cauldron
• Breathtaking firework display lights up the sky above east London
• Sir Paul McCartney brings the show to a close, singing Beatles classic Hey Jude
• Queen makes spectacular appearance in simulated helicopter arrival with James Bond star Daniel Craig
• Monarch tells the world: 'I declare open the Games of London, celebrating the 30th Olympiad of the modern era'
• Muhammad Ali is among flagbearers who carried the Olympic Flag into the Stadium
• Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins started the Opening Ceremony by ringing the giant Olympic Bell
• Rowan Atkinson joins the orchestra as Mr Bean for a comedy skit
• Sir Kenneth Branagh reads from Shakespeare's The Tempest
• Dizzee Rascal and Emeli Sande perform
• The audience have been handed 3D glasses and every seat has a magic wand with it
• Red Arrows fly past the stadium leaving trail of red, white and blue vapour at 20:12 exactly
• Danny Boyle tweets 'Proud to be British'

David Beckham was a surprise appearance, accompanying the Flame as it made its final journey

David Beckham was a surprise appearance, accompanying the Flame as it made its final journey