Guardian News and Media/London
Olympic torch bearers and Irish pop stars John and Edward Grimes, known as Jedward, carry the torch during its relay through Dublin yesterday
Paul McCartney has confirmed he will play the opening ceremony of the London Olympics. The former Beatles star was the headline attraction at the Queen’s diamond jubilee concert on Monday night, but it will not be long before audiences can see him play another historic concert in the capital.
McCartney told BBC Radio 5: “I’ve been booked,” adding that he would be “closing the opening”. The full lineup for the opening ceremony at the Olympic Park in Stratford on July 27 has yet to be announced, but reports suggest it will have an “Isles of Wonder” theme.
It will be staged by Danny Boyle, who is the event’s artistic director. A cast of 15,000 will take part in the Olympic and Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies, in front of an estimated global audience of 4bn.
Monday saw McCartney close the diamond jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace, topping a bill that included Madness, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Annie Lennox, Gary Barlow, Cheryl Cole, Jessie J and will.i.am.
Kicking off with Magical Mystery Tour, he went on to perform All My Loving, Let It Be, Live and Let Die and Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.
Meanwhile a major comedy and cultural festival due to run alongside the Olympics has been put on hold.
Organisers of the first Scipmylo festival Olympics backwards have stopped selling tickets for the event, which was to include performances by Alan Davies, Dylan Moran and Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel. Existing ticketholders have been issued with refunds. The festival, which was to take place on Hackney Marshes, near the Olympic Park, was intended to be the first of its kind, with future incarnations each year designed to preserve the Olympics’ legacy in the local area. It has been reported that financial difficulties are behind the decision.