Beatles star Sir Paul McCartney will end the Olympics opening ceremony with Hey Jude and he'll ask the stadium's 60,000 spectators to join him for a sing-along (MAIL ON LINE) By IAN GARLAND

Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney will close out the Olympics Games opening ceremony with a performance of Hey Jude - and he'll ask the stadium's 60,000 spectators to sing along with him.

One billion people are expected to tune in to watch the spectacular three-hour show, which is being directed by Oscar winner Danny Boyle and is costing £27 million to produce.

The largest harmonically tuned bell in the world will ring to mark the start of the ceremony at 9pm on July 27 - and the pop legend will bring it to a rousing finale at midnight.


McCartney prompted rumours Hey Jude was on his Olympics set list last month when he reportedly refused to perform the song at the Queen's Jubilee concert.

Sources now confirm to the Sunday Times the song will mark the end of the ceremony later this month.

They have also revealed a darker side to Danny Boyle's Isles of Wonder spectacular - named after a line in Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

As well as a 'green and pleasant land' celebrating Britain's rolling fields and rural heritage - the show will include a 'History Parade' celebrating the NHS, immigration and protest movements, and shining a light on the country's darker past.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2167232/London-Olympics-2012-Beatles-star-Sir-Paul-McCartney-end-Olympics-opening-ceremony-Hey-Jude-hell-ask-stadiums-60-000-spectators-join-sing-along.html

The Queen's Jubille Pageant in all its glory - Love her outfit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dVPTVGyl4s&feature=relmfu

Young royals to host Buckingham Palace 'after party' for Diamond Jubilee stars The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will host a star-studded party at Buckingham Palace tomorrow night for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.By Roya Nikkhah, Royal Correspondent8:00AM BST 03 Jun 2012 (TELEGRAPH)

Following a very public party outside the Palace, where artists including Sir Paul McCartney and Kylie Minogue will perform at the Diamond Jubilee concert, the young royals will entertain pop and rock stars at an intimate “after party” to personally thank them for their contribution to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The concert, featuring artists who have recorded in every decade of the Queen’s reign, who will perform on a stage encircling the Queen Victoria Memorial, will be attended by the Queen and many members of the Royal Family.

A crowd of 10,000 people have won tickets to attend through a free public ballot and thousands more are expected to watch via screens along the Mall and in the adjoining Royal Parks.

To close the concert, the Queen will light the National Beacon from the stage at 10.30pm following the lighting of more than 4,000 beacons across the country and throughout the Commonwealth.

The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry will then welcome many of the performers to a party at Buckingham Palace, with the guest list expected to include Sir Tom Jones, Robbie Williams, Cheryl Cole, Dame Shirley Bassey, Annie Lennox and Sir Elton John.

READ MORE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9307922/Young-royals-to-host-Buckingham-Palace-after-party-for-Diamond-Jubilee-stars.html

PAUL MCCARTNEY: DIAMOND JUBILEE CONCERT: STARS WHO HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO VISIT THE QUEEN'S 'KEEN PAD' Sunday June 3,2012 By Jane Clinton (EXPRESS CO.)

THE Diamond Jubilee Concert will be a star-studded event with the biggest names in music performing including Sir Paul McCartney, Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Elton John and Sir Tom Jones.

For some of these more seasoned artists this is by no means the first time they have met, or indeed performed for, the monarch.

Take, for instance, Sir Paul McCartney who was awarded an MBE along with his Beatles bandmates in 1965. At the press conference following the ceremony, he recalled his impression of the Queen and Buckingham Palace.

“She’s lovely, very friendly,” he said. “She’s got a keen pad and I liked the staff. I thought they’d be like dukes and things but they were just fellas.”


Over the years, Sir Paul has met the Queen independent of the Beatles. In 1996 she opened the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, which he founded, and the pair were photographed laughing and joking.

The next year his huge musical output saw him receive a knighthood. “I’m proud to be British, it’s a wonderful day and it’s a long way from a little terrace in Liverpool,” he said at the time.

In July 2002, he and his then-wife Heather Mills chatted with the Queen when she came to see his paintings at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.

Sir Paul performed at the Golden Jubilee in 2002 and last month he met the monarch at A Celebration of the Arts in London’s Royal Academy Of Arts.


READ MORE:  http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/324224/Diamond-Jubilee-concert-Stars-who-have-been-lucky-enough-to-visit-the-Queen-s-keen-pad-

Ewan McGregor - Trainspotting And Iron Maiden Top Diamond Jubilee Poll 28 May 2012 12:16 (CONTACT MUSIC)

Drug addiction drama Trainspotting and heavy metal stars Iron Maiden have topped a poll to find the cultural highlights of Queen Elizabeth Ii's reign.

Danny Boyle's 1996 film, starring Ewan MCGregor as a heroin addict, was voted the best British movie released during the monarch's 60 years on the throne in a survey to mark the royal's upcoming Diamond Jubilee.

Also making the grade were Hugh Grant's romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral, the Harry Potter series, A Clockwork Orange and The King's Speech.

Meanwhile, Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast was crowned the best British album of the era in the poll by U.K. retailer Hmv.

The 1982 best-seller saw off competition from runner-up Violator by Depeche Mode, and The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road, in third and fourth places respectively, while Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon rounded out the top five.


read more:  http://www.contactmusic.com/news/trainspotting-and-iron-maiden-top-diamond-jubilee-poll_1332805

Paul McCartney: What did Bono say to make the Queen giggle? (THE DIAMOND JUBILEE)

It was the biggest gathering ever seen of the UK's most glittering members of the music and arts world.

Sir Paul McCartney rubbed shoulders with Bono and Vivienne Westwood, while Kenneth Branagh chatted to Dame Shirley Bassey – and they were all gathered together in London's Royal Academy, to pay tribute to the Queen.


Bono made the 86-year-old laugh when he praised her trip to the Republic of Ireland last year.

He joked: "And the Queen spoke Gaelic, I can't even speak Gaelic."

There were 850 leading cultural figures at the reception to mark the monarch's Diamond Jubilee, and the number included newcomers like model Agyness Deyn and rapper Tinie Tempah.

Dame Vivienne said she had changed her opinion about the monarchy since the Seventies era of punk, when her design career took off.

"At one time I thought the Queen represented all the political hypocrisy of England," she said.

"I realised they're above politics. I think they are a social cement and the job she does is incredible."

READ MORE:  http://diamondjubilee.hellomagazine.com/queens-jubilee/news/galeria/201205241016/queen-royal-academy-of-arts/1/#10

PBS Takes Viewers on a British Summer Holiday Categories: Network TV Press Releases Written By Amanda Kondolojy May 23rd, 2012 (TV BY THE NUMBERS)

via press release:

ARLINGTON, VA, MAY 23, 2012 -- The mega-hit “Downton Abbey” made all things British cool again in America. With much of the world focused on Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee in June and the London Olympic Games starting in July, PBS presents a summer of programs exploring the stories of England past and present, new episodes of esteemed British mysteries and the return of two fan favorites. In September, PBS presents the runaway BBC hit, CALL THE MIDWIFE, a new drama that depicts midwifery in 1950s London, leading into MASTERPIECE CLASSIC“Upstairs Downstairs.”

See a preview here:www.pbs.org/special/brits/

“This summer, as the world’s attention turns to London, viewers can delve into the fact and fiction of all things British through four fascinating history shows and a new season of MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! It’s just a warm up for the fall, when PBS turns Sundays into a destination for drama with back-to-back episodes of the hit CALL THE MIDWIFE paired with MASTERPIECE CLASSIC ‘Upstairs Downstairs’,” said John F. Wilson,Senior Vice President & Chief TV Programming Executive.

Series Premieres:

 QUEEN & COUNTRY,Sundays, July 1-22, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET – This summer, all eyes are on Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s second longest-reigning monarch, as she marks her Diamond Jubilee. PBS celebrates her 60 years on the throne with Trevor McDonald’s QUEEN & COUNTRY,offering viewers a look at the customs surrounding the monarchy – from Changing  the Guard at Buckingham Palace to the Queen’s royal visits — and tours of historic royal places.

MICHAEL WOOD’S STORY OF ENGLAND,Tuesdays, July 3, 8:00-10:00 and July 10-17, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET – Historian Michael Wood filters the 2,000-year history of England through the story of one small town located in the heart of the country: Kibworth, Leicestershire. From the Roman era to the Norman Conquest, the Black Death, the English Civil War, the Industrial Revolution and World War II, the four-part series intertwines the local and national narratives, marking the milestones that changed the town and country forever.

READ MORE FOR MANY MORE SHOWS:  http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/23/pbs-takes-viewers-on-a-brittish-summer-holiday/135503/

BBC America to show raft of Brit shows for Summer of London (TELEVISUAL)

BBC America is running a season of British programming this Summer, from The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June through the London Olympics in August, live event coverage will be accompanied by a raft of comedies, documentaries, dramas and special features across all of BBC America’s branded platforms under the umbrella - BBC America’s Summer of London.

Programming will include live coverage of both the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant for Her Majesty The Queen and Jubilee Day, including Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

As a tribute to the London Olympics, the channel will air the long-awaited Olympic themed Absolutely Fabulous special starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley and Doctor Who’s Matt Smith stars in the drama Going for Gold – The ’48 Games.

The channel will premiere The Brit List, a series of specials hosted by BBC America’s pop culture correspondent Asha Leo, as well as a series of Asha Leo hosted short-form pieces featuring insider highlights of the upcoming summer activities.

The last great British culture invasion will be celebrated with a slate of Beatles programming, including the premiere of the documentary Discovering Lennon and the entire series of The Tudors.

Perry Simon, general manager of BBC America, said, “It feels like we’re in the midst of a new British cultural invasion and this coming summer offers a non-stop series of events and stories that will put London front and centre on the world stage.  If you can’t experience it in person, we want to make BBC America the next best place for Americans to celebrate this historic Summer of London.”

On Sunday, June 3, in recognition of the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign on the throne, BBC America will present an entire day of specials and documentaries including the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant live. The channel will show the US premiere of The Diamond Queen, written and presented by Andrew Marr and executive produced by Nick Vaughn-Barratt.

On June 5th, the celebration carries on with live Jubilee Day coverage including the Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, together with other members of the Royal family, will attend a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, which will be followed by a formal carriage procession.

READ MORE:  http://www.televisual.com/news-detail/BBC-America-to-show-raft-of-Brit-shows-for-Summer-of-London_nid-1611.html

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant: Dame Helen Mirren, Martin Clunes, Susan Boyle Perform (HUFF POST)

Dame Helen Mirren, Martin Clunes, Susan Boyle and Joss Stone were some of the stars invited to help celebrate the 250 State and Commonwealth visits the Queen has made during her reign, at Windsor Castle on Sunday.

Singers SuBo, II Divo and Joss Stone all sang for the Queen as hundreds of horses and performers from across the world also came together for the special pageant.

Dressed in a shimmering cream coat, the Queen accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived at the event in a horse-drawn Landau carriage pulled by four Windsor Greys.

Four Canadian Mounties saluted her as she left her carriage and made her way to the royal box to watch the proceedings.

The Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Princess Alexandra and the Duchess of Cornwall joined the couple as they watched the Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

READ MORE:  http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/05/14/diamond-jubilee-pageant-helen-mirren_n_1513894.html?ref=uk&just_reloaded=1

BBC America Celebrates Summer of London Categories: Network TV Press Releases Written By Amanda Kondolojy May 9th, 2012 (TV BY THE NUMBERS)

via press release:

BBC AMERICA CELEBRATES THE SUMMER OF LONDON

Live Coverage of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

US Premiere Comedies: Twenty Twelve and Absolutely Fabulous

World Premiere Specials: The Brit List hosted by Asha Leo

US Premiere Documentaries: The Diamond Queen and Discovering Lennon

US Premiere Drama: Going For Gold – The ’48 Games

Entire Series Marathon: The Tudors

Multi-platform Summer of London countdown hosted by Asha Leo

New York – Wednesday, May 9, 2012 – As all eyes turn to London this summer, BBC AMERICA celebrates with a season of brilliantly British and exceptionally English programming.  From The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June through the London Olympics in August, BBC AMERICA offers viewers a wide slate of live event coverage, comedies, documentaries, dramas and special features across all of BBC AMERICA’s branded platforms under the umbrella - BBC AMERICA’s Summer of London.


The channel announced today BBC AMERICA’s Summer of London programming will include live coverage of both the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant for Her Majesty The Queen and Jubilee Day, including Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, as well as the US premiere of the landmark documentary The Diamond Queen.

 As a tribute to the London Olympics, the channel will air highly acclaimed comedy Twenty Twelve starring Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville, an Olympic themed Absolutely Fabulous special starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley and Doctor Who’s Matt Smith stars in the uplifting drama  Going for Gold – The ’48 Games.

 On the pop culture front, the channel will premiere The Brit List, a series of specials hosted by BBC AMERICA’s pop culture correspondent Asha Leo, as well as a series of Asha Leo hosted short-form pieces featuring insider highlights of the upcoming summer activities.

 The last great British culture invasion will be celebrated with a slate of Beatles programming, including the premiere of the documentary Discovering Lennon, plus BBC AMERICA will get into the royal spirit with a marathon of the entire series of The Tudors.

Perry Simon, General Manager of BBC AMERICA, said: “It feels like we’re in the midst of a new British cultural invasion and this coming summer offers a non-stop series of events and stories that will put London front and center on the world stage.  If you can’t experience it in person, we want to make BBC AMERICA the next best place for Americans to celebrate this historic Summer of London.”


READ EVERYTHING:  http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/09/bbc-america-celebrates-summer-of-london/133164/