London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony: All the rumours

This evening, Danny Boyle will present to the world his £27 million London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony. Kicking off with the world's largest harmonically tuned bell and ending with Sir Paul McCartney na-na-na-ing his way through 'Hey Jude', Boyle's 'Isles Of Wonder' show is a TV spectacle not to be missed.



Boyle has attempted to keep surprises and secrecy surrounding the ceremony, so the rumour mill about who and what will be involved has gone into overdrive. To help whet your appetite, Digital Spy has rounded up all the whispers and gossip about what's in store.

The name's Bond...

Proving that Great Britain is the coolest country in the world, Daniel Craig will be involved in some form as the most famous spy in the world. James Bond will be shown in a BBC film and is rumoured to be parachuting into the Olympic Stadium itself for the opening.*

*Daniel Craig may look a little like a stuntman.

Danny Boyle's farm

Maypoles, village greens, games of cricket, 12 horses, 70 sheep, some ducks, artificial rain (and possibly some proper stuff). No, we're not talking about the opening sequence of a Midsomer Murders, this is what Danny Boyle has promised us for the opening scene in the Ceremony. Forget the Olympic Lanes, angry taxi drivers and lengthy queues for Tubes. This will remind us that there's more to London than mega-congestion at Oxford Circus.

Becks? Redgrave? Middleton? Ali?

British sporting icons David Beckham, Sir Steve Redgrave, Daley Thompson and Roger Bannister are expected inside the Olympic Stadium tonight, but the identity of who will light the Olympic flame at the end of the night remains a mystery.

All sorts of names have been thrown into the mix over recent weeks, with everyone from Kate Middleton to the legendary Muhammed Ali rumoured to be having the limelight in the biggest moment of the night.

Macca leads the music!

Sir Paul McCartney didn't play 'Hey Jude' at the Queen's Jubilee Concert for one very good reason: He was saving it for tonight. Macca is the one confirmed musical act of the evening and he's expected to blow the 60,000 crowd and millions of viewers at home away with a hit-packed set (and possibly some special guests). Let's just hope nobody pulls the plug on him like they did at Hyde Park!

Everyone from The Who, the Spice Girls, the Rolling Stones to Take That, Arctic Monkeys and Adele has been rumoured to play the ceremony at various points. However, most of the musical acts are expected to be saved from the Closing Ceremony.

A hit parade of classic British pop classics from the theme tune to Coronation Street to a grime banger from Dizzee Rascal is expected to soundtrack the whole evening's she-bang and showcase the finest musical talent GB has ever made.

Watch the stars talk to Digital Spy about London 2012 below: