Showing posts with label London 2012 Paralympics. Show all posts

Wednesday, 10 April 2013

ITV drama fails to pick up single BAFTA nomination for first time since it began plus full nomination list

It's all Down(ton) hill from here: ITV drama fails to pick up single BAFTA nomination for first time since it began

Olympic and Paralympics dominate the Sport & Live Event category
Downton Abbey snubbed, while Call The Midwife only has one nod
Olivia Colman up for acting accolades in Twenty Twelve and The Accused

PUBLISHED: 09:39, 9 April 2013 | UPDATED: 01:10, 10 April 2013

In it's first year it was nominated in the Best Drama section and in it's second year Dame Maggie Smith won a nomination for best supporting actress.

But this year Downton Abbey has failed to pick up a single nomination at the BAFTA Television Awards.

The lack of acknowledgement for the third series, which received a mix reception at the time, has led to speculation that the fourth series of the stately home drama will be it's last.

Scroll down for a list of nominees

No acknowledgment: The latest series of Downton Abbey did not receive any BAFTA nominations for the first time

It is thought that the show, which was one of the most-watched throughout the whole of 2012, has suffered after a number of the key stars have left, including Dan Stevens who played Matthew Crawley.

The news comes as the BBC has overtaken ITV in terms of nominations, receiving five times the amount of the channel on which Downton is aired, with TV film The Girl and crime series The Accused leading the nominations.

The BBC-HBO co-produced movie The Girl, about the tumultuous relationship between director Alfred Hitchcock and actress Tippi Hedren, has received nods in four categories.

Sienna Miller is up for Leading Actress, Toby Jones for Leading Actor and Imelda Staunton for Supporting Actress for her role as Hitchcock's wife Alma.

Snubbed: It is thought Downton failed to win any nominations after key characters have left the show

Acclaimed: The Girl, starring Sienna Miller as Tippi Hedren and Toby Jones as Alfred Hitchcock is up for four BAFTA TV Awards

Crime drama series The Accused is also up for nod, including Leading Actor for Sean Bean, Supporting Actor for Stephen Graham and Supporting Actress for Olivia Colman.

Olivia is up for two accolades, including Female Performance In A Comedy Programme for Twenty Twelve.

BBC comedy series Twenty Twelve has a total of four nods in three categories, with Olivia set to battle co-star Jessica Hynes for Female Performance In A Comedy Programme.

What a day! BBC coverage of the London 2012 Olympics 'Super Saturday', which saw Jessica Ennis win gold, is up for Sports & Live Event

Hit: Stephen Graham is up for Supporting Actor and Sean Bean for Leading Actor for The Accused

Downton wasn't the only surprise snub, hit BBC series Call The Midwife only had one nod for the Radio Times Audience Award.

However, Downton star Hugh Bonneville has been acknowledged for his performance in Twenty Twelve with a Male Performance In A Comedy Programme nod.

Parade's End is up in two categories, including Leading Actress for Rebecca Hall.

Leading ladies: Sheridan Smith in Mrs Biggs and Rebecca Hall in Parade's End are both up for Leading Actress

She will compete with Sienna, Sheridan Smith for Mrs Biggs and Anne Reid for Last Tango In Halifax.

Unsurprisingly, the London 2012 Games feature heavily in the Sport & Live Event category, including the Olympics 'Super Saturday', Opening Ceremony and the Paralympic Games.

Danny Boyle's Opening Ceremony is also up for the Radio Times Audience Award, which is voted for by the public.

Funny: Olivia Colman and Hugh Bonneville have both been nominated for Twenty Twelve

The star-studded ceremony will be host by Graham Norton, who himself is up for Entertainment Performance for his BBC chat show.

The winners of the Arqiva British Academy Television Awards will be announced at London's Royal Festival Hall on May 12.

Popular: The Great British Bake Off, starring Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, is up for Features and the Audience Award

BAFTA Television Awards 2013 nominees

Leading Actor:

Ben Whishaw - Richard II (The Hollow Crown)

Derek Jacobi - Last Tango in Halifax

Sean Bean - Accused ('Tracie's Story')

Toby Jones - The Girl

Leading Actress:

Anne Reid - Last Tango in Halifax

Rebecca Hall - Parade's End

Sheridan Smith - Mrs Biggs

Sienna Miller - The Girl

Supporting Actor:

Peter Capaldi - The Hour

Stephen Graham - Accused ('Tracie's Story')

Harry Lloyd - The Fear

Simon Russell Beale - Henry IV, Part 2 (The Hollow Crown)

Supporting Actress:

Anastasia Hille - The Fear

Imelda Staunton - The Girl

Olivia Colman - Accused ('Mo's Story')

Sarah Lancashire - Last Tango in Halifax

Entertainment Performance:

Alan Carr - Alan Carr: Chatty Man

Ant and Dec - I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Graham Norton - The Graham Norton Show

Sarah Millican - The Sarah Millican Show

Female Performance In A Comedy Programme:

Jessica Hynes - Twenty Twelve

Julia Davis - Hunderby

Miranda Hart - Miranda

Olivia Colman - Twenty Twelve

Male Performance In A Comedy Programme:

Greg Davies - Cuckoo

Hugh Bonneville - Twenty Twelve

Peter Capaldi - The Thick of It

Steve Coogan - Welcome to the Places of My Life

Single Drama:

Everyday

The Girl

Murder

Richard II (The Hollow Crown)

Mini-Series:

Accused

Mrs Biggs

Parade's End

Room at the Top

Drama Series:

Last Tango in Halifax

Ripper Street

Scott and Bailey

Silk

Soap & Continuing Drama:

Coronation Street

EastEnders

Emmerdale

Shameless

International:

The Bridge

Game of Thrones

Girls

Homeland

Factual Series:

24 Hours in A&E

Great Ormond Street

Make Bradford British

Our War

Huw Wheldon Award for Specialist Factual:

All in the Best Possible Taste with Grayson Perry

The Plane Crash

The Plot to Bring Down Britain's Planes

The Secret History of Our Streets

Robert Flaherty Award for Single Documentary:

7/7: One Day in London

Baka: A Cry from the Rainforest

Lucian Freud: Painted Life

Nina Conti – A Ventriloquist's Story: Her Master's Voice

Features:

Bank of Dave

Grand Designs

The Great British Bake Off

Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs

Reality and Constructed Factual:

The Audience

I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

Made in Chelsea

The Young Apprentice

Current Affairs:

Britain's Hidden Housing Crisis (Panorama Special)

The Other Side of Jimmy Savile (Exposure)

The Shame of the Catholic Church (This World)

What Killed Arafat? (Al Jazeera Investigates)

News Coverage:

BBC News at Ten: Syria

Channel 4 News: Battle for Homs

ITV/Granada Reports: Hillsborough – The Truth at Last

Sport & Live Event:

The London 2012 Olympics: 'Super Saturday'

The London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony: 'Isle of Wonder'

The London 2012 Paralympic Games

Wimbledon 2012 – Men's Final

Lew Grade Award for Entertainment Programme:

Dynamo: Magician Impossible

The Graham Norton Show

Have I Got News For You

A League of Their Own

Comedy Programme:

Cardinal Burns

Mr Stink

The Revolution Will Be Televised

Welcome to the Places of My Life

Situation Comedy:

Episodes

Hunderby

The Thick of It

Twenty Twelve

Radio Times Audience Award:

Call the Midwife

Game of Thrones

The Great British Bake Off

Homeland

The London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony

Strictly Come Dancing

Saturday, 29 December 2012

127 Olympians led by Sir Wiggo scoop New Year honours

Gongs galore: 127 Olympians led by Sir Wiggo scoop New Year honours - but there's no Sir Mo Farah or Dame Jess Ennis

Olympic athletes,coaches and organisers comprise 10% of honours list
UK's first Tour de France winner Wiggins to be given knighthood
Paralympic cycling champion Sarah Storey is to be made a dame
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie also to be knighted
CBEs for Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah, David Weir and Victoria Pendleton
Wiggins describes his 'disbelief' and says it is 'an incredible honour'

By EMILY ANDREWS

PUBLISHED: 00:00, 29 December 2012 | UPDATED: 10:21, 29 December 2012

Arise Sir Wiggo: Bradley Wiggins, Britain's first Tour de France champion, has been given a knighthood in the New Year's honours list

Britain's Olympic heroes have been rewarded for their success with a record number of gongs in the New Year honours list.

The athletes, coaches and organisers who brought delight to the nation this summer dominate the list like no other group before them.

A staggering 127 awards have been handed out to those involved – more than 10 per cent of the total. The figure is unprecedented in the 122-year history of the list.

Among the 78 athletes and coaches honoured were cyclist Bradley Wiggins and sailor Ben Ainslie, who both received knighthoods.

Sir Bradley, as he will be known, made sporting history this year by becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France, and followed the feat by scooping an Olympic gold, as well as being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

He heads a sparkling list of sporting heroes, including Paralympic cyclist Sarah Storey, who was made a dame, and Jessica Ennis, Victoria Pendleton, Mo Farah and David Weir, who all received CBEs.

Wiggins, affectionately known as Wiggo, said: ‘It’s quite something really. I never imagined that I would ever become a knight, so it’s an incredible honour, but there’s a slight element of disbelief, and it will take a while to sink in. There was never any doubt whether I’d accept it or not, it was more a case that I never saw myself as a Sir, and I probably never will.’

The honours crown a year of excellence in British sport – so much so that a special honours list was added to recognise the 65 medals, 29 of them gold, won at this year’s Olympic Games, as well as the 120 medals – including 34 golds – won at the Paralympic Games.

There was also recognition for those behind the Games. Lord Coe, who headed London’s bid team, becomes a Companion of Honour, while Jean Tomlin, who led the Games Maker programme for volunteers to help the event run smoothly, gets an OBE.

Scroll down for video

Knight of the road: Wiggins followed his Tour de France triumph with an Olympic gold and was also named BBC Sports Personality of the Year

King Cool: Bradley Wiggins, pictured right in Manchester on Thursday night, said: 'It’s quite something really. I never imagined that I would ever become a knight'

But eyebrows were raised that Mo Farah received only a CBE for his historic double track triumph in the 5000m and 10000m. In 2005, Kelly Holmes was made a dame for winning both the 400m and 800m at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Heptathlete gold medallist and London 2012 poster girl Jessica Ennis will also have to be content with a CBE.

Andy Murray, who won Olympic tennis gold before becoming Britain’s first men’s Grand Slam champion for 76 years, can perhaps count himself unlucky to receive just an OBE.

It was also noted that while Sarah Storey was made a dame after her four golds at 2012, her Paralympic teammate, wheelchair athlete David Weir, who also got four golds, was made merely a CBE.

There was no mention of Danny Boyle, creator of the epic Olympics opening ceremony, who reportedly turned down a knighthood, or Stephen Daldry, who staged the closing party.

VIDEO Sir Bradley will take some getting used to

Play Video

Champion: Ben Ainslie, who won four successive Olympic sailing golds, has received a knighthood in the list

Supreme: Sarah Storey is the UK's most successful ever Paralympian and is to be made a dame

There was also nothing for cyclist Chris Hoy, who with six gold medals became Britain’s most successful ever Olympian during the Games, because he had already been knighted after his heroics at the previous Olympics in Beijing.

In 2008, when Britain came fourth in the Olympics’ medal table at Beijing, 54 honours were awarded in the New Year honours list.

Storey, 35, who now has 11 Paralympic gold medals in total and is pregnant with her first child, said: ‘I can’t believe the number of times we’ve said this year, “Oh, can 2012 possibly get any better?” We feel so fortunate that 2012 will always stand out as being the most incredible year.

‘2012 has been quite amazing. I am still pinching myself, literally.’

Nation's favourite: Jessica Ennis, who was the face of the Olympics for home fans, received CBEs after her heptathlon triumph in London

Inspiring: Jessica Ennis was the London 2012 poster girl and finished closely behind Bradley Wiggins in the running to be BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Besides Wiggins and Ainslie, the most decorated sailor in Olympic history with four gold medals at four consecutive Games, knighthoods also go to Dave Brailsford and David Tanner, performance directors at British Cycling and British Rowing.

Ainslie said: ‘This is an incredible honour. When I set out Olympic sailing 20 years ago, I never would have dreamt this would happen.’

CBEs also went to rower Katherine Grainger and cyclist Victoria Pendleton.

Lady in red: Jessica Ennis attends the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in London

OBEs go to equestrians Sophie Christiansen and Charlotte Dujardin, Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds and cycling couple Laura Trott and Jason Kenny.

Among those to get MBEs are boxer Nicola Adams; canoeist Timothy Baillie; equestrians Laura Bechtolsheimer and Carl Hester; rowers Katherine Copeland and Helen Glover; wheelchair racer ‘Hurricane’ Hannah Cockcroft; and Paralympic swimmer Josef Craig.

Triathlon gold medallist Alistair Brownlee gets an MBE but brother Jonathan, who took bronze, misses out, while the MBE also goes to Welsh taekwondo gold medallist Jade Jones, Paralympic blade runner Jonnie Peacock, long jump hero Greg Rutherford and silver medal gymnast turned Strictly Come Dancing star Louis Smith.

‘To receive this honour is out of this world and something I never would have dreamt of as I grew up in the sport of gymnastics,’ said Smith, 23.

‘This year has been like no other for so many reasons.

‘For me it’s obviously one I’ll never forget and I wasn’t sure it could get any better, but to be awarded an MBE is the icing on the cake and without a doubt the proudest moment of my life.

‘I just hope this acts as even more inspiration for future generations within sport in this country, further continuing the Olympic legacy.’

Swimmer Simmonds, 18, who won two more golds at London 2012 making her a four-time Paralympic champion, said: ‘It’s been a great honour to be included in the list which caps an amazing year for me personally and for British sport.’

VIDEO Rowing hero Helen Glover MBE 'an incredible privilege'

Play Video

The honours also recognise those who contributed to London 2012 in a ‘non-sporting capacity’, with 49 ‘back-room’ staff from Paul Deighton, who was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, down to a MBE for volunteer Muhammed Khan.

Away from sport, the Companion of Honour goes to Professor Peter Higgs, namesake of the Higgs boson or so-called ‘God particle’, which was finally proved to exist in July, 48 years after he first proposed it.

No Sir Mo: Mo Farah's gold medal-winning triumphs provided fans with two of the London Olympics greatest moments

Lightning: Mo Farah missed out on a knighthood but has been awarded a CBE

Recognition: Cyclist Victoria Pendleton, who appeared on this year's Strictly Come Dancing, has been awarded a CBE

Recognised with an MBE in the Diplomatic and Overseas list was also Captain Raymond ‘Jerry’ Roberts, 92, one of the four founder members of Bletchley Park’s Testery section, tasked with breaking the German top-level code during the Second World War.

An MBE also goes to Penelope Clough, 53, who set up the Justice For Jane Campaign with husband John after her daughter was murdered by her ex-partner in 2010 while he was on bail.

Sport makes up about 10 per cent of this year’s awards, education 10 per cent, health 7 per cent, and industry and the economy make up 12 per cent.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said an unprecedented number of people from the sporting world had received honours.

He said: ‘As we’ve seen with the special list for Olympians and Paralympians, there is a desire to continue to expand the honours system and make sure we’re extending the reach.’

Northern star: Tennis champion Andy Murray enjoyed his most successful ever year as a tennis player winning both Olympic gold and the U.S. Open

Golden girl: Swimmer Ellie Simmonds has been awarded an OBE, making the list despite being only 18-years-old

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Pride of Britain: Team GB Parade in London

Pride of Britain: Boris praises Team GB for 'inspiring a generation' - and beating France, Germany and Australia as Olympic parade in front of ONE MILLION Londoners ends a glorious summer of sport

Potentially the biggest ever sporting victory parade in Britain
90 per cent of British medal winners among 750 athletes carried on 21 floats
Mo Farah, who won gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, heptathlon gold medallist Ennis and long jump champion Greg Rutherford - were in the first three floats
Entrance to the Mall was reserved for 14,000 ticket holders
British Airways led a fly-past with the Red Arrows after receiving special permission to fly over The Mall
Downing Street said PM David Cameron would send a letter of thanks to every one of the 80,000 volunteers
He said the 'golden summer' would stay in the memories of the entire country in much the same way as the 1966 World Cup winning year

By ROBERT HARDMAN

PUBLISHED: 00:25, 10 September 2012 | UPDATED: 23:30, 10 September 2012

The words ‘Thank You’ flew noisily over the greatest assembly of British Olympians in history. Down below, up to a million people cheered and applauded – and performed the Mo Farah ‘mobot’.

London has generated many unforgettable images these last few weeks. Yesterday was right up there with the best of them.

And with that, the curtain finally fell on this astonishing, life-affirming summer which we will forever refer to, simply, as ‘2012’.

Last hurrah: More than a million people filled the streets of London as the heroes of Team GB and Paralympics GB, led by gold medallist Jessica Ennis, paraded through the capital

Britain's finest: Team GB and Paralympics GB line up at the end of the victory parade at Buckingham Palace with Prime Minister David Cameron, the Princess Royal and Mayor of London Boris Johnson at the front

Show-stealer: Boris Johnson, right, promised to keep it short as the hundreds of athletes behind him had been on floats all day waving their way through the capital and not allowed to 'touch a drop of beer'

Spectacular show: After receiving special permission to fly over The Mall the planes dazzled the spectators on the ground

Flypast by the Red Arrows after the parade celebrating Britain's Olympic and Paralympic sporting heroes finished on The Mall

Taking to the sky: The Royal Air Force's Red Arrows perform a fly-past over The Mall and Buckingham Palace

Dancing queen of the velodrome: Cyclist Victoria Pendleton takes a break from Strictly Come Dancing training to join the parade

For 100 days, London – and, by extension, the whole country - has lived in a bunting-draped cocoon of exuberance.

And this historic three-month party finished just as it began – with a colossal parade through London and a foot-stomping party in front of Buckingham Palace.

More...

At least yesterday’s parade had the advantage of being drier and warmer than the great Diamond Jubilee procession along the Thames way back in monsoon June.

But the crowds were of the same bewildering size, shoehorning themselves into every crevice on every pavement from the City of London to the Mall.

And so, too, were the twin sentiments which brought the capital to a euphoric halt once again: a profound sense of pride and an earnest determination not to miss out on a Great Moment.

We have had so many eye-popping theatrical extravaganzas over the last three months with all those open-air concerts, opening ceremonies and closing shows; we have seen more fireworks than a Cantonese pyrotechnics inspector.

Famous landmarks: The Royal Air Force Red Arrows aerobatic display team fly past the Shard over London as a tribute to the Team GB Olympic and Paralympic athletes

Royal fly-by: A British Airways Airbus aircraft flies over the Queen Victoria Memorial at Buckingham Palace

The fly-past completes the parade with a huge 'Thank you' on the underbelly of the plane

Audience participation: The crowd perform the 'Mobot' with Mo Farah

Princess Anne shares a Mobot joke with Boris Johnson

Double take: The original and best Mo Farah does the Mobot, left, and Princess Anne has go too to the delight of Boris Johnson

Strike a pose: They also did Mo Farah's famous pose when he wins an event - the 'Mobot'

Yesterday was a much simpler – and cheaper – affair with a very straightforward theme: stick 800 sporting heroes on a convoy of lorries and drive them through the city in the confident expectation that a lot of people might like to see them.

This was an occasion that owed more to the late Eddie Stobart than Danny Boyle. It was probably just as well that the authorities had chosen a school day in the working week for this event. However much it may have irritated the millions of workers and children who couldn’t make it, there really wasn’t room for so much as an extra coachload.

It was lunch hour in the City as the parade began its business with a royal fanfare at Mansion House. The bankers were certainly out in force. If your share portfolio took a dip yesterday, blame Seb Coe.

It is safe to say that the State Trumpeters of the Household Division have seldom been invited to herald a fleet of articulated trucks. The 21-vehicle convoy had been arranged alphabetically by sport, led by archery and athletics.

The parade at Queen Victoria Memorial, Green Park, with David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Princess Anne make speeches

The National Gallery: Thousands of people line the streets during the London 2012 Victory Parade for Team GB and Paralympic GB

Floats carrying Team GB and Paralympic GB athletes travel past Trafalgar Square

There was no mistaking the impish figure commanding whoops of recognition on Float Number One. As soon as anyone spotted Mo Farah, their instinctive response was to ‘do the Mobot’ and replicate the great man’s trademark hands-on-head victory routine.

He happily responded in kind – over and over again. If it has started to grate, the infectiously good-natured Farah didn’t let it show.

When you have acquired two gold medals, two daughters and global renown in the space of a month, what’s a couple of hours of repetitive head scratching? The poor man was still cheerfully doing the Mobot as his juggernaut finally halted at the Queen’s front door shortly before teatime.

There was no order of precedence on each float. Olympians and Paralympians, medallists and wooden spooners, mingled and snapped away and egged each other on.

There were plenty of wisecracks and jokers in the crowd. Diving’s Tom Daley and the gold-winning long jumper, Greg Rutherford, were both on the receiving end of several marriage proposals.

From St Paul’s to Fleet Street to the Strand, the crowds showed little inclination to move on once the convoy had passed and the Band of the Royal Marines had brought up the rear.

The crowd wave as the parade makes its way through London, celebrating Britain's Olympic and Paralympic sporting heroes

The Red Arrows flying down the Mall to the Queen Victoria Memorial during Our Greatest Team parade

These athletes were like the credits rolling at the end of some great blockbuster. You didn’t want it to end. You didn’t want the lights to come up.

A recurring sight was of athletes filming us filming them, banks of mobile phones and cameras all blazing away in opposite directions.

This lot may have acquired celebrity status but most remain refreshingly oblivious of celebrity etiquette.

Another endearing sight was that of the mounted members of the Metropolitan Police high-fiving the crowds. Despite the hefty numbers, this event was a doddle for the cops.

The crowds were beautifully behaved, as were the athletes. There was no repeat of the 2005 Ashes Victory Parade when some of England’s cricketers were staggering around with beer bottles.

No one looked as if they had been out on the town all night, even though some Paralympians had only grabbed a few hours’ kip following Sunday night’s closing ceremony.

Downing Street announced that Prime Minister David Cameron would send a letter of thanks to every one of the 80,000 volunteers to thank them for their dedication.

Fans hold placards as Britain's Olympic and Paralympic athletes participate in the victory parade

David Cameron talks with Ellie Simmonds before the Athletes Victory parade in London

vRoyal appeal: Zara Phillips, who won a silver medal in the team eventing, waved to fans from a float carrying the equestrian teams. She said the parade as: 'Unbelievable, to think that everyone's come out for all of us'

Royal appeal: Zara Phillips, who won a silver medal in the team eventing, waved to fans from a float carrying the equestrian teams. She said the parade was: 'Unbelievable, to think that everyone's come out for all of us'

Crowd pleaser: Mo Farah does his famous pose the 'Mobot'

SALUTE TO THE VOLUNTEER ARMY: LONDON 2012 GAMES MAKERS RELAX AND BASK IN GRATITUDE OF A NATION

For weeks they have played second fiddle to the athletes and the spectators, so the volunteers could be forgiven for having a celebration of their own yesterday – copying Usain Bolt’s familiar pose as they waited for the victory parade to begin.

The parade itself was a chance for the London 2012 Games Makers to relax and bask in the gratitude of the nation.

As Sue Daley, one of the 70,000 who have been pivotal to the smooth running of the Olympic and Paralympics, said as she lined up in Trafalgar Square: ‘Atlast we can relax, it is our day to join in the fun.’

Olympic volunteers pose in front of the National Gallery

Some were given prime positions in the Mall and some joined the procession – where they were cheered and thanked by the crowds.

David Cameron, Boris Johnson, London 2012 officials and athletes all paid tribute to the volunteers.
Mr Cameron is to write to each volunteer to thank them for their role in ‘inspiring’ Britain.

In his letter he says: ‘To see tens of thousands of people giving up their time…has been truly inspiring…you have put a smile on the nation’s face.’

He predicted that the 'magical summer' of Olympic and Paralympic triumph would stay in the memories of the entire country in much the same way as the 1966 World Cup winning year.

'At the end of the most unbelievably successful Olympics and Paralympics, I just want to say what a golden summer of British sport and what a golden summer it has been for our country,' the Prime Minister said.

As every athlete acknowledged afterwards, it was when the parade reached Trafalgar Square that the enormity of the occasion sank in.

You could see them all mouthing one word as they took in the view around Nelson’s Column: ‘Wow’.

No one seemed too bothered as the official schedule fell apart.

The idea was for all the athletes to line up in front of Buckingham Palace in time for a mighty flypast. But the lorries had slowed to crawling speed in the Mall and many athletes were still on board as everyone looked to the sky.

Cheered on: People cheer from a balcony festooned with flags and a banner saying 'So Proud' as floats pass by

Everyone wants to join in! City workers look out of windows as the parade makes its way through London

Patriotic: Thousands of Londoners turn out to cheer on Olympic and Paralympic athletes as they travel on floats during 'Our Greatest Team' parade

Medal haul: British swimmers David Carry (L) and Rebecca Adlington (R) were on the floats as well as gold medal winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton

Sea of people: Rebecca Adlington posted this photo on her Twitter page as a sea of crowds greeted the athletes

Teenage torpedo: Paralympic swimming sensation Ellie Simmonds, 17, gives a wave

Royal ride: Diver Tom Daley joins three-day event star and Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips, left, and, right, Paralympic swimming sensation Ellie Simmonds, 17, gives a wave

No rain on this parade: Red and blue lions also made their way through the streets of London

Olympic fans crowd the streets on The Mall trying to catch a glimpse of the athletes

'Our Greatest Team' parade passes by Trafalgar Square in central London as thousands of fans wave flags in celebration

Saddle star: Cyclist Laura Trott celebrates her golden glory in the team pursuit and omnium

Floats carrying Team GB and Paralympic GB athletes on the London 2012 Victory Parade

Packed house: Members of the public wave to the athletes from the top of phone boxes crowds spill out of the streets on to the pavement

Well-deserved applause: Quadruple gold medal winning Paralympian David Weir shows his medals on top of a float

Floats carrying British Olympic and Paralympic athletes take part in a parade as seen from the air as they pass Trafalgar Square, London

Winners: Edward and Jonathan Brownlee. Speaking from his float, triathlon gold medallist Alistair Brownlee said: 'It's amazing that so many people were interested'

Team GB discus thrower Lawrence Okoye, left, and Long jumper Greg Rutherford holds his gold medal as his float passes St Paul's Cathedral

Happy ending: Paralympic cyclist Sarah Storey with her four golds. She was on the float with her husband Barney, also a gold medallist

First over was a British Airways airliner with ‘Thank You’ imprinted on its underbelly. What a British way to round off this lively episode in our modern history. Yesterday was an occasion when everyone was so busy thanking everyone else that I never once heard a single voice say: ‘It’s a pleasure.’

The organisers could not resist one last showbiz act, although it was hardly needed. The Pet Shop Boys were wheeled out to serenade the athletes as they lined up on the memorial.

They may be a great British band but we did see them at the Olympic closing ceremony the other day. Could we not, just this once, have allowed the Brigade of Guards to take centre stage?

The athletes dutifully stood through a couple of Pet Shop Boys’ hits, wondering whether to dance or stand to attention. With everyone in their Team GB uniforms, it looked as if a couple of pranksters had invaded the school photograph.

The Prime Minister finally led the official delegation on stage to reflect on ‘a golden summer’. Remarking that his own children, like everyone else’s, now aspire to Olympic greatness, he declared: ‘We salute your brilliance.’

The Princess Royal – who has been a quiet pillar of these Games as a member of the International Olympic Committee, president of the British Olympic Association, a former athlete and the mother of a silver medallist – looked back proudly on the mammoth undertaking of winning, preparing and then staging these Games.

Gold bus: Chris Hoy (left), Dani King and Victoria Pendleton during the parade

A Knight to remember: Track cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy shows off his two gold medals

Saluting a hero: Cheers for ex soldier and bomb victim turned discus star Derek Derenalagi, left, and Track cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy shows off his two gold medals

Happy to be there: Nicola Adams and Anthony Joshua smile as they wave at the crowds

Famous faces: A flatbed truck transporting members of Britain's Olympic and Paralympic teams travels past well wishers

And Boris Johnson congratulated the entire caboodle – right down to those benighted G4S security staff and the transport workers who were threatening him with a strike only the other day. He praised the Games for delivering up a scene as rare as a yeti: two strangers actually talking to each other on the Tube.

Afterwards, he told me, simply: ‘These Games have been the best thing I’ve been involved in in my life’. He also urged bosses and head teachers to go easy on those who had skived off to be here. ‘Indulge them this once,’ he pleaded.

As the athletes drifted away, I caught up with a few of those who will forever be associated with the summer of 2012. How have their lives changed? ‘It’s lovely but I have to factor in about an hour to go down to the shops for a pint of milk because everyone wants a chat,’ smiled Greg Rutherford.

Jessica Ennis concurred. ‘I do a lot more online shopping now,’ she joked. All had been touched beyond words by yesterday’s scenes. The Olympic ‘magic’ holds fast.

What a summer. What a finale. And what the hell do we do for an encore?

A general view of The Victory Parade as it passes along Fleet Street during the London 2012

Double gold medallist Hannah Cockcroft waves to the crowds and right the parade passes along Fleet Street on the way to the Mall

Spectators cram into Trafalgar Square, where they will see the parade go past from about 2.30pm

Union pack: Spectators cram into Trafalgar Square to catch a glimpse of Britain's finest athletes

Olympic effort: Fans outside Mansion House have turned out to show their appreciation fo4r thew effort of Team GB

Olympic effort: Fans outside Mansion House have turned out to show their appreciation for the effort of Team GB

Front-row seats: These two ladies made sure they were early enough to get a great view

Katherine Jenkins sings the National Anthem at the celebrations outside Buckingham Palace

The Pet Shop Boy's Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe perform during the Olympics & Paralympics parade

Protection: These stunning pictures gives an insight into the awesome military power held by the Royal Navy during the Olympics. HMS Bulwark was stationed off the coast of Weymouth where the Olympics and Paralympics sailing was taking place

Control: The Plymouth-based amphibious command and control ship was supporting Dorset Police in security across 50 square miles of coastline at the Weymouth Bay and Portland

In the Olympics Great Britain finished third in the overall medals table - one place better than hoped. Right, the breakdown of which sports brought in the medals

Breakdown of Team Gb's Paralympic medals

In the Paralympics Great Britain finished third in the overall medals table. Right, the breakdown of which sports brought in the medals

GOLD MEDAL COUNT OF OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS

The total of 65 medals, including 29 golds, is the best tally recorded by Britain at any Olympics since 1908. This summer Team GB gained 18 medals than won in Beijing four years ago.

Winner: Britain's Mo Farah kisses his jersey

ANTHONY JOSHUA - BOXING - MEN'S SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT (+91KG)

LUKE CAMPBELL - BOXING - MEN'S BANTAMWEIGHT (56 KG)

MO FARAH - MEN'S 5,000M

ED MCKEEVER - CANOE SPRINT - 200m MEN'S SINGLE KAYAK

JADE JONES - TAEKWONDO - WOMEN'S -57KG

NICOLA ADAMS - BOXING - WOMEN'S FLYWEIGHT (51KG)

CHARLOTTE DUJARDIN - EQUESTRIAN - INDIVIDUAL DRESSAGE

SIR CHRIS HOY - CYCLING - MEN'S KEIRIN

LAURA TROTT - CYCLING - WOMEN'S OMNIUM

LAURA BECHTOLSHEIMER, CARL HESTER AND CHARLOTTE DUJARDI - EQUESTRIAN - TEAM DRESSAGE

ALISTAIR BROWNLEE - MEN'S TRIATHLON

JASON KENNY - CYCLING - MEN'S SPRINT

NICK SKELTON, BEN MAHER AND SCOTT BRASH - PETER CHARLES

EQUESTRIAN - MEN'S TEAM SHOWJUMPING

ANDY MURRAY - TENNIS - MEN'S SINGLES

BEN AINSLIE - SAILING - MEN'S FINN

MO FARAH - MEN'S 10,000M

GREG RUTHERFORD - MEN'S LONG JUMP

JESSICA ENNIS - WOMEN'S HEPTATHLON

LAURA TROTT, DANI KING AND JOANNA ROWSELL - CYCLING - WOMEN'S TEAM PURSUIT

KATHERINE COPELAND AND SOPHIE HOSKING - ROWING - WOMEN'S LIGHTWEIGHT DOUBLE SCULLS

ANDY TRIGGS, HODGE, PETE REED, ALEX GREGORY AND TOM JAMES - ROWING - MEN'S COXLESS FOURS

VICTORIA PENDLETON - CYCLING - WOMEN'S KEIRIN

STEVEN BURKE, ED CLANCY, GERAINT THOMAS AND PETER KENNAUGH - CYCLING - MEN'S TEAM PURSUIT SPRINT

KATHERINE GRAINGER AND ANNA WATKINS - ROWING - WOMEN'S DOUBLE SCULLS

CHRIS HOY - PHILIP HINDES - JASON KENNY - CYCLING - MEN'S TEAM SPRINT

PETER WILSON - SHOOTING - MEN'S DOUBLE TRAP

TIM BAILLIE - ETIENNE STOTT - CANOE SLALOM - MEN'S C2

BRADLEY WIGGINS - CYCLING - ROAD - MEN'S INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL

HELEN GLOVER - HEATHER STANNING - ROWING - WOMEN'S PAIR

PARALYMPIC GOLD MEDALS

Proud: Sarah Storey poses with her gold medal

In the Paralympics Great Britain finished third in the overall medals table with 34 gold medals.

DAVID WEIR - ATHLETICS - MEN'S MARATHON T54

DAVID STONE - CYCLING - MIXED T1-2 ROAD RACE

JOSIE PEARSON - ATHLETICS - WOMEN'S DISCUS THROW F51/52/53

JONNIE PEACOCK - ATHLETICS - MEN'S 100M T44

DAVID WEIR - ATHLETICS - MEN'S 800M T54

HANNAH COCKROFT - ATHLETICS - WOMEN'S 200M T34

JOSEF CRAIG - SWIMMING - MEN'S 400M FREESTYLE S7

SARAH STOREY - CYCLING - WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL C5 TIME TRIAL

HELENA LUCAS - SAILING - ONE-PERSON KEELBOAT

SARAH STOREY - CYCLING - WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL C5 TIME TRIAL

OLIVER HYND - SWIMMING - MEN'S 200M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY - SM8

DAVID WEIR - ATHLETICS - MEN'S 1500m T54

SOPHIE CHRISTIANSEN - EQUESTRIAN - INDIVIDUAL FREESTYLE TEST GRADE

DANIELLE BROWN - ARCHERY - WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL COMPOUND - OPEN

HEATHER FREDERIKSEN - WOMEN'S 100M BACKSTROKE - S8

MICKEY BUSHELL - ATHLETICS - MEN'S 100M T53

ELLIE SIMMONDS - SWIMMING - WOMEN'S 200M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY SM6

NATASHA BAKER - EQUESTRIAN - INDIVIDUAL FREESTYLE TEST GRADE II

DAVID WEIR - ATHLETICS - MEN'S 5000M T54

SOPHIE CHRISTIANSEN - EQUESTRIAN - INDIVIDUAL DRESSAGE

JESSICA-JANE APPLEGATE - SWIMMING - WOMEN'S 200M FREESTYLE S14

DAVID SMITH, JAMES ROE. NAOMI RICHES, PAM RELPH, AND LILY VAN DE BROECKE - ROWING - MIXED COXED FOUR LTAMix+

ANTHONY KAPPES & CRAIG MACLEAN - CYCLING - MEN'S INDIVIDUAL B SPRINT

ALED DAVIES - ATHLETICS - MEN'S DISCUS F42

ELLIE SIMMONDS - SWIMMING - WOMEN'S 400m FREESTYLE - S6

SARAH STOREY - CYCLING - WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL C4-5 500M TIME TRIAL

NATASHA BAKER - EQUESTRIAN - INDIVIDUAL GRADE II

DEB CRIDDLE, LEE PEARSON, SOPHIE CHRISTIANSEN AND SOPHIE WELLS - EQUESTRIAN - TEAM DRESSAGE

RICHARD WHITEHEAD - ATHLETICS - MEN'S 200M T42

NEIL FACHIE & BARNEY STOREY - CYCLING - MEN'S INDIVIDUAL B 1KM TIME TRIAL

MARK COLBOURNE - CYCLING - MEN'S INDIVIDUAL C1 3KM PURSUIT

SARAH STOREY - CYCLING - WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL C5 PURSUIT

JONATHAN FOX - SWIMMING - MEN'S 100M BACKSTROKE S7

HANNAH COCKROFT - ATHLETICS - WOMEN'S 100M T34

KATCHING MY I

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