It was the biggest British rock and pop line-up since Live Aid and, eventually, it delivered.
And, in typical fashion, Freddie Mercury stole the show again - from beyond the grave, caught live in crowd-teasing form on video.
The Banana Boat Song singalong he used to include in Queen’s epic concerts brought the biggest cheers of the night.
The only artist who threatened to upstage him was also dead ... John Lennon.
You could have heard a pin drop as film of him singing Imagine was beamed onto the big screens.
My other winners:
Take That (brave of Gary Barlow to step out so soon after the death of his baby);
The omnipresent Emeli Sande (great voice, great image, great personality);
Ray Davies (shaky but emotional);
Elbow (raised the gig to another level when it flagged after repeat plays);
Eric Idle (threatened to steal the show with union jack-knickered nuns on roller skates);
The Who (picked up their guitars and played, just like yesterday).
My losers:
George Michael (a parody of his former self, shamelessly plugging his new single);
Liam Gallagher (where was Noel when we needed a real high-flying performance?);
Muse (usually dynamite live but oddly off their game);
Annie Lennox (bonkers - take a listen to Dave Stewart’s new album, love)
Spelbound (the BGT stars seemed pointless, and the lighting made it hard to see what was going on anyway)
Boris Johnson & David Cameron (did you see all that dad dancing?)
Here’s the full setlist ...
EMELI SANDÉ : Read All About It
URBAN VOICES COLLECTIVE : Because
JULIAN LLOYD WEBBER : Salut D’Amour
URBAN VOICES COLLECTIVE : National Anthem
MADNESS : Our House
MASSED BAND OF THE HOUSEHOLD DIVISION : Parklife
PET SHOP BOYS : West End Girls
ONE DIRECTION : What Makes You Beautiful
DAVID ARNOLD : Parade Of The Athletes
ELBOW : Open Arms
ELBOW : One Day Like This
EMELI SANDÉ : Read All About It (reprise)
SPELBOUND : A Day In The Life
RAY DAVIES : Waterloo Sunset
KATE BUSH : Running Up That Hill (Deal With God Remix 2012)
DHOL FOUNDATION : Here Comes The Sun
JOHN LENNON : Imagine
QUEEN : Bohemian Rhapsody
GEORGE MICHAEL : Freedom '90
GEORGE MICHAEL : White Light
KAISER CHIEFS : Pinball Wizard
DAVID BOWIE : Medley (Space Oddity / Changes / Ziggy Stardust / Jean Genie / Rebel Rebel / Diamond Dogs / Young Americans / Let’s Dance)
DAVID BOWIE : Fashion
ANNIE LENNOX : Little Bird
ED SHEERAN, NICK MASON, RICHARD JONES, MICHAEL RUTHERFORD : Wish You Were Here
RUSSELL BRAND : Pure Imagination
RUSSELL BRAND : I Am The Walrus
FATBOY SLIM : Right Here, Right Now
FATBOY SLIM : The Rockafeller Skank
JESSIE J : Price Tag
TINIE TEMPAH : Written In The Stars
TAIO CRUZ : Dynamite
JESSIE J, TINIE TEMPAH & TAIO CRUZ : You Should Be Dancing
SPICE GIRLS : Wannabe
SPICE GIRLS : Spice Up Your Life
BEADY EYE : Wonderwall
ELO : Mr Blue Sky
ERIC IDLE : Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life
MUSE : Survival
FREDDIE MERCURY : Banana Boat Song
QUEEN & JESSIE J : We Will Rock You
LONDON WELSH MALE VOICE CHOIR & LONDON WELSH RUGBY CLUB CHOIR : Olympic Anthem
MARISA MONTE / SEU JORGE / ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO : Rio De Janeiro Showcase
TAKE THAT : Rule The World
DAVID ARNOLD : Spirit Of The Flame
THE WHO : Baba O’Riley
THE WHO: See Me, Feel Me
THE WHO : Listening To You
THE WHO : My Generation
EMELI SANDÉ : Imagine (closing the BBC TV coverage)
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