What to expect at the Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday

THE IMAGE of James Bond and the Queen parachuting into the Olympic Stadium has barely faded from the nation's mind and already the closing ceremony is nearly upon us. London 2012 officials have been keen to keep details of Sunday's ceremony under wraps but here are some of the rumours about what we can expect.

British music will feature heavily in the show, with at least 20 famous artists said to be performing around 30 major pieces of music. Some musicians have given away more than others, with Ed Sheeran announcing his involvement in an Australian radio interview and George Michael leaking the news of his performance on Twitter. Matt Bellamy, the frontman of Muse, who penned the official Olympics track Survival, has told NME that his band will be taking part.

One Direction, Spice Girls, Paul Weller, The Who, Kate Bush and Adele are also rumoured to be in the show, which has been named A Symphony of British Music. Ray Davies of the Kinks looks likely to sing the popular anthem Waterloo Sunset, while the remaining members of Queen are expected to team up with Jessie J for a rendition of We Will Rock You.

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"If the opening ceremony was the wedding, then we're the wedding reception," David Arnold, music director of the Olympic Closing Ceremony, has told The Daily Telegraph. "It's going to be beautiful, cheeky, cheesy, camp, silly and thrilling."

Thousands of cast members, mostly local volunteers, have been taking part in secret rehearsals at the Ford factory in Dagenham. In a number of photographs leaked to the Daily Mail, hundreds of people can be seen taking part in a 'rush hour' scene. Performers, dressed in newspaper-patterned costumes, will apparently hurry around in cars and on scooters and bicycles. Lollipop ladies will reportedly direct traffic before stripping down to reveal Union Jack swimsuits in a routine inspired by the film The Full Monty.

The Daily Mail photographs also include reduced-scale reconstructions of some of London's most famous landmarks, including a 30-foot ferris wheel, symbolising the London Eye, a Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral and Tower Bridge. The traditional London black cab is also expected to make an appearance, as well as the three-wheeled Robin Reliant car made famous in the popular British comedy TV series Only Fools and Horses.

Notting Hill Carnival is said to feature in another section, while Kate Moss is expected to lead a tribute to British fashion on a huge catwalk, alongside supermodels such as Naomi Campbell and Lily Cole. Russell Brand will apparently sing a comic version of the Sex Pistols song Pretty Vacant with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders – and a parade of 160 Coldstream Guards are due to march to a military band playing a rendition of Blur's Parklife.

In the more traditional parts of the ceremony, more than 10,000 athletes and flag-bearers will march around the stadium, and London will hand over to Rio de Janeiro, the next host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The Queen, Mayor of London Boris Johnson and president of the International Olympics Committee Jacques Rogge are expected to make speeches.

Ballerina Darcey Bussell and members of the Royal Ballet are then expected to perform as the Olympic flame is extinguished. A final fireworks display will mark the end of the Games.

• The Olympics closing ceremony will be aired on BBC 1 on Sunday 12 August, 8.45pm