Ed’s national anthem (with a little help from his friends)
EVEN for a man tipped this weekend to become Britain’s first billionaire musician, it is a nerveracking challenge.
But when Ed Sheeran performs at the grand finale of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations on June 5, he will have plenty of company.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that a glittering array of stars will join Sheeran as he leads the country in singing the national anthem at the end of the Jubilee Pageant.
A source said: ‘Names we closely associate with each decade of the Queen’s reign will join Ed Sheeran for the closing proceedings.’
Sheeran’s stellar ‘backing singers’ will include pop stars Sandie Shaw, Marc Almond and Spandau Ballet’s Tony Hadley, along with soprano Lesley Garrett and Jools Holland.
Other celebrities include Dame Esther Rantzen, Chris Tarrant, William Roache, Anthea Turner, Holly Willoughby, Shirley Ballas, Chris Eubank and Felicity Jones.
Former Blue Peter presenters Peter Purves and Valerie Singleton will also be there.
Britain’s Olympic heroes loom large, including Lord Seb Coe, Tessa Sanderson and Dame Kelly Holmes. TV weatherman Michael Fish, who said there was no hurricane on the way hours before the Great Storm of 1987, will also be on stage.
Their appearance will come at the end of four days of celebrations to mark the Queen’s seven decades on the Throne. As part of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, the cast of Mamma Mia! the musical will perform Abba songs on a float.
Mazz Murray, who stars in the musical and performed with Brian May during the 2002 Golden Jubilee celebrations at Buckingham Palace, said: ‘I was a chorus girl at the Golden Jubilee and now I’m back as the leading lady with Abba. From Killer Queen to Dancing Queen for Her Majesty the Queen.’
During the pageant parade, each decade of the Queen’s reign will be represented by an opentopped bus featuring personalities associated with the era.
The 70s bus will carry stars including Johnny Ball and Noddy Holder while celebrities on the 80s bus will include Gary Lineker and Nigel Planer.