JUBILEE CAST OF STARS TO HONOUR QUEEN

ED SHEERAN AND BASIL BRUSH TO MARK CULMINATION OF FOUR DAYS OF CELEBRATION

- Robert Jobson

ED SHEERAN is to lead a star-studded bill for a spectacular pageant involving thousands of people to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee in June.

Organisers today revealed details of the London showpiece to end four days of festivities marking the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. It will be watched by an estimated global audience of one billion.

The Shape of You singer will perform at what will be an emotional finale outside Buckingham Palace on the Sunday of the long bank holiday weekend. A roll call of the most popular names in British culture, ranging from Sir Cliff Richard to Gary Lineker, and Bill Bailey to Basil Brush, will also take part in the pageant.

The procession on Sunday June 5 marks the culmination of more than 800 events over the bank holidays on Thursday and Friday followed by the weekend. They include Trooping the Colour and a flypast on June 2, a service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s on June 3 and a platinum party at the palace on Saturday June 4.

Sunday’s pageant will have a cast of 10,000 made up of more than 6,000 volunteers, 2,750 military personnel, key workers and 2,500 members of the public, as well as the performers.

Viewers around the world will watch a live broadcast while hundreds of thousands are expected to line The Mall and surrounding streets to witness the performances.