Danny Boyle reveals biggest regret about Olympics opening ceremony

Perth Now

3 days ago

Danny Boyle has one big regret about the way he handed the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony.
The 28 Days Later director was put in charge of the spectacular event in the British capital and it included references to UK culture including nods to music, fashion, movies and the NHS (National Health Service), but Danny regrets failing to include a segment dedicated to the BBC to recognise the national broadcaster's work over the last 100 years.
He told The Sunday Times newspaper: "Well, there was a lot of advice and warnings we ignored, but the one that we listened to that I regret deeply [meant] that we didn't feature the BBC enough. Because I look now at news values and who to trust, and think, 'F*** me - we should look after that'.
"It doesn't matter whether you approve of it or not. It is just the idea of this national broadcaster with some kind of values you can rely on.
"These technology internationalists will have you believe that they don't matter, that there's something global much more important.
"But they do matter. They define us. But we were told we couldn't feature them by the IOC [International Olympic Committee]."
Danny's opening ceremony included a memorable sketch featuring the late Queen Elizabeth teaming up with James Bond star Daniel Craig which seemingly ended with the monarch parachuting into the London Stadium.
Lord Sebastian Coe, who served as London Organising Committee for the Olympics, previously said of the stunt: "There isn't a day that goes by without somebody somewhere in the world asking me about this. A whole heap of people still believe that she genuinely jumped from the helicopter.
"It was an extraordinary moment because Danny Boyle, who was our director, it was the only day during the seven-year period of preparation of the games that I felt the globe wobble.
"He came in and said: 'I've done some market research and it shows that the Queen and James Bond, in that order, are the global iconic figures' and I was fine until that moment when he said: 'Wouldn't it be great if we could get them to jump out of a helicopter?'
"And in fairness, it was Danny who got it across the line. There are lots of things that are said about it but it was actually Danny who persuaded her."
Lord Coe went on to explain he initially showed potential ideas for the skit to Anne, Princess Royal - the daughter of Queen Elizabeth - and was only asked one question when she saw the plans.
He told BBC News "My first role was to take the Princess Royal through the creative thoughts and I remember these sort of hammed up drawings and the only question I got was: 'What kind of helicopter?'"