DANNY BOYLE’S Olympic vision was finally unveiled to the world last night and the opening spectacular drew universal praise.

The skies above the capital were lit by thousands of fireworks as London celebrated the start of the Olympic Games with a ceremony that showed off the best of Britain’s past, present and future.

After a seven-year wait, London did not disappoint, with a musical extravaganza featuring a perfectly choreographed cast of thousands.

Among the highlights in the three-hour show was the acting debut of the Queen, who delighted the 80,000 crowd by starring with James Bond, before appearing to parachute into the stadium.

Tour de France hero Bradley Wiggins started the proceedings before a breathtaking ceremony capturing the best of Britain; by turn moving and funny.

The show started with an idyllic countryside setting, as children played on the meadow and sports took place on the village green, before the pounding of the drums began, ushering in Britain’s industrial revolution as the stadium darkened and the atmosphere changed.

A cast of hundreds swarmed on to the centre of the arena as the darker, grimier, urban landscape emerged, with giant smoking chimneys rising up from the ground.

As the scene changed, dancers representing some of the key eras of Britain in the 20th Century appeared, including the Jarrow March, on behalf of the North-East.

The nation’s steel heritage was given a starring role, as five rings hovered above the stadium before bursting into flames.

Following the Queen’s surprise entrance, Boyle paid tribute to the NHS, complete with dancing doctors and nurses and their young patients on illuminated beds.

In a rare public appearance, Harry Potter author JK Rowling started the tale of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan, as baddies from Britain’s best-loved children’s books, including Captain Hook and Lord Voldemort, threatened the stage but were quickly banished by a troupe of Mary Poppins characters who descended from the skies.

The Olympic torch was brought in to the stadium by Sir Steve Redgrave and handed over to seven young athletes nominated by some of Britain’s greatest Olympians.