London 2012: Eric Idle sings Always Look On The Bright Side of Life at Olympics closing ceremony

Watched by billions world wide as part of the end of 17 days of sport, Idle was the surprise package in a show which featured none other than Queen, The Spice Girls, Madness, The Pet Shop Boys, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah among many more.

 

Hidden from the crowd thanks to a crash helmet and stunt man suit, Idle climbed into a cannon and prepared to be fired across the stadium. 

 

However instead of firing, the cannon slipped down and the unfortunate stuntman was instead tipped into a pit.

 

Idle appeared moments later and broke into his famous song from the closing scenes of the Monty Python film Life Of Brian.

 

The surreal scenes saw Idle joined by a group of Indian Bollywood dancers mid way through the song and splatted with paint, at which point Idle became first person to ever swear in an Olympic ceremony with the verse 'Life's a pile of shit, when you look at it'.

 

 

Idle is the second major British comedian to be part of the Olympics after Rowan Atkinson appeared in the opening ceremony as Mr Bean.

 

Other comedy highlights during the closing ceremony included Russell Brand singing The Beatles’ song I am The Walrus, and a nod to Only Fools and Horses at the start of the show when the Trotters Independent Traders reliant van was blown up as part of a reference to The Italian Job.

 

We haven't found a vid of the closing ceremony yet but here's the original from Life Of Brian to enjoy