Hamish Hamilton and Mark Pougatch: The Wonder

Sport and the Feels

Unlike many of our guests on this series, Hamish Hamilton can live everyday life without being troubled, certainly without being recognised. He's a different kind of Olympian, an anonymous Olympian; not actually an Olympian at all. And yet, his gold-medal-winning work will be familiar to us all, drawing acclaim not from thousands in a stadium but from billions watching around the world on their TVs. Hamish was the Live Director of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony; the man responsible for bringing Danny Boyle's vision to life for a global audience. He's the go-to-guy for this kind of thing; directing the last seven Superbowl Half-Time shows and top of the contacts page for Beyonce, U2 and Robbie Williams when they need live concert directing. Suffice to say, he's on top of the podium in his particular profession. Mark Pougatch is alongside host Jonathan Overend, in association with Aldi UK, official supermarket partner of Team GB, to get deep into the London ceremony; "Isles of Wonder". They both agree it was one of the best things they've ever seen. So how did it work? How was it planned and constructed? How did that happen? Just... how ?!?!?