A masterclass in self-deprecating fun from - who else? - the Brits

If Beijing was epic and dramatic, London was all about humour. The British are masters of the understatement and the opening ceremony was a masterclass in self-deprecating, laugh-at-ourselves fun. It was irony, shaken and stirred.

Bond and Bean, the Bard and a Beatle, all the best things British, combined to put on a spectacle which, while short of the sheer drama we saw in the Chinese capital four years ago, was a superb celebration of a land which gave the world the industrial revolution and the worldwide web.

A good laugh at ourselves is sometimes the best way to confront life. From the time the first cotton wool cloud appeared, you knew you were in for a night of mischievous and understated joy. Cotton wool cloud translates into the ever-present rain - they were mocking themselves.

The doorman at my hotel couldn't help himself as he greeted me when I returned late after the show. 'Oi, did you see that, the queen and her grand entry,' he chortled merrily. Only the British can take the mickey out of their leader. If you did it in some despotic outpost you would be spirited away by goons. And what an entry. Teaming up the most iconic British film character with the monarch was a stroke of genius. This opening ceremony will always be remembered for this piece of theatre, when Queen Elizabeth made her acting debut. And she wanted to do it.

If Bond was cool and classic, Mr Bean was, as always, bumbling idiocy. The skit with the London Philharmonic Orchestra was delicious, as was the scene from Chariots of Fire. Once again a case of laugh-at-ourselves and try not to get too uppity.

Irony was the theme of the night, most intended, some by circumstance. President Robert Mugabe, sitting in front of his television set in Harare, must have smiled when he saw Zimbabwe lead the large British contingent out.

We also had the first kiss at an opening ceremony when a boy and girl, admonished previously by her mum for going out wearing a less than suitable dress, puckered up, as clips of other famous kisses, including Prince William kissing Kate and Shrek kissing his bride (was that another dig?) were shown.