Ramping up enthusiasm for Tattoo

Beano favourite Dennis the Menace was on his bike at the launch of this year’s Military Tattoo.

Drummers from Top Secret Drum Corps stood firm during biker Brad McNicol’s daring leap at Edinburgh Castle yesterday.

A military take on the Brave soundtrack, an orchestral re-enactment of the Queen’s coronation and a comic-strip tribute by the US Navy are among acts set to wow audiences.

More than 220,000 spectators are due to attend the month-long spectacular, themed for 2012 on the Queen’s diamond jubilee.

Brigadier David Allfrey, chief executive and producer, said: “We are privileged and fortunate to have lived in the time of Queen Elizabeth II.”