Commonwealth Games 2014 opening ceremony: Rod Stewart and Susan Boyle among performers

The celebratory event can be watched live on BBC One from 8.15pm tonight

Scottish singer Susan Boyle will perform at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow (Danny Lawson)

Rod Stewart and Britain's Got Talent's Susan Boyle are among the acts set to perform at the opening ceremony of the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow tonight.

Classical violinist Nicola Benedetti, singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald and traditional musician Julie Fowlis will also take to the stage.

Details of the performances have been kept tightly under wraps, but Boyle, 53, has said her inclusion is a “great honour”.

Watch Susan Boyle perform at Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

The celebration will be aired live on BBC One and BBC Radio Five Live from 8.15pm, with several special guests down to attend.

More than 4,500 athletes will take part in the event, which the Queen will open in front of 40,000 fans at the city’s Celtic Park.

It remains to be seen whether the monarch will arrive by helicopter escorted by James Bond, as seen during the impressive London Olympics opener.

A further billion people are expected to watch the ceremony worldwide, promised by organisers to “surprise, delight and be uniquely Glaswegian and Scottish”.

“We have a mass cast but we have set out to represent lots and lots of individuals,” said David Zolkwer, head of ceremonies.

“You will see lots of individuals encouraged to do their own thing, in a rehearsed and considered way. It’s not about homogenising the city or asking them to pretend to be anything other than who they are.”

Pop icon Kylie Minogue has been booked to play five songs at the closing ceremony on 3 August, before she kicks off her Kiss Me Once tour.