OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY: Beharry's emotional run is highlight of star-studded day in life of the flame

By Sportsbeat staff

SIR Cliff Richard, Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton, boy band The Wanted and former Big Brother contestant Kate Lawler all carried the Olympic torch on a star-studded day - but it was an emotional stop in Airewas that was the highlight.

TRUE HERO: VC winner Johnson Beharry marks Armed Services Day by running with the torch at the  National Memorial Arboretum (Getty Images)

War hero Corporal Johnson Beharry carried the torch to the Armed Forces Memorial, at the National Memorial Arboretum, which bears the names of 16,000 fallen servicemen and women.

Beharry is one of only six living recipients - and the youngest - of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for military valour. It was awarded seven years ago after he saved the lives of his unit in Iraq by charging down an ambush.

As Beharry ran with the flame, the band of the Irish Guards played and his path was flanked by service personnel.

"It's a great moment to be here, it's an honour," he said. "It was hard to enter the arboretum, knowing I could have been on the wall."

Sir Cliff was nominated for his contribution to British music and his charity work - and he was happy to miss a day at his beloved Wimbledon to be involved, carrying the flame through Edgbaston on the outskirts of Birmingham.

MUSIC ICON: Sir Cliff Richard - who has spent a combined total of 20 years in the charts since the 1950s - ran with the flame in Birmingham (Getty Images)

Kristian Thomas, who will find out this week if he has been selected for the British Olympic gymnastics team, was also among the torchbearers.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Gary Lineker will carry the flame through his Leicester home town next Tuesday. Lineker is second on the list of all-time England goalscorers and will anchor the BBC's Olympic coverage - his sixth Games as a sports presenter.

On Sunday the flame will visit Stratford upon Avon, the home of William Shakespeare, whose play The Tempest is serving as an inspiration to Danny Boyle's opening ceremony.

© Sportsbeat 2012