Sir Simon Rattle’s performance as he conducted Mr Bean and the London Symphony Orchestra at the Opening Ceremony of the London Games last year may be a hint of things to come after he steps down from the Berlin Philharmonic in 2017.

Britain’s most celebrated contemporary conductor is not expected to do any further performances with Rowan Atkinson’s comic character, but he is understood to have accepted the post of principal conductor of the LSO.

According to industry sources, Rattle, who is married to Magdalena Kozená, the Czech soprano, will succeed the Russian-born Valery Gergiev in the role.

The LSO refused to confirm or deny the rumours. “Simon is conducting the orchestra in the coming season, and there is nothing else to say,” its spokeswoman