Bono stars at Beatles film gala

Bono paid tribute to the influence of The Beatles' music

U2 frontman Bono made a surprise appearance at the UK premiere of a new musical film based on Beatles songs, Across the Universe.

The film, a love story set in the 1960s, features 33 Beatles tracks including Revolution, Hey Jude, I Am The Walrus, and All You Need is Love.

Bono makes a cameo appearance as a shaman called Dr Robert - his first acting role.

Comedian Eddie Izzard also features as a circus ringmaster.

Bono paid tribute to The Beatles, saying they "mean everything". He added: "They built the road that bands like U2 travel on."

The film's story is told through Beatles songs sung by the cast

The movie was written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, famed for their scriptwriting in British TV hits The Likely Lads, Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen Pet.

Across the Universe stars Evan Rachel Wood as Lucy and Jim Sturgess, playing Jude in his first lead role.

Director Julie Taymor said the film had the blessing of Sir Paul McCartney after she showed it to him in a private viewing. "I don't know if I was insane to want to do it, but it was so thrilling," she said.

"I was sitting next to Paul McCartney, and what if he didn't like it? He was very generous and complimentary."

Bono said he was a fan of Taymor and admired her work in the theatre and films such as Frida, the biopic of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

He said: "I wanted to learn from her. The fact she let me go and play with her actors shows she's not 100% sound, but we got away with it."