End of an era: pictures from the world premiere of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

It's the last time that elves and dwarves will gather to celebrate a movie premiere. Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Evangeline Lilly were among the cast attending the world premiere of the final Hobbit movie in London's Leicester Square.

1. Gandalf, Gollum and Legolas

Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis and Orlando Bloom on the red carpet in Leicester Square. The trio have appeared together in the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit films (although Serkis does not appear in the Battle of the Five Armies). Picture: Matt Crossick
2. The Hobbit world premiere

Martin Freeman - aka Bilbo Baggins - arrives at The Hobbit world premiere in London's Leicester Square. Photo: Matt Crossick
3. Not another elf!

Evangeline Lilly at the premiere. Lilly plays Tauriel, an elf. Picture: Matt Crossick
4. Evangeline Lilly

Evangeline Lilly at the premiere. Picture: Matt Crossick
5. Elfies

John Bell, who plays Bain in The Hobbit, on selfie duties with some elves at the world premiere. Picture: Anthony Harvey
6. My precious

Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis at the Hobbit world premiere. Picture: Stuart C Wilson
7. The Hobbit world premiere

Orlando Bloom smoulders at The Hobbit world premiere. Has he been flamed by Smaug? Picture: Matt Crossick
8. Benedict Cumberbatch

And there he is - Smaug himself. Benedict Cumberbatch, the voice of Tolkien's dragon, makes an entrance at the premiere in Leicester Square. Picture: Matt Crossick
9. The Hobbit world premiere

Stephen Fry - who plays the scheming Master of Laketown in the movie - arrives in London's Leicester Square for the world premiere of The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies. Picture: Matt Crossick
10. Dwarf king

Our first dwarf of the evening is Richard Armitage, who plays the exiled king Thorin. Picture: Matt Crossick
11. Fans at The Hobbit world premiere

Fans in fancy dress at The Hobbit world premiere. Picture: Matt Crossick
12. The Hobbit world premiere

James Nesbitt and his family arrive at The Hobbit world premiere. Picture: Matt Crossick
13. The Hobbit world premiere

Aidan Turner and Sarah Greene arrive at The Hobbit world premiere. Picture: Matt Crossick
14. The Hobbit world premiere

Sylvester McCoy, who plays weird (even for a wizard) Radagast in The Hobbit, and his family arrive at The Hobbit world premiere. Picture: Matt Crossick
15. The director

Director Peter Jackson laps up the applause at his final Tolkien premiere. Picture: Matt Crossick
16. It ain't over till Billy Boyd sings

Billy Boyd, who played a hobbit in the Lord of the Rings, sings The Last Goodbye over the final credits of the final Hobbit film. Picture: Anthony Harvey