Britain’s Got Talent Winner, Lost Voice Guy, will ensure Cramlington is brimming with festive fun when he switches on the Manor Walks Christmas lights later this week.
The inspirational North East comedian will be leading the illumination celebrations on Saturday 24th November as the shopping centre’s official countdown to Christmas gets underway.
The annual event, held in association with Heart FM and Cramlington Town Council, will feature a wide variety of free entertainment for all ages.
Magical walkabouts include giant presents, Christmas turkeys and frozen princesses who will be roaming the malls from 10am. Children can pop in and share their wish lists with Santa in his free magical Grotto. Santa will be joined by his elves collecting donations for Manor Walks charity partner, Seaton Delaval Arts Centre. There will also be lots of free festive craft activities to get involved with and live music throughout the day.
Radio hosts Justin and Kelly from Heart FM will then get the party started from 3-5pm in the south mall with live entertainment and games with top prizes to give away to the lucky contestants.
The event will include a special performance from Lost Voice Guy, aka Lee Ridley, who won the hearts of judges and viewers to be crowned Britain’s Got Talent Winner 2018 and the first comedian to ever win the show.
The 37-year-old from Consett, County Durham, has cerebral palsy, which means he is unable to speak and so he uses a voice synthesiser for his acclaimed act.
Lee Ridley said: “I am excited to visit Manor Walks to turn on the centre’s Christmas Lights and kick start the festive celebrations in Cramlington. I love performing in the North East as this is my home, and I can’t wait to see you all on Saturday 24th November.”
Shoppers will also be able to enjoy music from home-grown talent when the final of the Manor Walks ‘A Star is Born’ competition gets underway.
Now in its second year, the competition saw over twenty-five young singers compete for a slot at the semi-finals with only three applications going through to the live final. One lucky contestant will be crowned the winner for 2018 and win a cash prize of £500 as well as switching on the Christmas lights.
Bruno Coppola, General Manager at Manor Walks Shopping and Leisure, said: “We are delighted that Lost Voice Guy will be joining us to share our Christmas celebrations here at Manor Walks
“We are also looking forward to hearing the performances from our very own talented young people with the final of ‘A Star is Born’ and we are expecting the standard of entries to be very high as usual.
“It really promises to be an all-star line-up and we hope families will come along and join in the fun activities that will be taking place throughout the day.”
John Collins, Chairman of Cramlington Town Council, said: “This event is one of the highlights in the town’s calendar and once again promises to be a fantastic family event with lots of free fun for all ages.
“We hope to welcome as many people as possible to enjoy performances from Lost Voice Guy and our own talented singers, along with a host of other festive activities.”