Sunderland Christmas Lights Switch On

National World - LocalTV

The festive season has began in Sunderland! To kick it off, Steve and Karen from Hits Radio hosted the Christmas Lights Switch where we caught up with pantos stars and the Mayor of Sunderland.

Transcript

00:00Hello, my name's Tom Worley and I'm Silly Simon.

00:04My name's Miss Rory and I shall be playing Rory in a...

00:07Trot.

00:08Trot!

00:09And my name is Matthew Wolfenden and I'll be playing Jack.

00:13And we'll all be doing that.

00:17Jack and the Beanstalk at Sunderland Empire this Christmas.

00:20From the 13th of December until the 5th of January.

00:24Until the tax bill's paid.

00:26Yeah, so why don't you two start by telling us about Rantel because this is your sixth year?

00:31Oh, it is, yeah.

00:33We just love, well, we love Pademans and we love Sunderland Empire.

00:37It's our sixth year here.

00:39Every year it just gets more and more and more magical.

00:42It's sort of, it's a massive part of Christmas in the city and in the North East, really.

00:48And it's great to share it this year with Matthew who's joining us from the Dales.

00:52And it's quite literally bigger than ever before.

00:54Like, literally it's giant. The Beanstalk is an actual giant and it's 3D.

00:59It is, it's 3D.

01:03Like that.

01:04Just like that.

01:05Just like that.

01:06Do you know what, I performed at the Sunderland Empire Theatre 22 years ago.

01:12That's when you both said, you don't look old enough.

01:15I was just thinking...

01:16You don't look old enough.

01:17I wasn't born.

01:20Yeah, so it's absolutely amazing to be back.

01:22It's such a beautiful theatre.

01:24And it's huge. It's like 2,000 people.

01:27Saying that though, we're selling out.

01:32Hundreds of people gathered around Keele Square and danced and sung along to the entertainment,

01:37which was hosted by Stephen Cavan from Hits Radio.

01:40Other entertainment included a Taylor Swift tribute,

01:43a performance from the Fantastic Panto Stars,

01:46and children's favourites Shrek and Fiona, Mickey and Minnie Mouse,

01:50and of course Santa Claus himself,

01:52as they all waited in anticipation for the phenomenal light switch on.

01:56After the countdown, the button was pressed

01:58and fireworks were set off above the Holiday Inn and around the screen,

02:01which displayed amazing festive animations before wishing everyone

02:04a Merry Christmas from Sunderland City Council and the Mayor of Sunderland.

02:14I just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas

02:16and thank you so much for coming along this evening

02:18to Sunderland, the first day really of the Christmas festivities here in Sunderland.

02:22The city centre now has got so much to offer.

02:25As you can see, all the buildings coming up around you.

02:27We've got Culture House, we've got the lovely pups coming up,

02:30the muddler, the tail cabin.

02:32It's absolutely great.

02:34There's all sorts going on this Christmas as well.

02:36You've got the Reindeer Dash, which will be happening soon.

02:39You've also got Angelo's Ristorante.

02:43They're doing a Christmas market on Sunday.

02:46You've also got Sunnyside Market coming up as well in December.

02:49There's lots to do and see in Sunderland.

02:52And we really need people to come into Sunderland,

02:54support the local businesses,

02:56and see the absolutely amazing transformation

02:58that's going on around the city centre.

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