Date: 30th October 2007

Enchanted Oxford Street Christmas Lights switch-on


HAVE AN ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS WITH AN
UNMISSABLE EVENING’S ENTERTAINMENT AT THE WORLD-FAMOUS ENCHANTED OXFORD STREET CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON


This year, the Enchanted Oxford Street Christmas Lights switch-on will be THE show-stopper of the season – as Oxford Street and Walt Disney will be inviting people to Have an Enchanted Christmas in celebration of the start of Christmas and the release of the Disney family blockbuster, Enchanted. On Wednesday 7 November, at the newly-refurbished John Lewis Oxford Street with its £64 million makeover and must-see Foodhall, hundreds will gather to see the world-famous Oxford Street Christmas Lights switch-on as Leona Lewis, the incredibly talented X-Factor winner, pushes the big red button to transform the mile and half of the world’s favourite shopping street, Oxford Street into a dazzling canopy of magic and enchantment.

Heart 106.2 presenters, Jamie Theakston, Toby Anstis and Harriet Scott, will kick start proceedings - hosting the energetic on-stage entertainment from 5pm as they build up to the big switch-on just after 6pm. The crowds will be dazzled with an unmissable enchanted Christmas display of Disney magic and A-list live acts with a wealth of delights including performances from Westlife and the award-winning West End cast of Mary Poppins. The stunning stage show will culminate with the exceptionally talented Leona Lewis wowing everyone with her Christmas single, ‘Bleeding Love’ and giving the switch-on that special ‘X-factor’ touch.

Every year the Oxford Street Christmas Lights attract 40 million shoppers to come and experience the joy of Christmas in the West End – spending over £1 billion on the fantastic Christmas products on offer and making the most of the season’s festivities. This year, the Enchanted Oxford Street Christmas Lights will be transformed to bring to life the magic of Enchanted and Disney – with sparkling fairytale icons set against a film backdrop to spread a little Enchantment across the Christmas season.

The film blends the sparkle of a classic Disney animated fairy tale with a modern, live action romantic comedy, as the beautiful princess straight out of a Disney classic finds herself plunged into the bustling modern day reality of London’s West End American counterpart, Manhattan. So princes and princesses alike will be invited to come down to John Lewis Oxford Street from 5pm on the day of the switch-on, dressed in their royal finest for their chance to win on-the-spot prizes for their fancy fancy-dress efforts.

Jace Tyrrell, New West End Company says, “The Enchanted Oxford Street Christmas Lights switch-on event will be the perfect entertainment for all the family and really captures the excitement and buzz of Christmas in London’s West End. For nine weeks the dazzling canopy of chandeliers will stretch suspended above the heads of shoppers as they zip in and out of the 300 shops lining Oxford Street.”

The award-winning cast of the Mary Poppins production – which has been a huge box office and critical success and is now in its last four months - will present the show-stopping ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’. Heart presenters Jamie Theakston, Toby Anstis and Harriet Scott will party with well-loved Disney characters. No one puts on a show or parade quite like Disney – what better place to see all your Disney dreams come true? Westlife, the Irish heart-throbs will perform to the crowds including their new single, Home. Finally X-Factor winner, Leona Lewis – the incredibly talented X-factor winner will take to the stage to perform the first single of her debut album, ‘Bleeding Love’ before the big switch-on at 6.15pm as the mile and a half of Oxford Street will be bathed in the glow of the world-famous Oxford Street Christmas Lights.

The Oxford Street Christmas Lights use LED bulbs - using 75% less energy. All of the West End Christmas Lights, Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street are also carbon offset through PURE, the first UK registered charity dedicated to combating climate change by carbon offsetting, which uses a technology-based approach to reducing carbon emissions.

Source: Press Release