Christmas Lights Switch-on Event - Manchester

(Part 2 of 2)

Building on the success of recent years, Manchester City Council again delivered a spectacular start to the region's Christmas season with a Christmas lights switch-on event to crowds numbering in the tens of thousands.

Headlining the performances was former Girls Aloud star gone solo, Nicola Roberts, who has ditched her red curls and dainty dresses for a straight blonde look and sported a feisty combination of sleeveless fur jacket and leather trousers. Also headlining was grime sensation Tinchy Strider who wowed the crowd with his single Number One.

Hosted as in previous years by Key 103 presenters Mike Toolan and Chelsea Spokes, the line-up also featured the Manchester Show Choir, cast members of The Wind in the Willows, street dance group SOAR INK, Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton, a special message from Scrooge musical star Tommy Steele, a performance from the stars of West End show Dirty Dancing, former Hear'Say singer and Emmerdale actress Suzanne Shaw speaking about her upcoming role in Cinderella, the Lord Mayor of Manchester and a 'Secret Santa' played by former Coronation Street actor Graham Hawley.

After counting down to the switch-on itself, the spectacle continued with a dazzling musical firework and pyrotechnics display that lit the sky above Manchester Town Hall.