Golden boy Jonnie Peacock to strut Strictly style at Cambridge Big Switch-On
Double Paralympic gold medallist and Strictly Come Dancing star Jonnie Peacock will be turning on the Christmas lights in Cambridge next month.
The Cambridge-born ace will flick the switch at the Big Christmas Switch-On event, sponsored by the Cambridge Independent, in Market Square on Sunday, November 18.
Jonnie grew up in Shepreth and went on to attend Cambridge Regional College before making his name at the 2012 London Paralympics when he won the 100m.
He repeated the heroics at the Rio Paralympics in 2016, and last year became the first amputee Paralympian to compete on Strictly Come Dancing, making it through to week eight.
“I feel hugely honoured to be turning on the lights in this beautiful town – and I’m very excited to see the brand new Christmas lights being unveiled on the night,” said Jonnie.
“I look forward to sharing it with so many festive-spirited people.”
There will be a different flavour to the event this year, which is organised and funded by Cambridge BID.
Instead of a traditional Christmas tree, the centrepiece for the display will be a dazzling walk-through illuminated tree situated in Market Square, with a blaze of twinkling new lights and schemes across the city.
This will include illuminations on Green Street, Bridge Street and Magdalene Bridge, while the Guildhall and many of the trees around the city will also be picked out with glittering strands and golden uplighters for the first time.
The Big Switch-On event will feature a lively line-up of Christmas entertainment from local schools, performing arts groups, choirs and singers including busker Tom Korni, Rock Choir, Razzamataz, Splitz, Sing! and the Fulbourn primary school choir.
The family festivities, which will be compered by Heart 103 presenters and broadcast live on the radio station, start at noon and carry on until 4.30pm, with the main Christmas lights to be switched on by Jonnie, accompanied by Cambridge mayor Nigel Gawthrope, at 5pm.
Becky Burrell, marketing and commercial manager for Cambridge BID, said: “We are thrilled to be joined by Jonnie Peacock, and excited to be unveiling such stunning new Christmas lights at our 6th Big Switch-On event.
“It’s going to be a magical experience for all, young and old, and we look forward to welcoming many familiar faces as well as lots of new ones.”
The Lion Yard shopping centre will be showcasing new Christmas lights this year, as well as a new grotto in the atrium, and the Grand Arcade has an afternoon of entertainment planned.
The events start at noon with performances by Stagecoach Performing Arts School, Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts, Vocal Remix, Cambridge Theatre Company, and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire presenter Jeremy Sallis will turn on the shopping centre lights at 4pm.
