Gateshead's Christmas lights event will see music favourites and panto stars add extra sparkle
by Barbara Hodgson · ChronicleLiveLocal duo Hunni, winners of The Voice last year, will be in action alongside another popular pair of entertainers at this week's switch-on of Gateshead's Christmas lights.
Jenna Cole and Olivia Irvin who make up the singing sensation - previously known as Jen And Liv - will be headlining Thursday's event which will see festive illuminations light up the town centre. And joining them as hosts will be panto favourites Lewis Denny and Charlie Richmond who this year are playing Dame Dotty and Muddles in Snow White at the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle which also co-stars Gazza's son Regan Gascoigne as the prince.
The funnymen will be accompanied by fellow cast member Grace Davison as Snow White. They are part of a whole range of entertainment being arranged ahead of the countdown to the flicking the switch in Trinity Square and the packed programme will get under way there at 4pm.
Over the course of two and a half hours crowds will be treated to lots of laughs, songs and guest appearances. Leading the way will be Hunni, the singers who first came to people's attention as buskers around Newcastle.
Jen and Liv, from Whitley Bay and Spennymoor respectively, have gone on to huge success; storming their to success on The Voice TV competition and changing their name to Hunni after signing to Universal Music Group. There also will be a special moment in store during Thursday evening for an 11-year-old called Helena Lily who won the shopping hub's Trinity’s Got Talent 2024 competition for a chance to perform at the event along with Taylor Swift tribute act Enchanted with Taylor.
Other special guests will be the big man himself, Santa, and deputy mayor of Gateshead Coun Freda Geddes. The switch-on of the Christmas lights is expected to be very popular and parking in the nearby Tesco car park will be free from 3pm until 8pm to help out those wishing to attend.
The event will be supporting a good cause too and visitors will have a chance to buy raffle tickets and merchandise whose sales will go to Trinity Square’s nominated charity, Tiny Lives. This organisation helps care for premature and sick newborn babies and their families and supports the special care baby unit at the RVI in Newcastle.
During Thursday's celebrations, the centre will announce that £28,000 has been raised for Tiny Lives through its fund-raising efforts.
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