X Factor winner Matt Cardle to switch on Lancaster Christmas lights

As Lancaster gets ready to back Paul Akister in this year’s X Factor live shows, a past winner is coming to switch on our Christmas lights.
Matt Cardle.Matt Cardle.
Matt Cardle.

Matt Cardle, who beat One Direction to win the TV talent search in 2010, will flick the switch in front of massive crowds in Market Square on Sunday, November 23.

The former painter and decorator has released three Top 10 albums since winning the show and sold more than 2.2m records worlwide.

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His most famous hits were his X Factor winner’s song and number one smash ‘When We Collide’ and a duet with ex-Spice Girl Melanie ‘Mel C’ Chisholm called ‘Loving You’.

Cardle was immensely popular with X Factor fans in 2010 due to his incredible vocal range and down-to-earth personality, as he fought off competition from Liverpool songstress Rebecca Ferguson and One Direction who have since gone on to become the world’s biggest boy band.

Matt said: “I’m excited to be switching on the Christmas Lights in Lancaster this year. It will be a great way for me to say thank you to my fans in Lancaster for their love and support over the last four years.”

The Christmas Lights switch on event is a joint venture between Lancaster Unlimited ( Lancaster’s Business Improvement District or BID) and The Bay radio station.

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The Bay will have a stage in Market Square and a full line up of acts will perform in the run-up to the switch on.

They include Black Lace, famed for their 1980s party hits Agadoo and Do the Conga, as well as former X Factor finalists Kingsland Road and Kitty Brucknell. Britain’s Got Talent finalist Gabrielle ‘Gabz’ Gardiner, known for her Top 10 hit ‘Lighters (The One)’, novelty act Mr Zip, plus pop band Everyoung, girl band Vanquish,Hana Joy and Magalie are other performers announced to date.

Paul Cusimano, chairman of Lancaster Unlimited, said: “We’re so pleased to be working with The Bay again on this hugely important date for local retailers. Once again The Bay’s secured a fabulous line up which is being added to all the time and will draw in visitors from a very wide area.”

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