Olympic long jump gold medallist Greg Rutherford, rowing gold medallist Helen Glover and Paralympic cycling couple Sarah and Barney Storey were among the 40 athletes who switched on the new light scheme at 6.50pm.
The event was organised by the Regent Street Association. The evening began with a choral rendition of the 12 days of Christmas and a performance from the cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production Matilda The Musical.
Other performances to mark the festive switch-on included a set from trumpet soloist Tine Thing Helseth and a rendition of Jerusalem by opera singer Noah Stewart.
For the first time, the Regent Street Christmas Lights run the entire length of the shopping street, from Oxford Circus all to Piccadilly Circus and down Regent Street in St James’s.
What has been the best Christmas light switch-on event this year? Comment below and let us know.
Footage edited by Ben Hall.
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