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Thursday, November 13, 2008, 21:42
The X Factor losers were big winners as the city’s Christmas lights were switched on.
“We’ve done the lights in Liverpool and Manchester, but this is the biggest crowd we’ve had,” singer Emily McNamee said.
The crowd roared their approval as Bad Lashes performed Crazy by Gnarls Barkley, Back to Black by Amy Winehouse and the Oasis number Wonderwall.
Plymouth diver Tonia Couch, who joined them on stage along with fellow Olympian Tom Daley, said: “I feel really Christmassy now.”
Tonia admitted she “nearly cried” when Bad Lashes left the X Factor. “I was so angry,” she said.
Bad Lashes were the highlight of an evening of entertainment on the Plymouth Sound stage which ranged from Foxy, the Raiders basketball mascot, dancing with Pauline Murphy, the Lady Mayoress, to the Ridgeway School singing Christmas Carols.
Plymouth Sound’s Morning Crew kicked off the celebrations at the top of Cornwall Street at 4pm with a packed programme of entertainment for all ages, including music performances and competitions.
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The switch-on at 6.25pm was also shown on the Big Screen in Armada Way, where entertainment was provided by the BBC as a preliminary to today’s Children in Need.
Matt Slack – the Devon comedian who will play Buttons in Cinderella at the Theatre Royal from December 19 – brought a touch of humour to the stage.
Warm-up acts included Plymkids, Beat Breakers, Wow Factor winner Lauren Francis, and finalist Alfie.
The rain held off as Santa – alias Staff Sgt Damon Godfrey from 29 Commando – abseiled from the shopping mall roof.
David Draffan, manager of the City Centre Company, co-sponsors of the event, said: “There’s so much doom and gloom around at the moment, it’s nice for people to get together as a community and have some fun.”
City council Cabinet member Cllr Glenn Jordan said: “All those who criticised our line-up should have been here tonight to see how popular they are.”
In the crowd Sophie Burridge, 14, said: “They’re brilliant. What a good choice.”
Events organiser Dave Roberts estimated the crowd was in the region of eight to 10,000.
Elsewhere, the city centre was also packed as queues lined up for the ice castle and fairground rides in Armada Way.
Afterwards Sam Bennett, from Bad Lashes, said: “We’ve never been to Plymouth before. It’s such a beautiful place.”
The girls stayed at Joseph Louei’s Astor Hotel last night.
“Joseph took us on a tour of the town,” fellow member Sophie Wilson said. “We had our fortunes told on the Barbican by Acora.”
“She told us we were all going to be rich and famous,” Sam said.
Stacey Lincoln said the girls were all focused on their careers and dreamed of releasing an album. The quartet were the first finalists to leave ITV’s X Factor, and later lent their voices to the recording of the number one hit Hero, which is being sold to raise money for Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion.
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It would be much more appropriate to have an outsized bronze or even brightly coloured acryllic statue of one of Beryl Cook's Janner women.
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