SAM Bond, better known as Atlas from TV series Gladiators, pushed down the plunger at The Mall Marlands in Southampton to switch on the shopping centre’s Christmas lights with competition winner Jack Lineker.
Heart FM Breakfast presenters Jules and Bunker led a countdown before hundreds of bulbs around the building and on the massive Christmas tree burst into life.
The Love Soul Choir and Southampton Youth Brass Band entertained hundreds of shoppers while stilt walkers and face painters also kept youngsters entertained as they waited for the big switch on.
Atlas, who will playing Thaw, the Ice Glaciator in the Mayflower’s Christmas show Santa Claus and the Return of Jack Frost, said: “Everyone’s been really friendly.
We’ve had a lot of good singing and a good band playing earlier too, so everyone’s had a lot of fun.”
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