The countdown is on for this year’s Wolverhampton Christmas lights switch-on – as civic leaders announced the star-studded line up of celebrities who will be flicking the switch on this year’s festivities.

Crowds are expected to flock to Market Square a week tomorrow to watch sporting legends Hugh Porter and Anita Lonsbrough switch on the festive lights alongside TV star Paul Nicholas.

Around £100,000 is being ploughed into this year’s Christmas celebrations in Wolverhampton, which council chiefs have vowed will be the biggest and best yet. Wolverhampton-born Mr Porter won four world cycling titles in a successful 25-year career and is now a BBC commentator on the sport and his wife is a former gold medal-winning Olympic athlete. 

Paul Nicholas is appearing as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton. Crowds will gather in Market Square at 5pm and there will be entertainment including a performance from X Factor contestant Liam Payne.

Families will be kept amused by street entertainers, games and competitions plus face painting and children’s rides. 

The lights will be switched on at 6.30pm and will be followed by a reindeer parade from Market Square along Cleveland Street to the Wulfrun Centre where Santa will meet children in his grotto until 8pm. The lights will be on until January 6.

Civic leaders have lined up a packed programme of activities and events to entertain visitors throughout the festive period, including a fireworks display from the top of the Civic Centre roof on December 17. Dozens of stalls selling a range of festive gifts and treats will be set up to transform Dudley Street from December 9 to 12 and an open-air carol concert will bring the Civic Centre Piazza to life with live music on December 18. Around 25,000 colourful leaflets detailing all of the events lined up over Christmas have been produced and are currently being distributed throughout the city.

Councillor Malcolm Gwinnett, who has helped organise the events, said: “Christmas in Wolverhampton is going to be fabulous.”

Meanwhile, nearby Tettenhall’s lights will be switched on on November 28 by Wolverhampton’s mayor Councillor Christine Mills and resident Maisie Wills, who was 100 in August. 

Crowds will then see the lights switched on in Wednesfield at 4.30pm on November 29 and in Bilston at 5pm on the same day.