Strictly Come Dancing winner Joe McFadden switches on Tadley Christmas lights

Scottish actor and Strictly Come Dancing winner Joe McFadden was the star of the show on Friday as Tadley came to life with its Christmas lights switch on.

Mr McFadden, North West Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse and Tadley Town Council chairman Avril Burdett had the joint role of pressing the button which lit up the town’s Christmas tree outside the Ambrose Allen Centre in Franklin Avenue.

As is tradition, Mr McFadden – who is starring in this year’s The Anvil pantomime, Beauty and the Beast – was presented with a hand-made besom broom, a centuries-old Tadley craft and tradition upheld by the Nash family, whose home in Mulfords Hill has displayed the royal crest for supplying brooms and pea sticks to the Queen since 1999.

Mr McFadden said: “Christmas is all about family, celebrating life.

“It feels like, after last year was such a wash out, everyone is really ready for it.

“It’s just a chance to tell people you love them and care for them – it’s a really lovely time.

“Everyone is so ready for Christmas and so ready to get back to the theatre, so it’s really lovely being in a show at this time.

“In pantomime, which is such a celebration and so joyful, it’s a real opportunity for families to come to the theatre together.

“If we do our job right, they come as kids, have a nice time and keep coming throughout their lives.”

The big switch on was part of a wider celebration at the centre, as dozens of stalls raising money for various Tadley causes filled the venue.

Outside, there were several games and rides for children, including the teacups, and ‘Ring the bell’ - where participants were tasked with hitting a bell to test their strength.

The Tadley Band, meanwhile, took to the stage to keep everyone entertained with Christmas tunes.

Mr Malthouse, who is a regular at the Christmas lights switch on, said: “It’s fantastic to be here.

“For me, the Tadley lights switch on is the beginning of Christmas in the constituency.

“It’s always the first, it’s always the jolliest, and after we didn’t have it last year it’s even more joyful to be here this year.

“I traditionally appear with characters from the local panto in Basingstoke, so residents can judge which is the better panto – what happens in Westminster or what happens on the stage in The Anvil.”

The event was organised - as it has been since 1999 - by Tadley Town Council.

Councillor Jo Slimin said: “It’s a really big event, and we did miss it last year, so this year it’s really nice to see people back.

“It kick-starts Tadley, because once we have the tree lights on, it shows that we’re ready for Christmas.”