[James]

Anthony's switch-on

Nov 8 2005

By The Journal

Big Brother winner Anthony Hutton brought a smile to the faces of hundreds of shoppers last night when he turned on the Christmas lights at the MetroCentre.

Anthony, from Consett, County Durham, was greeted by hundreds of fans at Europe's biggest shopping centre on his return to the North-East.

The former trainee hairdresser and nightclub dancer shot to fame when he won Channel Four's reality TV show Big Brother in August and has since appeared on Sky One's The Match, which pitted celebrities against football legends.

Speaking moments after turning on the lights last night, Anthony said: "Switching on the Christmas lights is the latest amazing thing I've done this year.

"It was absolutely fabulous. I always get an extra special reception when I come back to the North-East and I hope everyone in the region has a brilliant Christmas."

Anthony switched on the MetroCentre's Christmas lights at 6pm in Exhibition Square outside Woolworths and entertained shoppers with a brief glimpse of his 1970s disco dance moves.

icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk

[James]

[Kore]

he looks like a waxwork.

is that really him?

[Ruth]

To be fair, he always looked a bit waxy and orange!

[CharlotteSometimes]

Originally posted by James

Speaking moments after turning on the lights last night, Anthony said: "Switching on the Christmas lights is the latest amazing thing I've done this year. It was absolutely fabulous."

Anthony ... entertained shoppers with a brief glimpse of his 1970s disco dance moves.

Gosh, the celebrity life, eh? If they'd spoken to him 8 hours earlier, no doubt spreading butter on his toast would've been 'the latest amazing thing he's done this year'.

Well they needed some way of dispersing the crowds, I suppose.

[texbex]

Pity I wasnt there I think am going down 2moz

[James]

Big Brother star to light up home town

BIG Brother star Anthony Hutton will be returning to his birthplace for the switch-on of a town's new-look Christmas lights.

Mr Hutton was asked to switch on the Consett lights by Derwentside District Council leader, Councillor Alex Watson, after the authority received £10,000 in sponsorship from Dysart Developments Limited.

Dysart Developments is the main shareholder in Project Genesis, which is behind the regeneration of the former Consett steelworks.

The festivities will begin at 3pm on Sunday, with the switch-on scheduled for 4pm.

Mr Hutton is starring in the pantomime Beauty and the Beast, at Darlington Civic, playing Anthony the Jester. The former postman is appearing alongside Darlington's Pop Idol, Zoe Birkett, who plays Belle.

Anthony was in a 1970s-style dance show for three years before he appeared on the Channel 4 reality show.

He was also chosen to launch the Christmas decorations at Gateshead's MetroCentre on November 7.

He was chosen by the Derwentside's Young People's Forum as Ambassador for Young People.

http://www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk/...ews/NEWS0.html