News

Coronation Street stars Michelle Keegan and Chris Fountain switching on the lights with Mayor Jenny Rynn and Broad Street Mall manager Steve Fawke

You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.

298

250

false

LrO2nb_j5do

Tangled Santa makes global headlines

By Paul Cassell
November 21, 2012

Santa being left dangling merrily at the Broad Street Mall's Christmas lights switch on has made international headlines.

Father Christmas was left standed as Corrie stars Chris Fountain and Michelle Keegan got the festive season under way in Reading in front of a huge crowd at the shopping centre on Saturday.

But a Santa's earlier surpise entrance went less to plan when his beard ended up tangled in the ropes as he abseiled in from the roof leaving him stuck high above the seasonal celebrations.

An Army elf had to give him a helping hand and snipped his whiskers free with getreading undestanding Santa's mishap had reached news networks as far as Australia,

TV stars Michelle and Chris, who play Tina McIntyre and Tommy Duckworth in the ITV soap, arrived to deafening cheers and screams at the mall.

“I’m really excited to be here, thanks for having me,” said Michelle. “Show me how it’s done in Reading now, how you celebrate Christmas!”

They joined mayor of Reading, Councillor Jenny Rynn and Broad Street Mall manager Steve Fawke to push the plunger and turn the shopping centre into an Arctic-themed wonderland.

As the decorations lit up, balloons and streamers fell from the ceiling to popular Christmas hits as Santa continued to sway above the stage before the Weatherfield couple signed autographs for fans.

“It was a great welcome, there were more people there than I expected,” said former Hollyoaks star Chris.

“I didn’t know what I was actually expecting, but when we got out there it was all you could see people upstairs, downstairs, it was great, it was really nice.”

Michelle later Tweeted: “Thank u to every1 who came down today to say hello, u were all SO lovely. After switching on the lights I’m feeling very Christmassy!”

Earlier shoppers enjoyed live entertainment including several acts that appeared in this year’s Has Reading Got Talent? competition hosted by Robert Kenny and Andy Jones from Reading 107FM.

Among those performing were Starlet Rock Choir, Berzerk Productions, Four Seasons tribute act The Jersey Guys, Elvis impersonator Gary Maillard as well as contest winner Abi Bowden.

Broad Street Mall mascot Topsy Turvy Ted handed out free gifts to children who could also have their faces painted and visit Santa in his grotto.

Mr Fawke said: “That was the biggest crowd in the eight years I’ve been here. People have come down to see Michelle Keegan and Chris Fountain turning the Christmas lights on, and what a fantastic time.

“And Santa coming down from the roof – gosh, what more could you want?

“Unfortunately he got a bit stuck, but it’s all part of the drama.”

Santa's entrance at the Broad Street Mall has spread faster than he can deliver presents

Centre manager Steve Fawke admitted he had been inundated with calls from the media from as far afield as Germany over Father Christmas’s festive mishap at the shopping centre.

And Santa's dangle tangle appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning.

The Beard Liberation Front also dared to suggest Santa’s beard was false. Its Campaign for Real Santas urged parents and children to give any Santa beards a tug to see if they were in the presence of the real deal.

Santa was eventually rescued by Staff Sergeant Mark Brown and the Reading Post understands he has now returned to the North Pole to prepare for Christmas.

| Submit Comments | View Comments (10)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 10 of 10

Take any random 8yo.

Show her/him the bus s/he habitually catches every day, being shown on TV.

Deal with the implausibly overwhelming excitement.

Most YouTube viewers show the same mental age and reaction.

C8H10N4O2
21/11/2012 at 22:20

Now Reading is well known on the world stage, would this be a good time to resurrect the bid for city status... ;-)

A Wellwisher
21/11/2012 at 15:21

LOL @Nowtas

Brilliant!

Spiddly, Reading
21/11/2012 at 13:15

“Show me how it’s done in Reading now, how you celebrate Christmas!”

And they publicly hung Santa. She really shouldn't have asked.

Nowtas, West Berkshire
21/11/2012 at 13:06

The most embarassing thing for Santa was coming back to Arborfield Garrison, whoops, i mean the North Pole.

Tilidie (The Original One), Woodley
21/11/2012 at 11:45

Contrary to what they might have you believe, there weren't that many people left in there when they finally got him down. The most embarrasing thing for him must have been that after several attempts to get the crowd cheering for santa to come down they finaly decided to go on with the show without him while he was still dangling there. Brilliant.

Hugh J, Reading
21/11/2012 at 11:35

My partner Brian and I love the video, we watched it again and again over several glasses of Merlot.

Neil Parr
21/11/2012 at 10:54

Friend of mine 'Facebooked' me from Australia, it's on their main news channel!

Reading The Post
21/11/2012 at 10:37

Wonderful, now Reading is an International laughing stock!

Ruggles, Reading
21/11/2012 at 09:53

"The Santa left dangling merrily on high after getting stuck abseiling into the Broad Street Mall... has hit the international headlines."

How embarassing.

"And Santa's dangle tangle appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning."

No doubt an opportunity to poke fun and get revenge at Murdoch stooge Rob Wilson. "Ha ha, Rob Wilson! Look at your bumbling constituency! That's you, that is!"

Meanwhile, RBC are probably holding an emergency meeting to launch a new city status bid on the back of this blink-and-you'll-miss-it opportunity.