Homegrown Love Island winner Liam Reardon is very much looking forward to being part of this year’s Merthyr Tydfil ‘virtual’ Christmas lights switch-on radio broadcast.
Our popular local resident said he wished he could carry out a real switch-on on Saturday 13 November, but understood the need to prevent crowds gathering in the town centre.
The County Borough Council and partners Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil Business Improvement District and St Tydfil Shopping Centre have decided not to have a live event again this year due to Covid-19 infections still being at a high rate across the UK.
As in 2020, Capital FM presenters Josh Andrews and Kally Davies will be broadcasting an evening of entertainment from the radio station’s headquarters, featuring a chat with Liam about his Christmas plans.
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Transformation and Commercialisation Cllr Geraint Thomas said: “The ceremony always attracts large crowds – as many as 7,000 people – to Penderyn Square, so we don’t want to risk adding to further transmissions of Covid.
“We would appeal to people not to go into town on the evening, as the lights are not literally being turned on and there will be nothing for them to see.”
Big Heart of Merthyr Tydfil Chair Huw Williams said: “We are still promising residents a fun time in the run-up to Christmas.
“Alongside the online activities, our traders have done all they can to make their premises safe for shoppers. We urge you all to ‘shop safe, shop local, shop Merthyr’ over Christmas.”
There will be activities in the town centre throughout the day on 13 November, with a visit by Santa and two of his elves, street entertainment, a sweets and toys giveaway and a Christmas market. The virtual lighting ceremony will take place on Capital Radio at 6pm.
