Norwich Unveils Partridge Christmas Lights

Alan Partridge has not had happy experiences with Christmas before, but surely this show of love from Norwich City Council will enable him to re-embrace the festive season.

On Knowing Me, Knowing Yule, the seasonal special of his former chat show, he ended up punching both a man in a wheelchair, and the BBC's Tony Hayers while his hand was in a turkey. But things are different now for Alan following the success of his Alpha Papa movie, and his hometown city came out in force last night to watch the unveiling of these amazing lights.

Organised by blinkbox to mark the release of Alpha Papa and soundtracked - of course - by Roachford's Cuddly Toy, the display features a moving Alan face and some pretty special lasers. Unfortunately the great man could not be there himself, with Jake Humphreys doing the honours, but actor Simon Greenall - aka Michael from I'm Alan Partridge - read a message from Alan.

It said: "Dear people of Norwich, and to a lesser extent anyone here from Suffolk - welcome! I'm genuinely heartbroken not to be there with you, but it's quiz night at the Rose & Crown and I'm the designated driver. You're about to witness the biggest turning on of lights since the end of the three-day week. The electricity used to power the illuminations is enough to run a trouser press for over 25 years. Instead, it's powering an LED effigy of my face and body, lighting up the Christmas night just as the Archangel Gabriel did over two thousand years ago. I hope you have a wonderful festive season. A-ha."

Watch below and perhaps visit Norwich over the next few weeks to see them yourself - and maybe take in the market and the excellently architectured town hall while you're there.