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My Norwich

Famous faces help Norwich key workers light up the city for Christmas

Published on Thursday, 3rd December 2020

A new star-studded video has been released to assure the citizens of Norwich that the city remains open, and safe, for Christmas.

Celebs from the worlds of film, television and sport have come together for the short film, which was coordinated by Norwich City Council to boost morale in the city and celebrate the extraordinary job done by the city’s key workers this year.

Film stars Olivia Colman, Stephen Fry, Steve Coogan and Chris Rankin are joined by broadcasters Jake Humphrey and Nina Nannar for the project, which also features Norwich City FC legend Darren Huckerby and current stars Alex Tettey and Xavi Quintilla.

The video features a small boy, worried that Christmas has been cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, and fearing the city will remain in darkness this festive season. However, as he travels through Norwich, and backed by the applause of the local celebrities, the lights begin to turn on…

The film culminates with the main lights at Norwich’s City Hall being switched on by a selection of the key workers who have worked so tirelessly to protect Norwich this year.

  • Jonny Wilson, postman, Royal Mail
  • Gary Scott, refuse loader, Biffa
  • Britta Anderson, deputy sister, NHS
  • David Thomas, principal, Jane Austen College
  • Victor Inyang, medical director, East Anglian Air Ambulance
  • Hannah Worsley, project manager, Norwich Foodbank
  • Mick Popey, firefighter, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service
  • Chris Clay, police officer, Norfolk Police

Read more about the key workers' extraordinary contributions.

Councillor Alan Waters, leader of the city council, said: “Our residents have worked so hard to protect Norwich this year and this video is one way we can give something back for the sacrifices they’ve made – and it’s a clear message of hope that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

“This has been an exceptionally tough year, but we have got through it together, and we hope the next one is much brighter. Happy Christmas to all of you.”

Broadcaster Jake Humphrey said: “How can you not be on a video with Alan Partridge, Stephen Fry and Olivia Colman? I think the fact so many well-known people were so keen to be in this film, shows their true love for Norwich.

“As a Norwich boy I’ve never felt such togetherness in the city I call home – despite us being apart. My wife, Flo and Seb also enjoyed meeting the main man…Happy Christmas!”

The video, produced by Epic Studios, is available to view on the council’s twitter account.

Additional info

This video was funded from within our share of the Tourism Sector Support Package. We are grateful to our famous faces and key workers, who gave up their time free of charge to support this project.

The Norfolk Strategic Fund is a £6.75m fund to provide funding for Norfolk local authority/NALEP led projects aimed at supporting the county to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic through specific targeted projects or by bringing forward the delivery of key infrastructure. The £2.225m Tourism Sector Support Package is the first project to be approved from the fund and is a project led by Norfolk County Council on behalf of the partners in the New Anglia Visitor Economy Group: Norfolk County Council, Breckland Council, Broadland Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, North Norfolk District Council, Norwich City Council, South Norfolk Council, Visit East of England and New Anglia LEP.

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