News
Royal Welsh College Past & Present Stars Light Up
Christmas
Cardiff has two of the brightest stars in UK entertainment to
switch on this year’s Christmas lights in the Civic Centre on
Wednesday November 12 (from 5.30pm) when Wales’ own Ruth Jones and
Rob Brydon, Nessa and Bryn in the award-winning Gavin and Stacey
drop in from nearby Barry to kick off the city’s Christmas
celebrations.
In addition to illuminating the city for
Christmas and the official start of Christmas shopping, the event
also marks the beginning of the bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland,
one of the most popular attractions the city has seen, back for its
eighth year and looking to attract over 50,000 people to the ice
rink in front of City Hall over a cool 53 days. The festive site
features an open air skating rink, the Ice Café Bar and the Admiral
Eye, the attraction’s seasonal big wheel, sponsored this year by
one the city’s loyal supporting businesses.
Actress and writer Ruth Jones was voted Best
Female Comedy Newcomer at the 2007 British Comedy Awards. A product
of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD), Ruth is
best known as a co-writer of the multi-award winning hit TV comedy
Gavin and Stacey, and she is also known for her comedy performances
in Little Britain and cult hit Nighty Night. She is also on our
screens in the BBC costume drama Tess of the D’Urbervilles, and has
a chat show, Ruth Jones’ Sunday Brunch on BBC Radio Wales.
Fellow RWCMD student Rob Brydon is also
ever-present on British tv screens, as actor, comedian and
impressionist. He is most famous for his role as Keith Barret in
the BBC comedy Marion and Geoff and its spin-off The Keith Barret
Show, as well as the host of panel quiz Rob Brydon's Annually
Retentive.
They perfromed together while at school in
Porthcawl, and they have a Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special on
our screens this Christmas. Ruth and Rob will be joined on stage by
Only Men Aloud, winners of the recent hit show Last Choir Standing,
and for the little ones there will be characters from the CBeebies
Live show.
Councillor Nigel Howells, Executive Member for
Sport, Leisure and Culture said: “Ruth and Rob are two of the most
popular stars in the UK, Only Men Aloud are big news at the moment,
and CBeebies have a massive following, so we are extremely pleased
to have them all here in November to launch another sparkling
season of winter festivities.”
The city centre lights will be switched on
simultaneously with a display on the front of Cardiff Castle, a
unique set of lights depicting artwork by young people from 22
youth clubs across Cardiff. The artwork, undertaken as part of the
Portrait of a Nation project, supported by the Heritage Lottery
Fund, was inspired by Cardiff's heritage. A light from the display
will be featured later this year in Liverpool’s European Capital of
Culture 2008 closing celebrations.
Cardiff’s Christmas festivities also include
the switching on of the Christmas lights on the waterfront of
Cardiff Bay on November 15; the traditional Calennig New Year’s Eve
celebrations (with free live music stage; the Admiral family
fireshow; and Admiral free buses); fabulous Christmas shopping
opportunities in the city with extra Park & Ride facilities
(www.cardiff.gov.uk/parkandride) supported by Admiral, and much,
much more.
For details please log onto www.bmibabycardiffwinterwonderland.com