He's hardly Madonna - in fact, he's hardly even 'Dirty' Den Watts,
who famously flicked the switch on the West End's flagship Christmas
lights display more than a decade ago.
But little-known Russell Watson - the admittedly multi-million selling
'people's tenor' - is being touted by The Communication Group as the
high-profile name to launch Regent Street's festive lights this
week.
The agency has been taken on by the area's freeholder, the Crown Estate,
to provide consumer PR support on the night and help establish Regent
Street as the epitomy of 'West End shopping greatness.'
The street, which includes Liberty and Hamleys, needs little help to let
anyone know it's a top place to buy gifts.
TCG account director Nicky Waskett, who with creative director Susan
Grant and divisional MD Jon Meakin has put together the plans for the
show, enthuses: 'We are going to put on a free concert for thousands of
shoppers including the London Gospel Choir, and Russ Kane from Capital
Radio.'
No disrespect to the estimable Mr Watson, but getting Leslie Grantham to
reprise his Dirty Den routine might have been more of a draw.
