A FORMER Neighbours star will switch on Cambridge’s festive lights - as the council dreams of a green Christmas. This year, actress Stephanie McIntosh will turn the city on after leaving the Australia soap to kickstart her pop career. But the time that the illuminations light up the city will be cut by an hour - because of global warming. The 23-year-old singer - the half sister of Jason Donovan - played Sky Mangel in the show.
She left after several traumas, including the death of her boyfriend Stingray and is now in Britain to launch her pop career after lighting up the city on Sunday. Her latest single, Tightrope, has just been released. The council hopes she will appeal to all ages after its controversial choice of punk band The Damned three years ago sparked outrage from Christians. Last year the council played it safe with operatic boyband G4 - who have since split.
The year before Steps singer Lisa Scott Lee got the job, despite vowing to quit showbiz just before the event. Emma Thornton, head of tourism and city centre management, said: “Stephanie is very talented and has a new record out. We thought she would appeal to all ages and families with young children. She will also be singing.
“This year we will be cutting the time the lights are on by an hour and they will now go out at 10pm except in Christ’s Pieces, New Square and Hobson’s passageway where they will be on until around 3am for the clubbers who will be out at that time.” The event is supported by the newly opened John Lewis store, Cambridge City Centre Management, Cambridge Corn Exchange and city traders and hosted by local radio station Q103.