Actor, comedian, writer and musician Ade Edmondson is to visit Deal to turn on the Christmas lights.

Probably best known for his slapstick role as the weird punk in TV sitcom The Young Ones, he starts rehearsals next week for his part as Captain Hook in The Marlowe’s Peter Pan production in Canterbury.

He will switch on the lights at 7.30pm on November 26 during celebrations in the High Street near Deal Town Hall.

The event attracts big crowds and the fun starts at 6pm with kmfm’s Johnny Lewis, who lives in Sandwich.

He said: “I’ll be up on stage again this year, which must be about the 12th or 13th year in a row I’ve helped with the Deal lights.

“I will be warming up the crowds from about 6pm and about 7.20pm.

“I’ll be getting the crowd to cheer on the panto stars who will be turning on the lights. If the cheer is as loud as last year I think even those on the French coast would have heard us.”

Deal and Walmer Chamber of Trade organises the ceremony and there will be free parking on the day at car parks in Union Road, St George’s, the town hall and Stanhope Road.

Jane Langstaff, from the chamber, said: “This event is an excellent opportunity for traders to stay open for late-night Christmas shopping and make the most of the excellent business opportunity the Deal and Walmer Chamber of Trade has created for local businesses.”