A nine-year-old Blue Peter viewer who won a competition to turn on the Regent Street Christmas lights has fallen victim to a gaffe on live TV.

London schoolboy Leo Thompson flicked the switch with singer Daniel Bedingfield, in front of 10,000 shoppers and BBC1 viewers – but the 8,000 bulb display failed to turn on.

The youngster looked stunned as organisers scrambled to find what was at fault. After 20 minutes of darkness, the dazzling display finally sprang to life.

A spokesman for the Regent Street Association said: “We have no idea what went wrong. They had been tested many times and had no previous problems. An investigation is under way.”

Leo had won a contest to produce a piece of artwork which could be displayed on BBC Broadcasting House’s facade.

Before the technical hitch, Bedingfield sang live renditions of hits Gotta Get Thru This and If You’re Not the One in one of central London’s biggest free parties.

Opera band Amici Forever and British boy band D-Side also performed. Previous celebrities to switch on the Regent Street lights, include Kylie Minogue, Will Young, Anthony Hopkins and All Saints.

Source : Ananova

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