The hallowed Christmas lights of London’s Oxford Street have been turned on for the festive season by Hollywood star Jim Carrey who will feature heavily on the big screens of Christmas lovers this winter.

The star of A Christmas Carol, Disney’s new animated film, Carrey was joined in the procession by fellow actor and co-star Colin Firth who lit up Regent Street. At St Paul’s Cathedral the illumination was made by Bob Hoskins, who voices the pawnbroker Mr Fezziwig in the upcoming blockbuster.

The traditional lighting ceremony included musicians Peter Andre, The Noisettes, The Saturdays and new romantic icons Spandau Ballet.

2009 marked the 50th anniversary of the lighting of Oxford Street and was the first time Regent Street had been illuminated at the same time. Once London was aglow, an attempt at the world’s largest Christmas carol group was made at St Pauls under the lead of Andrea Bocelli and the Cathedral Choir which included crowds at Leicester Square.

Carrey said the collective carol singing was beautiful and also claimed that the movie was the best version of the Dickens’ tale he has ever seen. The new film claims to show the story in a new way for a new generation. Carrey uses his array of vocal talents to voice Scrooge and several other characters in the movie. The actor said he delved into the emotional mindset of Scrooge who felt unloved and unworthy of the love of others in preparing for the role.

The movie premiered after the lighting ceremony at 13 cinemas nationwide.