But if all goes to plan, the 32ft Father Christmas will have pulled himself together today ready to be hoisted into place.
Unlike his inflatable predecessors, he won't be heading for the town hall roof. Instead, he'll take pride of place on a platform of Meccano-like metal girders above the front door.
The new Santa will be immune to puncture problems which have plagued the past.
Shipped in from France and weighing in at six tonnes, the metal-framed giant has no inflatable components. But he promises to grab the attention with 100,000 bulbs which will sparkle into action at Thursday's official switch-on. As well as being the centrepiece of the Christmas lights, the new Santa will also be used in a major fundraising drive by the New Children's Hospital Appeal.
Coun Pat Karney said: "I'm convinced Manchester will like him - if people don't, I'll abseil down the Beetham Tower."
Santa has been a feature on Manchester town hall for 21 years. In 2002, when town hall bosses said they had tired of his presence, M.E.N. readers mounted a successful campaigned for him to stay.
But at the beginning of this year, the latest blow-up version was declared unsafe and sent to be melted down for recycling.
The switch-on features stars led by X Factor winner Shayne Ward. The festive markets will also return on November 15. Tweet
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He looks more like Zippy from Rainbow than Santa!
OH NO....ZIPPY scared me to death as a kid, now I can't go down town......................bungle.....george....save us all...............what was the name of that band with two blokes and a tasty girl ?
or could it be a massive Frank Sidebottom?
Chris - it was Rod, Jane & Freddy. I look forward to Mr Karneys abseiling exploits. I shall wait at the bottom of the Beetham Tower with a pitch fork and see how quickly he can go up it again.
Coun Pat Karney said: "I'm convinced Manchester will like him - if people don't, I'll abseil down the Beetham Tower."
Right pat get your ropes on mate ill get everybody to complain now .ill be there to have a good laugh mate...
So Manchester city council wants Manchester to be one of the "greenest" cities in the country and then buys a six tonne glow in the dark Ed the Duck to sit above the entrance way. Remind me again exactly who pays the electric bill that keeps those 100,000 lightbulbs burning for the next 8 weeks.
It looks like Zippy off of Rainbow!!
I don't like it.
So, an orange Father Christmas. Any relation to David Dickinson? I bet it was 'cheap as chips'!!
P.S. It does look like zippy though.
I like Santa, although he does resemble zippy BUT when he's lit up it’s a totally different object. He was also good fun to build ;D The lights are low consumption LED's.
He also weighs considerably less than the 6 tones stated.
P.S Manchester evening news….can you send me the video as I appear in it a lot ;)