JLS turn on Christmas lights at Trafford Centre

Katherine Faulkner

October 30, 2009

X FACTOR stars JLS thrilled thousands of screaming fans at the Trafford Centre's Christmas lights switch-on.

Their performance of Rihanna's Umbrella made up for traffic chaos around the shopping centre, with even the pop stars being caught in queues for half an hour.

Fans threw knickers on stage and others burst into tears as crowd favourite Aston blew kisses to them.

Aston, who is rumoured to be dating Stacey Solomon from this year's X Factor, told the crowd: "Manchester, you are amazing. Look at all these beautiful girls."

Some fans said they had been waiting since six in the morning to watch the boy band perform at 7.30 last night. An ambulance was called for one teenage fan who was taken ill in the crowd.

Amazing

Emma Seddon, 16, said: "They are just absolutely amazing. Aston is my favourite, he's absolutely gorgeous. It's so amazing to see him in real life, I am just gobsmacked. I hope he is not really going out with Stacey. He's not allowed - he is mine."

More than 120,000 people visited the Trafford Centre over the day. Two accidents on the M60 and shopping centre traffic combined to create gridlock in the run-up to the show.

[blockquote name=Emily Seddon, 16]
"Aston is my favourite, he's absolutely gorgeous. It's so amazing to see him in real life"

[/blockquote]

The smashes at Junction 12 (Eccles Interchange) and Junction 14 (East Lancs Road), created queues in both directions causing delays for traffic trying to get in and out of the centre.

Some motorists were forced to wait two and a half hours to leave the centre's underground car park and queues on the clockwise carriageway of the motorway stretched as far as Sale.

Traffic

The traffic was so heavy the cast of musical Chicago feared they would be late to their own show at the Palace threatre after performing at the switch-on but the actors made it just in time.

Other acts who performed included Stavros Flatley, from Britain's Got Talent, and rap artist Chipmunk.

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Haytch, Manchester (30/10/2009 at 11:55)

Christmas lights?? Its only October! Personally I wouldn't open my curtains if they were performing in my back garden! Sorry fans x

tiggerluc, somewhere in shaw (30/10/2009 at 11:57)

JLS who? And already singing cover songs? Can they not perform all original material in their performance?

John Train (30/10/2009 at 12:11)

Well I thought the guys were amazing! I queued from 6am and all I can say is that the skimpy thong thrown on stage wasn't a woman's.

Drew-Peacock, Our House (30/10/2009 at 12:37)

It's OCTOBER!!!
Xmas lights should be banned until December.
PS, Who the hell are JLS?

Pushkin (30/10/2009 at 12:45)

It was good of Kwik-Fit to give them time off from their day jobs.

Gary SK13 (30/10/2009 at 13:04)

The lights being turned on in october are in the hope that shoopers will start to come early, you cant blame the shopping centre for trying to drum up trade.

PW, Manchester (30/10/2009 at 13:10)

How utterly thrilling for all those people!

Chris R, Irlam (30/10/2009 at 13:30)

I predict some fantastic sales in the week or two before Christmas. If you do your Christmas shopping now you're a bit daft - make 'em sweat a bit!

And it's the saddos going to see this boyband that we've to thank for the traffic yesterday evening is it? Cheers.

Knowall, stretford end (30/10/2009 at 13:39)

My son normally works there on a Thursday but was told not to come in as they said there would be nothing to do, the crwods were only there to see yet another talentless group do what is basically karioki, 6 in the morning how very sad,

tiggerluc, somewhere in shaw (30/10/2009 at 13:49)

Can i please please please ask Trafford Centre to get an other station. an other band to switch the lights on next year! Its getting a bit stale each year.

Mike S, Manchester (30/10/2009 at 13:55)

It's not even Hallowe'en yet! They'll be selling the Christmas stuff together with the back to school stuff (2nd week in July) before long...

Atellia Watt (30/10/2009 at 13:55)

I'm sorry, I have never heard of JLS either, is it some kind lime cordial? But much more importantly, what happened to the crisp shaped like "the scream"?

Mrs Jammy, Sitting on the settee (30/10/2009 at 13:58)

Oh, come on - christmas gets earlier every year!! By the time it comes round we'll all be bored with it. Why can't they wait until the start of december, or at least ubtil we've got halloween and bonfire night out of the way.

By the way - who are JLS?

schgittor (30/10/2009 at 14:04)

In October, this is a joke. Christmas shouldn't be made to stretch around 4 months of the year by the media for commercial gain. The meaning has been lost.

Ruth Lindsay (30/10/2009 at 14:38)

how depressing, not even bonfire night yet!

flipsterlondon, Marylebone, London (30/10/2009 at 14:49)

John Train - your comments made me pee myself. And for gods sake JLS "fans" - GET A LIFE, they are NO WAY in the same league as A1.

Becky MMM, Manchester (30/10/2009 at 14:54)

flipsterlondon - A1?! Surely you mean 911 - the best boy band that ever lived!!!

When the seagulls follow the trawler, N Ireland (30/10/2009 at 15:58)

Well said Ruth Lindsay,your so right

Haytch, Manchester (30/10/2009 at 16:12)

I love boy bands, ahh so original. These are almost as good as One True Voice! Now they were top notch

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (30/10/2009 at 16:18)

And I suppose they were miming. Here's a thought, if they mime and the CD sticks would they get away with saying it's rap music

MATT555, MANCHESTER (30/10/2009 at 18:23)

Saddos people queuing up from 6am, get a life & a job.!! JLS must be one of the worst bands ever.

The Trafford Centre management want stringing up for putting these lights on so early and bringing misery to the working class (you know the ones who get up & do something constructive in a day & not spend all their days wandering around the Trafford Centre or claiming benefits!) It's October for gods sake, leave lights until December, idiots! And for the JLS fans, get a life!

Public School Pimms Lout (30/10/2009 at 18:56)

I am now in the Xmas spirit, JLS turning lights on!

By the way, the last record I bought was 'In Through The Out Door' by Led Zep in 1983, who are JLS? Are they one of these new bands that produce their music on those new fangled CD thngs?

33Years But47K (31/10/2009 at 00:05)

Christmas lights before Hallowe'en in Chav Central. Luvverley jubberley.

What is JLS? What happens to boy bands when they grow up? Ah yes, their voices break and they write autobiographies for the saddos to buy (if they could read).

JACKS THE RED (31/10/2009 at 09:38)

JLS - who - oh the lad who used to sing on Fun Song Factory - get a proper band next year!!!

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