On the Sunday before Christmas in 1977, he put on a carol concert and with the help of a friend in Cambridge arranged for the King's College Scholars to perform. It was a sell-out, with more than 500 tickets snapped up.

In the following years, additional performances were added.

Four years after launching, the team decided to go professional and in the early 1980’s, the Thursford Christmas Spectacular was born.

A scene from a previous Thursford Christmas Spectacular. (Image: Contributed by Thursford Christmas Spectacular)

Today the show - which, with its West End production values very much lives up to its name - generates more than £10 million for the local economy every November and December, attracting around 110,000 visitors from all over the country and beyond. During the show's run, Thursford welcomes more than 50 coaches per day.

In 2016, more tickets were sold for the Thursford Christmas Spectacular than Glastonbury festival.

And in 2024 and 2025, the Christmas Spectacular was named Best Christmas Experience at the Group Leisure and Travel Awards, winning against the likes of Blenheim Palace, Kew Gardens and Holkham Hall, to name a few.

It's a colourful three-hour celebration of the festive season, filled with singing, dancing, music, comedy, and much more.

And this small corner of Norfolk could lay claim to be the home of Christmas.

Thursford Christmas Spectacular. (Image: Contributed by Thursford Christmas Spectacular)

During the summer, the complex houses the world’s largest collection of steam engines and organs. But by November it has been transformed into a winter wonderland, with more than a million lights, animatronic animals and giant illuminated lanterns. The stage is 130ft and the auditorium seats 1,400 people.

And the 120-strong cast of singers, dancers, musicians (there's a 32-piece orchestra) and speciality acts starts rehearsals in September.

This Christmas will be singer John Derekson's 19th year appearing in the Christmas Spectacular.

The performer lives on the outskirts of Norwich and was enthralled by the show when he first saw it when he was a teenager.

John Derekson backstage at Thursford Christmas Spectacular. (Image: Contributed by Thursford........

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