HAMZA Yassin, the winner of Strictly Come Dancing 2022, will be switching on a Powys town’s Christmas lights next month.
Hamza will join the soon to be announced Hay-on-Wye ‘Citizen of the Year’ to switch on the town’s lights on Friday, November 24, as part of his upcoming Hay Festival Winter Weekend appearance.
Co-hosted by Hay Town Council, Hay Chamber of Commerce and Hay Markets, the free-to-attend event will take place between 5-7pm in Memorial Square, accompanied by carol singing, food, mulled wine and entertainment, to give a rousing start to the festival weekend, which runs to the Sunday.
Hamza Yassin said: “I’m honoured to bring some added sparkle to Hay Festival Winter Weekend, switching on the town’s Christmas lights as part of my upcoming visit.
“In times like these, community and connection feel more important than ever. It will be my first trip to the ‘Town of Books’ and I’m looking forward to meeting readers and fellow wildlife lovers there, on stage and off, and marking the season’s change with hope and joy.”
Hamza is a Scottish wildlife cameraman and presenter, a skilled ornithologist and the winner of the 2022 season of Strictly Come Dancing. Born in Sudan, he moved to Scotland when he was young.
He made his first television appearance on the CBeebies show Let's Go for a Walk, in the role of Ranger Hamza, and featured in a book based on the series, which won the Sainsbury's Children's Book Prize for Best Activity Book 2021.
Since then, he’s appeared on the One Show, Countryfile and is a presenter on the long running BBC series Animal Park. He is currently presenting his own BBC series, Hamza’s Birds of Prey.
He is at the festival to launch his new book, ‘Be a Birder’, an event on Saturday, following the lights switch-on.
Fiona Howard, of Hay-on-Wye Town Council, said: “Hay-on-Wye is delighted to be hosting Hay Festival Winter Weekend again, bringing writers and readers together.
“We are excited to welcome Hamza Yassin and Hay-on-Wye Citizen of the Year to switch on the lights and get us all into the festive spirit.”
Hay Festival Winter Weekend, now in its 24th year, takes place in multiple venues across Hay, from November 23-26.
More than 70 writers and performers will take part in over 60 events, which will take place in a new 350-seater marquee in the grounds of Hay Castle, tripling the event’s previous capacity. Additional events will also take place in the castle’s Clore space, plus venues around town, including St Mary’s Church and the Poetry Bookshop.
Hay Festival CEO Julie Finch said: “Ideas sparkle at Hay Festival Winter Weekend 2023 as we mark the season’s change with bold new visions for the future and a heady dose of entertainment and joy.
“With a new home in the centre of Hay-on-Wye in the grounds of Hay Castle, we have tripled the capacity of this year’s event, offering access to more festivalgoers than ever.”
Explore the full programme and book tickets now at hayfestival.org/winter-weekend.
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