By Ciaran O’Neill
coneill@derrynews.net
DERRY City Council paid £2,500 for a soap actor to recently turn on the city’s Christmas lights.
The Derry News has learned that £2,500 of ratepayers’ money was spent on bringing Emmerdale actor Mark Charnock to the city on Wednesday, November 18 last to turn on the lights at Victoria Market car park.
In response to a Freedom of Information request from this paper, the council revealed that the cost of hiring Mr Charnock, who plays Marlon Dingle in the ITV soap, included ‘all air travel, accommodation, food, personal security, internal travel and performance fee’.
The council said the actor was booked through the Joe Gallagher Entertainment Agency.
Hundreds of people gathered at the city centre car park for the switching-on of the Christmas lights.
During the ceremony, Mr Charnock was joined on stage by Santa Claus and Mayor Paul Fleming, before flicking the switch to get the festive period underway in Derry.