Martine McCutcheon, known for her role in the Christmas film Love Actually, is fronting a nationwide competition to find Britain's best Christmas lights display. The winning household will receive £3,000 to help cover up to a year's worth of energy costs, while up to 50 neighbours will each get £300 towards their December bill.
The actress has teamed up with price comparison site Compare the Market to launch the search. McCutcheon will chair the judging panel alongside last year's winner, David Carter from Nottingham.
Concerns over winter energy bills
The competition follows research showing that 81% of Brits are concerned about their 2026 winter energy bills, and 64% said they have worried about the cost of Christmas lights and decorations. More than a quarter (27%) said they have put up fewer Christmas decorations in recent years, while one in five (20%) have reduced the hours their lights are switched on.
The contest aims to celebrate households that bring Christmas to life with imaginative or animated displays. Judges will score entrants on creativity and originality, lighting and visual design, and best use of space.
Community spirit and festive cheer
Beyond the lights themselves, judges will look for displays that bring neighbours together, support local causes, or spread festive cheer throughout the community. The winner and their neighbours' prizes total £18,000 up for grabs.
The winning household will also receive a visit from McCutcheon in person to present the prize and help switch on its festive display. The research highlights the role decorations play in lifting spirits, with 79% of Brits saying seeing Christmas lights makes them feel happier during winter, and the same proportion saying festive displays make neighbourhoods feel more cheerful and welcoming.
How to enter
More than half (55%) say Christmas lights have helped them feel more connected to their local community, while 22% say festive lights have prompted them to speak to a neighbour for the first time. Compare the Market says the appetite for a more festive neighbourhood is clear, as almost two-thirds (65%) would like their street to be more festive at Christmas.
McCutcheon said: "I absolutely love Christmas and I am a big believer that when it comes to decorations, more is more. There’s something so magical about driving down a street full of twinkling lights and seeing the effort people have made to make Christmas even more special."
Applicants should email pictures of their outdoor Christmas light display and a written submission explaining why their household deserves to win by midnight on November 15. Entries must include the entrant's full name, email address, contact number, and city or region, and can be sent to christmas@comparethemarket.com from Tuesday November 3 until the competition closes on November 15.
