Martine McCutcheon has teamed up with Compare the Market to launch a nationwide search for Britain's most spectacular Christmas lights display, with the winning household receiving £3,000 towards their energy bills.
Prize details and judging panel
The winning household will receive £3,000 to cover up to a year's worth of energy costs, and up to 50 neighbours will also get £300 towards their December bill. McCutcheon, whose character fell in love with Hugh Grant's in the Christmas classic film Love Actually, will chair the judging panel alongside last year's winner David Carter from Nottingham.
Research shows festive concerns
The contest comes after research reveals 81% of Brits are concerned about their 2026 winter energy bills, and 64% said they've worried about the cost of Christmas lights and decorations. More than a quarter (27%) said they've put up fewer Christmas decorations in recent years, while one in five (20%) have reduced the hours their lights are switched on for.
Judging criteria and community impact
The competition aims to celebrate households bringing Christmas to life with a sparkle, from imaginative displays to animated lights. Judges will score entrants on criteria including creativity and originality, lighting and visual design, and best use of space. 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 make a total of £18,000 up for grabs.
The winning household will also receive a special visit from McCutcheon in person to present the prize and help switch on its festive display. Almost four in five Brits (79%) say seeing Christmas lights make them feel happier during the winter, and the same proportion say festive displays make neighbourhoods feel more cheerful and welcoming. 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.
How to enter
Compare the Market say the appetite for a more festive neighbourhood is clear, as almost two-thirds (65%) would like their street to be more festive at Christmas, while 56% wish their community would come together more to celebrate the season. The findings also suggest that Christmas lights can be a simple way to bring people together, with 69% saying decorations have prompted them to do something with a neighbour.
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. The best displays aren’t just about how many lights you can squeeze into your front garden, though, they’re the ones that bring people together, make a difference to the local community and put a smile on everyone’s face."
David Carter won last year with a unique display featuring thousands of lights, layered garlands and detailed front-garden scenes that he has been building gradually since 2011. This year's third judge will be Compare the Market's resident energy expert, Emma Spencer.
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 can be sent to christmas@comparethemarket.com from Tuesday November 3 until the competition closes on November 15. For full details, eligibility criteria and T&Cs, visit the Compare the Market website.
