Victoria Centre’s popular Wall of Fame has returned for a second round, with actor Mathew Horne taking centre stage as the first face to be added.
The stage and screen actor, born in Burton Joyce and well-known for his role in sitcom Gavin and Stacey, stars in the recently launched comedy ‘Newark, Newark’ on Gold, which is based on the Nottinghamshire town.
Now a permanent feature on the latest two walls, which have launched this week in celebration of the ongoing 50th birthday celebrations, Mathew will sit alongside thousands of other shoppers who want the chance to be a part of history as the installation returns.
Its previous two walls saw over 4,800 faces adorn the boards, with thousands flocking to the wall to use the interactive selfie screen to take their photograph, where it’s printed and then placed on the wall on a numbered grid.
Once complete, the walls reveal hidden pictures, with the first two being images of the centre through the decades, beginning with its opening in 1972 and as it stands today. Although top secret for now, the next two images are based on the theme of ‘meeting places’ – a topic voted for by followers of Victoria Centre’s social media accounts.
Mathew won’t be the first famous face to grace the walls, as local celebrities including Vicky McClure, LadBaby and BBC Radio Nottingham presenters, Mark Dennison and Verity Cowley, were features of the previous installation.
As well as taking and adding images directly via the selfie station in the centre, those wishing to be on the wall can also send selfies to the Victoria Centre team through its social media channels using the hashtag #vcwalloffame.
Commenting on the Wall of Fame’s next phase, Nigel Wheatley, centre director at Victoria Centre, said:
“The reaction to our first Wall of Fame installation was amazing, with over 4,800 people getting involved. We know there are still many shoppers eager to be a part of the centre’s history and future. So, I’m delighted to say it’s making a triumphant return and in time for the long Easter weekend.
“And what better way to do it than with the addition of Mathew Horne. We were excited to hear him speak fondly of Victoria Centre in a recent interview and his pride in being from Nottinghamshire, so was a natural choice for our first face.”
Nigel, added:
“While we won’t be revealing what the chosen images are just yet, we’re inviting you to come down and give it a try. We’re not stopping here though, as we’ve got so many more exciting plans in place to help the birthday celebrations continue, so stay tuned.”
The second temporary installation of Victoria Centre’s Wall of Fame launched this week, and can be found on the lower mall, outside Tesco. The free attraction is running alongside a list of Easter-themed activities on offer throughout the centre, with retailers like John Lewis & Partners and The Entertainer hosting seasonal competitions and games.
