Martine McCutcheon main hunt for Britain’s finest Christmas lights

The winner will land a £3,000 prize

Love Actually star Martine McCutcheon is leading a hunt for Britain’s best Christmas lights – with the winner earning £3,000 towards their energy bills. The actress and Compare the Market have teamed up to launch their nationwide search for the UK’s most spectacular Christmas lights display.

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. Martine, whose character fell in love with Hugh Grant’s in Christmas classic film Love Actually, will chair the judging panel alongside last year’s winner David Carter from Nottingham.

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.

The competition aims to celebrate the households bringing Christmas to life with a sparkle, from imaginative displays to animated lights. T he judges will be scoring entrants on criteria including creativity and originality, lighting and visual design and best use of space.

Beyond the lights themselves, the judges will be looking 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 to support households this festive season.

The winning household will also receive a special visit from Martine in person to present the prize and help switch on its festive display, bringing the local community together to celebrate. As rising energy costs prompt some households to scale back decorations, the research claims to highlight the powerful role they continue to play in lifting spirits and bringing community cheer.

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.

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.

This includes striking up a conversation, helping put up a display or coordinating decorations. More than half (56%) even say they enjoy putting up lights for their neighbours and passers-by.

Martine 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.

Homes that go all out

“When it comes to decorating my own home, I love adding little touches that make it feel extra special at Christmas. Twinkling lights, festive garlands and decorations that have a special meaning can make all the difference and I think the most important thing is to have fun with it and make it your own.

“I’m so excited to be teaming up with Compare the Market to find Britain’s Best Christmas Lights this year. We’re looking for homes that go all out, spread a little festive magic and bring their communities together.

“With a year of free energy bills up to £3,000 for the winning household and £300 to help cover energy bills in December for 50 of their neighbours, there’s even more reason to get involved.”

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.

The comparison site say 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. They encourage entrants to share details of their display that reflect the judging criteria and that entries must include the entrant’s full name, email address, contact number and city or region.

Entries can be sent to [email protected] from Tuesday November 3, until the competition closes on November 15. For full details, eligibility criteria and T&Cs, visit http://www.comparethemarket.com/energy/content/britains-best-christmas-lights/