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Dropped YouTubers plan rival city lights switch-on

Alex Pope
JaackMaate's Happy Hour Podcast/Jack Dean A man with dark hair, a white T-shirt and a moustache stands next to The Lord Mayor of Norwich, a woman with brown hair with a slight red tint to it and a Tricorn hat on, she is standing next to a man on the other side of her who has blonde short hair and wears a cream jumper with the letter 'P' on it. Next to that man is another man with a brown cap on his head, a short beard and a brown T-shirt, looking surprised. The other people are smiling. JaackMaate's Happy Hour Podcast/Jack Dean
YouTubers (From left) Robbie Knox, Jack Dean and Stevie White, with the Lord Mayor of Norwich, Karen Davis

A popular podcaster who was dropped from a city's Christmas lights switch-on said he was planning to hold an "alternative" event on the same night.

Jack Dean, known as JaackMaate, was scheduled to appear outside Norwich City Hall on Thursday, 19 November but the city council withdrew the invite after it reviewed his past "published content".

The 33-year-old, who comes from the city and has more than a million subscribers, said he was left "pretty gutted, disappointed and upset" by the decision.

But his Happy Hour co-host Robbie Knox said it "doesn't mean we can't switch on other lights".

The trio, which also includes Stevie White, shared an update on social media.

Dean said they were "sad" as they had been looking forward to showing their listeners "our fine city of Norwich".

White said, due to people booking travel and hotels, they had "come up with a plan".

Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Netflix A man with blonde hair and a ginger beard smiles at the camera. He is wearing a white and black checkered shirt with a white t-shirt underneath and sunglasses hanging off the T-shirt. Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Netflix
Jack Dean said it was a "childhood dream" to turn on the Christmas lights in Norwich

Dean said they would instead spend 19 November "turning on Christmas lights all over the city", ending with a party at The Murderers pub.

The group asked for independent businesses, community projects and charities to get in touch.

"We want to show why we believe this is the best city around," Knox said.

"We want to spend the day hanging out with you, here in Norwich."

White added: "We'd love to show the people who are visiting Norwich what a great, diverse community the city has."

Previously Dean claimed he was pulled from the event because "one person complained to the council about my old 'edgy' online videos from 2014".

He said he had made "outlandish, brash and edgy" videos as a teenager and said some of it was "just stupid".

Norwich City Council Norwich City Hall, with its numerous large columns, lit up in blue and purple. Christmas trees adorn the balcony and hundreds of people are stood outside, many of them holding up their mobile phones.Norwich City Council
Norwich's Christmas lights are traditionally switched on outside City Hall

The reversal follows Norwich's Lord Mayor Karen Davis appearing on JaackMaate's podcast to invite the presenters to turn the lights on two weeks ago.

A Norwich City Council spokesperson said: "In reviewing our arrangements, we failed to identify issues from previous published content before announcing him.

"We apologise for this and will be changing our procedures."

The trio said they would also hold a "one-off" live show at Lanes Comedy Club, to raise funds for Mind The Gap, the lord mayor's chosen charity, with details to be shared at a later date.

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