X-Factor icon, Leona Lewis is marking her pop come-back by launching Downtown Radio’s switch to 100% Christmas Music on the 1st of December as the station flips to a totally festive playlist for the third consecutive year.

It was an unprecedented move in 2019 for a radio station in Northern Ireland to change its entire music format for a month but as Content Director Stuart Robinson explains, it was worth the risk;

“We were delighted by the strength of audience numbers and engagement when we switched format two years ago. There was clearly a huge demand for a NI station which was totally dedicated to the sound of Christmas. Then in 2020, the audience soared again as people seized the opportunity to tune into something cheerful and festive after a bleak year”.

Bleeding Love songstress, Leona Lewis will launch ‘Downtown Christmas’ alongside Breakfast presenters Gary and Glen at 8am on 1st December. The exclusive station will kick off with Leona’s new single ‘Kiss Me It’s Christmas’ featuring NeYo. The single is taken from the latest version of her 2013 Christmas album, ‘Christmas with Love Always’ which has just been released.

Leona Lewis who is currently touring with Gary Barlow said: “Throughout the pandemic I’ve been throwing myself into my music and that includes writing new Christmas songs. It is such a special time of the year so I’m thrilled to be supporting Downtown’s Switch to Christmas Music which will make each day of December extra festive and magical.”

Downtown Christmas will also be supporting the Cash for Kids ‘Mission Christmas’ appeal throughout December. By donating a gift, listeners can help ensure that no child in Northern Ireland goes without on Christmas morning at downtown.co.uk/mission.

Downtown’s switch to Christmas music can be heard across Northern Ireland via FM, AM, DAB, by downloading the Downtown app. or asking your smart speaker to ‘play Downtown Radio’. Listeners in Belfast, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Holywood can also tune in on 103.4FM.