DIY Nigel will turn on lights
Instead the town's Christmas lights committee has plumped for a worker from a DIY store.
Nigel Parker, who works at Homebase, impressed residents so much with his great customer service that they set up an internet campaign calling for him to get the honour.
Nigel, 21, was told on Monday he'd be turning on the lights.
Nearly 900 fans on social networking site Facebook called for him to switch on the illuminations.
Nigel, who has worked at the store for two years, said: "I am very honoured that I have been asked to turn on the Christmas lights in Portishead.
"It will be a real privilege for me and I am really looking forward to it and would like to thank everyone who has supported the campaign."
Committee members usually ask a celebrity to turn on the lights and last year the honour went to well known panto dame Chris Harris.
In the past, television favourite Carol Vorderman, TV presenter Gill Impey and characters from the film Chicken Run have done the honours. There was even far-fetched talk of movie star Johnny Depp providing some Hollywood stardust after he was apparently spotted in the town last year.
Nigel will be assisted at the switch-on, which takes place on Monday, November 30, at 6.30pm at the precinct, by players from Bristol City Football Club.
The lights will be bigger and better than ever thanks to a donation from housing developer Crest Nicholson.
It provided £2,000 towards the cost of the festive illuminations.
It will be used towards the cost of buying new energy saving bulbs for the lighting display.
Each year the team of volunteers behind the lights has to raise around £12,000 to cover the cost of the display, which stretches from South Avenue along the High Street to St Peter's Road.
On Sunday, November 29, a team of around 50 volunteers will put up the lights ready for the big switch on.
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