THE full entertainment line-up has today been announced for Newport Now’s Countdown to Christmas family fun event.

And 90s pop superstars Five will be topping the bill in the city centre on November 27.

The boy band sold more than 25 million records worldwide during their peak years between 1997 and 2001, with 1.6 million albums and 2.4 million singles sold in the UK alone.

The band have had three number one singles in the UK and 11 top ten singles including hits like We Will Rock You (with Queen), Keep On Movin’, Let’s Dance, When The Lights Go Out and Everybody Get Up.

All three of their studio albums made the Top Five in the UK charts, with double platinum sales for two of them, while their Greatest Hits album was certified platinum.

The band split up in 2001, but reformed in 2012 and their current three-man line-up features original members Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon.

They will be playing their greatest hits in Newport from 4.15pm ahead of the city’s Christmas lights being switched on.

Five will be supported by some exciting young local musical talents with community station Newport City Radio hosting the stage from 3pm.

Newport band Eurekas will be playing along with popular local duo Oxbowlake and solo artist Josh Hicks.

The star guest who will be switching on the city’s Christmas lights will be revealed at the end of this week.

In previous years this has been done by the likes of former Wales football manager Chris Coleman and the intensive care team from the Royal Gwent Hospital.

Countdown to Christmas, which is organised and delivered by the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Newport City Council, Friars Walk and Newport City Radio, with support from Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns fund, runs from 3pm to 5.30pm in the city centre.

The city’s Christmas lights will be switched on at 5pm by Newport Mayor Councillor David Williams and a celebrity guest.

The event culminates in a spectacular fireworks display from 5.20pm.

The event will also include fairground rides along Commercial Street from 10am to 6.30pm and the riverfront from noon to 9pm.

Father Christmas will be making an appearance, and there will be costume characters on parade in Commercial Street and High Street with children’s face painters also in attendance.

Countdown to Christmas is the latest in a series of city centre events organised or funded by Newport Now BID, a private company representing and funded by more than 600 city centre businesses.