TV comedian Russ Abbot has apologised for missing the switching on of the Christmas lights in Southend last Saturday after he got caught up in a traffic jam.
Crowds gathered in Victoria Circus last Saturday in the hope of watching the start switch on the Christmas lights.
But Mr Abbot failed to appear as he got stuck in a traffic jam on the M25, which was still completely gridlocked after an oil spillage on Friday.
Instead Southend mayor Roger Weaver stepped in to perform the ceremony.
Russ, who will appear as Captain James Hook in Peter Pan at the Cliffs Pavilion, offered his apologies and said: "Despite my very best efforts I'm afraid I was shipwrecked and marooned.
"The far distant shores of Southend on Sea were fast becoming Never Never Land.
"Even the Lost Boys of the Essex Police tried desperately to get to my aid but it was all to no avail - I would have even have accepted help from the goodly Peter Pan such was my plight.
"Again, I can only apologise and say how much I wished I had been able to get there."
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