Naughty Santa video’s great for Brighton business! (From The Argus)

Naughty Santa video’s great for Brighton business!

5:50pm Friday 14th December 2012 in News By Bill Gardner

A sentence 'discovered' in Brighton's Christmas lights

A cheeky X-rated online video featuring Christmas lights is putting the rude into Rudolph.

The festive footage, which appears to show lewd images hidden in Brighton’s baubles, became an internet hit round the world yesterday (December 13).

It was posted by satirical site The Poke, with the title “There’s a problem with Brighton’s Christmas lights”.

Spoof It shows a sparkling Santa engaged in a sexual liaison in Churchill Square, a gleaming male body part suspended above Western Road, and the words “I hate my job” hidden among the bright lights.

The website claimed it was the work of a fed-up electrician who installed the lights across the city, suggesting: “The person who put up these lights probably won’t be getting a bonus this year.”

However, eagle-eyed viewers soon outed the video as a clever spoof using special effects.

Nick Clegg remix

Earlier this year, The Poke posted a remixed version of an apology speech by Nick Clegg that went into the music charts. Yesterday the Brighton lights video had already been viewed by almost 100,000 people.

On Twitter, it was reposted by Brighton-based pop act Rizzle Kicks and comedians Graham Linehan and Dave Gorman.

As the video went viral, one national newspaper even accused Brighton traders of cooking up the hoax to boost business.

But Gavin Stewart, manager of the city’s Business Improvement District which puts up the city’s lights, denied any involvement.

He said: “It’s nothing to do with us. It’s been taken in good spirit, though.

“The film’s a good laugh and it’s pretty funny. Of course it’s also great for boosting the profile of the city.”

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Jason Kitcat described the video as “good news for the city and good news for its traders”.

Coun Kitcat added: “The video is a creative spoof, but it is making people smile and getting thousands of people talking about Brighton and Hove in the run up to Christmas.”

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