What do Oscar-nominated actor John Hurt, Downton Abbey’s Lady Crawley and chart singer Pixie Lott have in common?

Newham Recorder: John Hurt gets shoppers in the Christmas spirit with his telling of The SnowmanJohn Hurt gets shoppers in the Christmas spirit with his telling of The Snowman (Image: � Chris Lobina for Sky arts 2014)

They’ve all performed in a shop window is what.

The triplet of household names are among a roster of stars to take to a make-shift stage set up in an empty store opposite TK Maxx in The Street, Westfield Stratford City, as part of Sky Arts programme The Christmas Window.

The popular channel is creating its own real-life Christmas Advent calendar with a performance for each of the 12 days of Christmas. The shows are free and run daily at 7.30pm until December 13, with a break on Sunday, December 7.

Newham Recorder: John Hurt gets shoppers in the Christmas spirit with his telling of The SnowmanJohn Hurt gets shoppers in the Christmas spirit with his telling of The Snowman (Image: � Chris Lobina for Sky arts 2014)

If you hurry down, you’ve still got time to catch most of the acts including top musical star Michael Ball, cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, and X Factor winner Alexandra Burke.

Once the run has finished, it will have included performances from Elizabeth McGovern (aka the Countess of Grantham) with her band Sadie and the Hotheads, soprano singer Laura Wright, dance percussion group Stomp and violinist Tasmin Little.

There’s room for a small crowd to stand in front of the shop window on a first come, first served basis. You’re advised to get down there from 7.15pm to bag the best spots.

Newham Recorder: John Hurt gets shoppers in the Christmas spirit with his telling of The SnowmanJohn Hurt gets shoppers in the Christmas spirit with his telling of The Snowman (Image: � Chris Lobina for Sky arts 2014)

A handful of camera crew will be filming throughout meaning you’d better keep smiling because you could be on TV.

Don’t miss out. It will probably the best window browsing experience you will ever have.

Newham Recorder: John Hurt gets shoppers in the Christmas spirit with his telling of The SnowmanJohn Hurt gets shoppers in the Christmas spirit with his telling of The Snowman (Image: � Chris Lobina for Sky arts 2014)

Newham Recorder: John Hurt gets shoppers in the Christmas spirit with his telling of The SnowmanJohn Hurt gets shoppers in the Christmas spirit with his telling of The Snowman (Image: � Chris Lobina for Sky arts 2014)