With the Thursford Christmas Spectacular just around the corner, we went behind the scenes to dig out some facts and figures.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

In its 43rd year, the lavish annual show - which is Europe's biggest festive spectacular - has a £2m budget and more than 150 performers.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

The wages for the people involved adds up to £100,000 per week, with each performer having up to 23 different costumes.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Throughout the 103 shows between November and December, the performers will dance and sing for a total of 19,080 minutes.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

The performers on the whole will do more than 509m steps between them throughout the festive shows.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

The building costs more than £70,000 to insure and it takes six weeks to fully dress it with hundreds of Christmas trees, more than five million fairy lights and 753 lighting channels, which operate more than 19,500 functions.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Through the shows, 37,000 tubs of ice cream are consumed, along with 29,000 mince pies and 3,500 litres of mulled wine.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

A team of eight seamstresses work for months to prepare the 2,000 costumes for the performers.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

More than 1.5m rhinestones, 100 metres of feathers and 2,000 pom poms have been used in the various costumes and headdresses, which change for each separate routine.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

In 2016, the Thursford show sold more tickets than Glastonbury festival, with one customer flying more than 9,000 miles from Australia.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

John Cushing, who has run the Christmas Spectacular since 1977, said: "We have had people visit from Australia, America and even Canada. We also have quite a few from Holland coming to the shows.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

"You can ask any hotel, the Thursford Spectacular is what keeps them going in the winter. We easily bring £10m to Norfolk's economy when the show is in full swing."

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Of the 103 shows which will take place, 41 are already sold out with another 37 only having limited availability.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Tickets for the Thursford Christmas Spectacular start from £37, group rates are also available.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

For more information or to buy tickets click here or call 01328 878477.

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)

Eastern Daily Press: Behind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie HoneywoodBehind the scenes as preparations are underway for this years Thursford Christmas Spectacular. Picture: Jamie Honeywood (Image: Jamie HoneywoodArchantNorwichNorfolk)