Jim Carrey thanked Britain for the legacy of Charles Dickens - and for Supernanny - as he switched on the Christmas lights at London's Oxford Circus to celebrate the world premiere of Disney's A Christmas Carol.

The Hollywood star then attended the record-breaking event in Leicester Square with girlfriend Jenny McCarthy where he said: "It feels great to be a part of all this tradition."

Jim told the crowd: "I want to thank the people of Britain for the legacy of Charles Dickens and the chance to tell this story - this story couldn't be more important now - it's about the immorality of greed."

Referring to Jo Frost's TV show which has been exported to the US, the actor - who has two children - added: "Oh I forgot to thank you for the Supernanny."

The actor plays Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future in the 3-D movie directed by Robert Zemeckis, of Who Framed Roger Rabbit fame.

Colin Firth, who plays Scrooge's optimistic nephew Fred, revealed on the snow-covered Dickensian-themed red carpet: "I see myself as more of a Scrooge."

Asked what he thought of the Christmas decorations Colin said: "Well I think it's all a bit tacky and over the top quite frankly but why not? That's what Christmas is all about."

The premiere broke four Guinness world records - for the largest sing-a-long when Andrea Bocelli led the crowd of 13,000 in Leicester Square with the carol Silent Night, the largest 3-D film premiere across 28 cinemas in the UK, the widest distribution for a 3-D film and Zemeckis himself broke a record for being the most successful 3-D live-action film maker.