31st August - 5th November 2012

Blackpool Illuminations 2012 Switch On Show

2012 is a momentous year for the UK. With the Queens Diamond jubilee, the 2012 London Olympics and the centenary of the Blackpool Illuminations. This year the people having the honor of switching on the Illuminations are 6 of Team GB´s medal winners. Beth Tweddle, Karina Bryant, Luke Campbell, Sophie Hosking, Max Whitlock and Steven Burke. will throw the switch together on the Festival Headland in the shadow of Blackpool Tower. For those of you who didn´t win tickets to the switch on on the Festival Headland there will be a huge screen showing the switch on concert next to Central Pier.

For those who can not get to Blackpool to see the Switch On you can, for the first time ever watch the switch on concert via Smooth Radio and Real Radio´s web site with a live streaming video feed.

Gymnast Beth Tweddle from Liverpool secured a bronze medal on the uneven bars at the Olympics – making her the most decorated British gymnast in history.

Karina Bryant who won a bronze medal in judo.

Amateur boxer, from Hull, 24 year old Luke Campbell won gold in Boxing´s bantamweight division.

Sophie Hosking, won the gold medal for the lightweight double sculls.

Max Whitlock, was a member of Britain´s gymnastics team, where he helped the team claim a bronze medal at the team final.

Steven Burke who won a Cycling gold medal in the Team Pursuit.

In 2012 the switch on show will be very different. First it will be on the promenade in front of Blackpool Tower, second people attending the switch on will be able not just to see Blackpool Tower in lights but also the promenade. The switch on will be an all ticket event and these tickets will be free to apply for with 50% going to Blackpool residents.

X-Factor-winning girl band Little Mix will headline at the Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On on Friday 31 August. They will be joined by Amy MacDonald, Noisettes, Paloma Faith, Scouting for Girls, Lemar, Lawson, Blackpool born Karima Francis, boyband Loveable Rogues, girl group Vanquish, The Overtones, and 80´s legend Rick Astley in a party that marks 100 years of Blackpool illuminations.

Little Mix

The four piece girl band that won the 2011 X-Factor competition becoming the first group to win. Their first album is due out very soon and they are sure to sing songs from their Wings album.

Rick Astley

During the late 80´ Rick shot to world success with ´Never Gonna Give You Up´ from legendary production team Stock Aitken Waterman. The record went on to top the charts in 24 countries. Rick went on to have 13 top 30 hits.

Noisettes

Indie Rock Band from London. Albums include Whats the time Mr Wolf?, Wild Young Hearts amd their new 2012 album Contact.

Paloma Faith

She is an amazing vocalist having hits such as ´Stone Cold Sober´,´Upside Down´, ´New York´, ´Picking up Pieces´, and ´30 Minute Love Affair´ and her new album Fall to Grace.

Scouting for Girls

The three piece band from London who have had hits such as ´She´s so Lovely´, ´Famous´, ´Love How it Hurst´, and albums ´Scouting for Girls´, and ´Everybody wants to be on TV´.

Lemar

Soul and R&B singer. Hit fame on the talent show Fame Academy in which he finished third. Since the show he has gone from strength to strength having 7 top ten hits and selling over 2 million albums. His latest album was released in August called ´Invincible´ is sue to feature in his Blackpool Illumination Switch On performance.

Amy MacDonald

Amy rose to fame in 2007 with her first album ´This is Life´ from which the title single went to number one in six different countries. Since then she has released 2 more albums ´A Curious Thing´, and ´Life in a Beautiful Light´.

Lawson

Formerly known as ´The Grove´ are relatively newcomers having had two top five singles in 2012. ´When she was Mine´ and ´Talking Over Me´. They are due to have their first album released in late 2012.

Karima Francis

Karima Francis is a Blackpool-born singer-songwriter. The second album, The Remedy, was released in August 2012.