31st August - 4th November 2018
Blackpool Illuminations 2018 Details
Switch on Celebrities
Who will switch on the 2018 Illuminations?
Alfie Boe will switch on the 2018 Illuminations?
The English tenor and actor Alfie Boe will have the honor of switching the 2018 Blackpool Illuminations on. Alfie was born in Blackpool and grew up in Fleetwood. While working at the TVR factory in Blackpool he used to entertain his fellow workers by singing. While polishing a car the customer suggested he visit London and audition for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. He did so and the rest, as they say is history. Alfie has performed in Broadway production of La Bohème, Les Misérables at Londons O2 arena, he also has multiple platinum albums and has sell out tours in the UK. It will make the switch on show a truly memorable event and we hope he will add a few songs before he flicks the historic Illiminations Switch.
For those who were not successful in the draw for Switch On Tickets for 2018 you can buy tickets to the Golden Circle. New for this year, is the Switch-On Golden Circle where a limited number of people will be able to get a close-up view of the show in an exclusive Golden Circle section on the Tower Festival Headland Arena
The Illuminations Switch On Weekend continues on to Saturday when none other than Britney Spears brings her show Piece of Me to Blackpool's Tower Headland. What could be better, Britney Spears performing in front of Blackpool Tower with the sun setting over the sea? It truly is a spectacle not to be missed.
In 2018 the crowd will be wowed by live performances from Ella Eyre and DJ Producer Jonas Blue, R3wire and Varski. It is the third year running that Diversity had played a starring role in the event they will be joined by Britain’s Got Talent finalists DVJ (Diversity Juniors). The event will be hosted again by MTV’s Becca Dudley. Once the Switch-On ceremony is over an hour-long party under the Lights commences.
The latest details of the 2018 Switch On performers are: Diversity will perform a bespoke set and after their amazing performance on Blackpool Tower Headlands stage. Singer Ella Eyre and DJ Producer Jonas Blue will perform plus Club MTV DJs Rewire & Varski with what is sure to be a great set. More entertainers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Celebrity switch on stars have included:
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2018 Alfie Boe
2017 Star Trek - Discovery & Diversity
2016 Barbara Windsor
2015 Tim Burton
2014 Peter Kay
2013 Jonathan Ross
2012 Olympic medal winners - Beth Tweddle, Karina Bryant, Luke Campbell, Sophie Hosking, Max Whitlock, Steven Burke & Smooth/Real Radio
2011 Keith Lemon & Smooth/Real Radio
2010 Robbie Williams & Smooth/Real Radio
2009 Alan Carr & Radio Two
2008 BBC Top Gear Team & Radio Two
2007 BBC Dr Who - David Tennant & Radio Two
2006 Dale Winton & Radio Two
2005 Chris Evans & Radio Two
2004 Geri Halliwell & Radio Two
2003 Blue & Radio Two
2002 Ronan Keating & Radio Two
2001 Steps & Radio Two
2000 Westlife & Radio Two
1999 Gary Barlow & Radio Two
1998 Chris De Burgh & Radio Two
1997 Michael Ball & Radio Two
1996 Eternal & Radio One
1995 Bee Gees & Radio One
1994 Shirley Bassey
1993 Status Quo & Radio One
1992 Lisa Stansfield
1991 Derek Jameson and Judith Chalmers
1990 Bet & Alec Gilroy "Coronation Street" (Julie Goodyear & Roy Barraclough)
1989 Frank Bruno
1988 Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sarah Brightman
1987 Frank Bough, Ann Gregg & Kathy Tayler, BBC "Holiday" programme
1986 Les Dawson
1985 Joanna Lumley, BBC "Children in Need"
1984 Johannes Rau (Minister-President, North Rhine Westphalia & David Waddington, QC, MP (Minister of State, Home Office)
1983 Cast of "Coronation Street" (Doris Speed aka Annie Walke)
1982 Rear Admiral "Sandy" Woodward
1981 Earl & Countess Spencer
1980 Cannon and Ball
1979 Kermit the Frog and the Muppets
1978 Terry Wogan
1977 Red Rum
1976 Carol Ann Grant (Miss United Kingdom)
1975 Tom Baker (Dr Who)
1974 Wendy Craig
1973 Gordon Banks
1972 Danny La Rue
1971 Cast of "Dad´s Army"
1970 Tony Blackburn
1969 Canberra Bomber
1968 Sir Matt Busby
1967 Dr. Horace King (Speaker)
1966 Ken Dodd
1965 David Tomlinson
1964 Gracie Fields
1963 Cliff Michelmore
1962 Shirley Ann Field
1961 Violet Carson
1960 Janet Munro
1959 Jayne Mansfield
1958 A E ´Matt´ Matthews
1957 John H Whitney (American Ambassador)
1956 Reginald Dixon
1955 Jacob Malik (Russian Ambassador)
1954 Gilbert Harding
1953 George Formby
1952 Valerie Hobson
1951 Stanley Mathews
1950 Wilfred Pickles
1949 Anna Neagle
1939 Cancelled when war broke out, no display during War years or indeed until 1949
1938 Councillor Mrs Quayle
1937 Alderman Ashton and the Duke of Kent
1936 Sir Josiah Stamp
1935 Audrey Mossom (Railway Queen)
1934 Lord Derby
The concert during which the guest will throw the switch marks the start of Blackpool´s Big Switch On Weekend. We hope that thousands of fans of the celebrity, and of Blackpool, will join us in the celebrations and that they stay to enjoy all the free events Blackpool will be hosting throughout the weekend and indeed during the Illuminations Season.