New Illuminations Switch On Partner

VisitBlackpool has joined forces with one of the UK’s leading media companies to deliver this year’s Illuminations Switch-On event, it was announced today.

The free event on the night of Friday 30 August will be staged in association with Hits Radio, one of the leading networks owned by Bauer Media.

The celebration, which will be held on the Tower Festival Headland, will once again be freely accessible to the public with no tickets required.

Last year’s event, which marked a return to the outdoors after three years of being staged indoors due to pandemic restrictions, attracted a record crowd of 80,000 on to the seafront to watch Sophie Ellis-Bextor pull the famous switch.

This year’s show will start with a Blackpool Introduces session featuring some of the best of Blackpool’s local music talent.

That will be followed by the main event, a two-hour show hosted by Hits Radio and featuring a line-up of some top music talent.

The show will culminate in the iconic Switch-On moment when a celebrity will pull the switch to trigger four months of Illuminations.

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Last year’s Switch-On was just fantastic, we had an incredible number of residents and visitors attending, and I am really proud that this year will again be a free event for everyone to enjoy.

“Switch-On night is one of the biggest nights in our events calendar and I am delighted to announce our partnership with Bauer Media and one of their leading brands, Hits Radio.

“I am sure the Hits Radio team will bring the party atmosphere to create another memorable night in Blackpool.”

Jonathan Breeze, North West Regional Sales Director for Bauer Media Group, said:  “We’re so pleased to be partnering with VisitBlackpool for this year’s Illuminations switch-on. It’s one of the UK’s most iconic annual events and loved by both our presenters and listeners. We’ve already got some exciting plans to bring Hits Radio to life in Blackpool and we’re looking forward to working with VisitBlackpool to deliver something fantastic.”

More details on the live entertainment programme and, of course, the identity of who will switch on this year’s Illuminations will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Illuminations would once again be extended by two months, running nightly until January 5, 2025.

Header image: James Maloney