3rd September - 8th November 2010

Blackpool Illuminations 2010 Switch On Show

Robbie Williams is to switch on the 2010 Blackpool Illuminations!

Robbie Williams Smooth Radio, Real Radio - Switch on Illuminations

Blackpool Council, Smooth Radio and Real Radio have managed to secure Robbie Williams to throw the famous switch.
This will be one of Robbies last public appearances before his tour with Take That. Russell Watson,the opera singer, boyband, The Wanted, and X Factor star Olly Murs have been revealed as the latest stars to perform on Blackpool´s Illuminations switch on night. Bond the electric string quartet were today named among the latest stars on the stella list of performers on the night. They will be joined on the night by Australian pop star Gabriella Cilmi whose first single, Sweet About Me, was the most played single of 2009. Nell Bryden will also be bringing her unique brand of modern Dixie to the party while American pop rockers the Plain White T's, best known for their Grammy-nominated Top Ten hit, Hey There, Delilah, will be ready to belt out some new tunes. Alesha Dixon was the first act confirmed for the 2010 Blackpool Illuminations Switch On concert with Smooth Radio promising that more stars will be announced soon, this is shaping up to be a great switch on show. This years Switch On will be the last to be hosted in the Swich On Arena behine the Sea Life Centre. Next year it will be hosted on the New Tower Festival Headland in front of Blackpool Tower. The 2010 Switch On concert will be hosted and broadcast by Smooth Radio and Real Radio. It is shaping up to be a great show.

The 2010 Switch On Concert will be a ticket only event!! The good news is that it will be a FREE ticket event. We will bring you details of how to get Tickets on Tuesday

All the tickets have now been allocated and the lucky 15,000 will be notified by email. So if you are furtunate you can gain access to the switch on arena with your wristband from 3pm with the entertainment starting at 6pm. If you were on of the unlucky 135,000 who didnt get a wristband to the switch on concert then all is not lost. There will be a giant screen erected on St Chads headland which is between South and Central Piers on the promenade. The screen will show the concert and people on St Chads headland will be able to see the Illuminations as they switch on and illuminate the promenade.

2009 saw the switch on ceremony performed in the car park behind the Sea Life Centre for the last time and what a historic event it was. I say event as is not just a concert to celebrate the switch on. Blackpool Council pull out all the stops and created a magnificent Weekend of events.

Alan Carr - BBC Radio 2 - Switch on Illuminations

The concert is a free event on the Friday afternoon and into the evening, no tickets are required but it is a first come first served event, so be early to get a good position. Gates traditionally open at 4pm with the concert starting at approximately 6pm. The pre switch on concert was hosted by Kate Thornton and she was joined by X-Factor finalists JLS, Madness, Paloma Faith, Blackpool´ own Pixie Lott and Tony Christie - it was great to see the huge crowd sing ´ On the Way to Amarillo ´

2009 saw Blackpool Council really pull out the stops with a whole weekend of events. During the build up to the Big Switch On Weekend Alan Carr and BBC Radio 2 co presenter Emma Forbes were be live from 6pm to 8pm on an Illuminated Tram running up and down the promenade. Alan was dress up in a sailor costume to keep with nortical theme. On Friday evening Chris Evens was to present his BBC Radio 2 Drive Time show from the top of Blackpool Tower but unfortunately due to weather this had to be canceled!

Emma Forbes- Blackpool Illuminated Trams

Over the Big Switch On Weekend some of the other great events included:

  • Honda Goldwing Light Parade - hundreds of Illuminated Honda Goldwings in procession along the promenade
  • Illumathon - 1500 ladies in a midnight charity walk of the Illuminations