2nd September - 7th November 2011

Blackpool Illuminations 2011 Switch On Show

For the second year Smooth and Real radio will host the switch on show. The celebrity who will be switching on the Illuminations for 2011 will be Keith Lemon, the alter-ego of comedian Leigh Francis. Olly Murs and Joe McElderry will perform together with Pixie Lott, Mike and the Mechanics´ Paul Carrack, doo-wop group The Overtones and new girl band, Wonderland managed by Louis Walsh, Westlife´s Kian Egan, Scouting For Girls and Beverley Knight.

Keith Lemon Smooth Radio, Real Radio - Switch on Illuminations

Robbie Williams switched on the 2010 Blackpool Illuminations!

Blackpool Council, Smooth Radio and Real Radio managed to secure Robbie Williams to throw the famous switch last year.
This was 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 were also revealed as the stars to perform on Blackpool´s Illuminations switch on night. Bond the electric string quartet were also named among the stars on the stella list of performers on the night. They were 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 also be brought 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, were 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. This years Switch On will be the first to be staged on the new Tower Headland in front of the iconic Blackpool Tower. It is believed the 2011 Switch On concert will be hosted and broadcast by Smooth Radio and Real Radio.

The 2011 Switch On Concert is believed to be ticket only event!! It is thought that it will be a FREE ticket event. We will bring you details of how to get Tickets as soon as they are published

All the 2010 tickets were allocated and the lucky 15,000 were notified by email. Last year 150,000 people applied for tickets. There was also 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.

Alan Carr - BBC Radio 2 - Switch on Illuminations
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