1st September - 5th November 2017

Blackpool Illuminations 2017 Details

Switch on Concert

Who will switch on the 2017 Blackpool Illuminations?

The 2017 Switch On celebrity is actually going to be the first intergalactic switch-on! The announcement of a Star Trek switch-on finale completes the line-up for this years event, which is being staged in association with MTV.

The biggest night in Blackpool´s events calendar, which is being staged in association with MTV, will feature headline performances by Example and DJ Wire, Conor Maynard, Diversity and Louisa Johnson. Plus lots more to be added.

Latest Running Order

The gates for the Switch-On concert will open at 4pm and the concert will finish at around 10pm. The running order (approximate times and maybe subject to change) is as follows:

4.30pm: Blackpool Introduces talent showcase
• 5.30pm: MTV Base Garage Anthems
• 6.30pm: R3Wire & Varski
• 7.15pm: Louisa Johnson
• 8pm: Conor Maynard
• 8.30pm: Diversity
• 9pm: Star Trek Switch-On
• 9.10pm: Example and DJ Wire

You will only be able to access the Switch-On Arena on the Tower Festival Headland if you have an official Switch-On wristband or VIP pass.

Conor Maynard

Conor Maynard is no stranger to Blackpool having appeared at the inaugural SLIMEFEST event in 2016. The singer songwriter has a huge following on YouTube and was named as MTV's Brand New star for 2012.

Elliot John Gleave, better known by his stage name Example

International rapper and songwriter Example has performed to sell-out audiences across Europe and worked alongside global stars including Calvin Harris and Chase & Status. He has also ac ted in numerous movies.?

Diversity

Diversity, who stunned the Switch-On capacity crowd with an astonishing routine last year have just completed their seventh UK arena tour. Widely acclaimed as one of the world's great dance acts, they will be bringing another unique set to the Switch-On stage.

Louisa Johnson

Also joining the Switch-On party is the hugely talented Louisa Johnson - at 17, the youngest ever winner of The X Factor, who went on to secure major hits with Tears and So Good selling over one million singles.

R3wire and Varski

Also returning for a second year, are R3wire and Varski, the Club MTV presenters and record producers, who brought the house down in 2016, making the concert one of the most talked about in Illuminations Switch-On history.

Celebrity switch on stars have included:

• 2017 Star Trek
  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.