Blackpool Illuminations 2021 Switch On

Blackpool Illuminations 2021 Switch On kicks off the season!

Blackpool Illuminations Switch On 2021 – 3 SEPTEMBER 2021

Britain’s Dancing Queen Switches On the Lights!

The Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On celebration was watched by a worldwide audience with more than 160,000 views from as far afield as Australia, Canada and the United States, it was revealed today.

The freely-accessible streamed show, which was broadcast from the magnificent Tower Ballroom, saw Shirley Ballas, head judge of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, pull the switch to trigger four months of Illuminations in the resort. Take a look at the new illuminations in Blackpool in 2021.

It was the culmination of a spectacular live concert, produced by MTV and featuring performances by KSI, Wes Nelson, Ella Henderson and The Wombats.

Pre-COVID, the annual event has been staged in an outdoor arena on the promenade with a live audience of around 20,000 people.

This year, VisitBlackpool and MTV created a “hybrid” event including the show in the ballroom, attended by an audience of around 1,500 lucky ticket ballot winners, and the live stream.

It’s the first time in history that an Illuminations Switch-On – the biggest event in Blackpool’s calendar – has been staged in the ballroom, which has just reopened after a £1m makeover.

On the promenade headland outside the ballroom, tens of thousands of people gathered to watch the lights come on along with a celebratory burst of fireworks at the top of The Tower.

MTV has revealed that two more shows will be created from the Switch-On celebrations. Both shows will be broadcast on MTV MUSIC on Friday 15 October.

• An individual artist special, MTV Live: KSI
• And a compilation show, MTV Live From Blackpool Switch-On: The Best Bits.

Shirley will join a Switch-On roll of honour that includes a host of international celebrities throughout the years.

A Blackpool Champion

Originally from Wallasey in Merseyside, Shirley has been dancing since the age of seven and has a long-standing connection with Blackpool having competed in numerous championships in what is the spiritual home of ballroom dancing.

She’s three-time ‘British Open to the World’ Latin American Champion, 10-time US Latin American Champion, and multiple-times British National Champion.  By 21, Shirley had won nearly every major title she competed in worldwide.

And, she’s the only person to have ever won the British Open to the World Latin American Championships here in Blackpool. With two different partners Shirley reached the finals an impressive 17 times.

She is now one of the top ballroom and Latin teachers and adjudicators in the world, and is delighted to be head judge on the BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Shirley said: “I have been coming to Blackpool since I was a child and it will always have such a special place in my heart.  I’m honoured to be asked to turn on the iconic Illuminations this year, I can’t wait!”

This year’s Blackpool Illuminations will run from Friday 3 September to Monday 3 January, 2022.

Last year, the 2020 free-to-access streamed event (below) attracted more than 225,000 global views.

The Switch-On Line-up…

VisitBlackpool revealed details of performers who will grace the stage at this year’s Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On concert.

Did you know? It’s the first time in history that an Illuminations Switch-On – the biggest event in Blackpool’s calendar – has been staged in the ballroom.

The evening is produced in association with MTV, and the show is hosted by TV and radio presenter Becca Dudley.

2020’s biggest breakthrough artist, KSI, and one of the UK’s most successful indie bands, The Wombats, will perform in the world-famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

This fabulous night on Friday 3 September marks the start of a four-month extended Illuminations season. KSI join the stage with special guests Digital Farm Animals and music artist and producer S-X. 

Multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter Ella Henderson and Wes Nelson also join this year’s line-up. 

KSI

At the age of 28, KSI, who has made his name as a respected music artist, has created an astonishing following with 34 million subscribers to his YouTube channel with a staggering six billion views.

His eagerly-awaited second studio album, All Over The Place, is currently heading to the top of the Official Albums Chart, out-selling the rest of the top five artists combined.

He has a string of festival dates and sold-out UK shows this summer, and is set to headline a sold-out show at the SSE Arena at Wembley in February.

KSI will perform in the ballroom, which has just reopened after a £1m makeover, with his special guests Digital Farm Animals and Grammy-nominated music artist and producer S-X, who has worked with the likes of Lil Wayne, Childish Gambino and Chance The Rapper.

Wes Nelson

Few UK pop artists have made such an instant commercial impact as Staffordshire-born Wes Nelson.

Capitalising on his popularity after stints on Love Island and Dancing On Ice, Wes’s Gold Certified debut single See Nobody stormed up the UK charts reaching number 3 and achieving over 70m streams.

His second single, Nice To Meet Ya, followed earlier this year spending six weeks in the official UK charts before making waves internationally, hitting number 5 in Germany in July and already breaking over 50m streams!

A VisitBlackpool spokesperson said: “We are thrilled to be able to reveal some of the talent that will light up this year’s Illuminations Switch-On concert. KSI and Wes Nelson are two of the hottest new stars in the music industry and bring with them a colossal fan-base.

“With more talent to be announced, along with the person who will switch on this year’s extended Illuminations, it all promises to be an unforgettable night for those watching in the ballroom or via the live stream.”

This year’s Blackpool Illuminations will run from Friday 3 September to Monday 3 January, 2022.

Switch On Surprises…

The Covid pandemic of 2020 interrupted a tradition in Blackpool that goes back to 1934. There was no crowd for the annual switch on of the Illuminations, and their show was interrupted for several weeks of lockdown.

The Illuminations date back to 1912, but the tradition of a special switch on ceremony ‘only’ began in 1934. In that year, Lord Derby performed the switch on, in front of a delighted crowd. The ceremony heralded the start of the show that would extend Blackpool’s summer season into the autumn. 

The switch on was repeated in 1935, with the then crowned ‘Railway Queen of Great Britain’ Audrey Mosson pulling the switch. Sir Josiah Stamp followed in 1936. In a break from the new tradition, there were two official switch ons in 1937. The lights were first switched on by Alderman Ashton. A later visit by the Duke of Kent to open the new lifeboat house and section of north promenade, also saw a special switch on of the Illuminations. Councillor Quayle performed the honours in 1938. The outbreak of the war resulted in the 1939 illuminations being postponed. 

The Illuminations returned in 1949 and so did the switch ons. The choice of person to perform the switch on diverted away from councillors. Instead more well known sportsmen, celebrities and ambassadors were chosen. The 1959 switch on with film star Jayne Mansfield was a particular highlight. 

• All the past Switch On stars are here

Unusual Switch Ons

A special fly past by the RAF in a Canberra bomber in 1969 triggered the switch to turn on the illuminations, in what was a break from the traditional switch pulling. Another break occurred in 1977 when Red Rum was ridden by his jockey through a ‘photo finish’ style sensor to switch on the lights. 

The infamous switch handle has also been rested from time to time, even for traditional switch ons. Frank Bruno pulled a giant can ring-pull in 1989. Sponsorships from Norweb saw a giant plug being placed into a giant socket to turn on the illuminations. There has also been a giant plunger with long handle to allow several stars to push together. This was used by the Bee Gees in 1995.  

An exciting experience in 2017 saw the crew of Star Trek Discovery join the ceremony by video link, liaising with stage hosts Diversity to specially ‘charge’ the tower, ahead of the switch on. 

Take a look back at the last live Switch On…

While you’re here…

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