Past Switch On Stars

There’s been a Switch On every year since 1934 – except for World War II. Take a look through the years at past Switch On stars!

The list includes all of the famous people of their day. Comedians, politicians, athletes, TV and film stars.

Switch On has been an event in it’s own right since Lord Derby first flicked them on in 1934. It’s always attracted a huge crowd – which ever famous person did the deed. Take a look back through the years…

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Any 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. 

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. 

The plans are always a closely guarded secret. But knowing Blackpool, it will be a special night!

Daily Lighting up Times

Switch On heralds the busiest season of the year in Blackpool.

Find Daily Lighting Up Times here

Different Places, Same Great Night!

Originally the ceremony took place in front of the Town Hall near North Pier.

Later, as the event grew, it moved to Central Car Park. After completion of the new promenade the event moved again. It’s since been held at the impressive Tower Festival Headland on the Comedy Carpet.

The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 put paid to large gatherings. So for the first time in 2020 Switch On went indoors and online. The FREE live event was also streamed online.

Past Switch on Stars

How many of these names from the past can you remember? And how many have you seen turn on Blackpool Illuminations?

Pre World War II

1934 – Lord Derby
1935 – Audrey Mossom (Railway Queen of Great Britain)
1936 – Sir Josiah Stamp
1937 – Prince George, Duke of Kent
1938 – Councillor Mrs Quayle
1939-48 Cancelled due to World War II

After World War II

1949 – Anna Neagle
1950 – Wilfred Pickles
1951 – Stanley Matthews
1952 – Valerie Hobson
1953 – George Formby
1954 – Gilbert Harding
1955 – Jacob Malik (Soviet Ambassador)
1956 – Reginald Dixon
1957 – John H. Whitney (American Ambassador)
1958 – AE “Matty” Matthews
1959 – Jayne Mansfield
1960 – Janet Munro

1961 – Violet Carson
1962 – Shirley Anne Field
1963 – Cliff Michelmore
1964 – Gracie Fields
1965 – David Tomlinson
1966 – Ken Dodd
1967 – Horace King
1968 – Matt Busby
1969 – Canberra Bomber
1970 – Tony Blackburn
1971 – The cast of Dad’s Army
1972 – Danny La Rue
1973 – Gordon Banks
1974 – Wendy Craig

Mid 1970’s Onwards

1975 – Cast of Doctor Who: Tom Baker (in costume as The Doctor), Elisabeth Sladen and Ian Marter
1976 – Carol Jean Grant (Miss United Kingdom)
1977 – Red Rum
1978 – Terry Wogan
1979 – Kermit the Frog and The Muppets
1980 – Cannon and Ball
1981 – Earl & Countess Spencer
1982 – Rear Admiral Sandy Woodward
1983 – Cast of Coronation Street, switched on by Doris Speed (Annie Walker)
1984 – Johannes Rau (Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia) and David Waddington, (Minister of State, the Home Office)
1985 – Joanna Lumley, BBC Children in Need, and Audrey Mossom (50 year anniversary)

1986 – Les Dawson
1987 – Frank Bough, Anne Gregg and Kathy Tayler, all from the BBC’s Holiday programme
1988 – Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sarah Brightman
1989 – Frank Bruno
1990 – Julie Goodyear and Roy Barraclough
1991 – Derek Jameson and Judith Chalmers
1992 – Lisa Stansfield
1993 – Status Quo
1994 – Shirley Bassey
1995 – Bee Gees
1996 – Eternal
1997 – Michael Ball
1998 – Chris de Burgh
1999 – Gary Barlow

A new Millennium

2000 – Westlife
2001 – Steps
2002 – Ronan Keating
2003 – Blue
2004 – Geri Halliwell
2005 – Chris Evans
2006 – Dale Winton
2007 – David Tennant
2008 – The Stig with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond from BBC Top Gear
2009 – Alan Carr

2010 – Robbie Williams
2011 – Keith Lemon
2012 – Six of Team GB’s London 2012 medalists. (Beth Tweddle, Greg Rutherford, Karina Bryant, Luke Campbell, Max Whitlock and Sophie Hosking)
2013 – Jonathan Ross
2014 – Peter Kay
2015 – Tim Burton
2016 – Dame Barbara Windsor
2017 – Star Trek and Diversity
2018 – Alfie Boe
2019 – Lucy Fallon – otherwise known as Coronation Street’s Bethany Platt

Moving Indoors and Online…

2020 – Corona Heroes – stars of the Covid Pandemic turn on the lights at a ceremony in the Tower Ballroom
2021 – Strictly Come Dancing Head Judge, Shirley Ballas
2022 – Laurence Llewellyn Bowen did the honours, also in the Ballroom and streamed online

Back Outdoors!

2023 – Sophie Ellis Bextor flicked the Switch in a free-to-access promenade event, complete with Nickelodeon parade!