People from all over the globe tune in to watch Blackpool light up its Golden Mile

The first virtual switch-on of Blackpool Illuminations generated more than 225,000 views with people watching from all around the globe.

The freely-accessible streamed show, which culminated in seven of the UK’s Corona Heroes switching on the Lights, created the biggest ever audience for a Switch-On event and a very special moment in Blackpool Illuminations history.

At one point, the show was trending at number six in YouTube’s top ten videos with people watching in Australia, Brazil, Netherlands, France, Ireland, Cyprus and America. Around 86,000 people watched the stream on the YouTube channel, a further 141,000 on Facebook.

Over the past few years, the Switch-On has been staged in an outdoor arena on the promenade with a live audience of around 18,000 people.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, this year’s outdoor concert was cancelled. Instead, it was replaced by the virtual event, produced by MTV, with a mixture of live performance in Blackpool’s Empress Ballroom, and a series of “at home” performances featuring Melanie C, Becky Hill, Fleur East, Tom Grennan, Joel Corry, as well an exclusive routine by Diversity.

Blackpool-born singer-songwriter Rae Morris performed two live songs in the ballroom, where she was joined by hosts Jordan and Perri, Blackpool Illuminations creative curator, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, and the seven Switch-On stars.

They included an NHS consultant, frontline nurses, a hospital catering manager, extraordinary fundraisers, and a therapy dog and his owner. Each carried an illuminated strip that was attached to the main switch so that they could all play a part in triggering this year’s Blackpool Illuminations.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture for Blackpool Council, said: “Given that this was a first, we were unsure as to how many people would watch the virtual show. To generate more than 225,000 views is quite extraordinary.

“Given that many of those views were families and groups of people watching the show together, the overall number of people who have watched the Switch-On moment is huge. There is no doubt that the virtual show and the Switch-On by some of the UK’s brave Corona Heroes has captured the public’s imagination on a grand scale.”

Virginia Monaghan, Vice President, Events and Experiences, ViacomCBS Networks International added: “We are delighted that MTV was able to deliver the first ever virtual Switch-On of the Blackpool Illuminations.

“It has been a hugely successful collaboration with VisitBlackpool and the number of views around the world over the 24-hours that the streamed event was accessible has been quite astonishing. Our team are proud to have been part of such a memorable moment in Blackpool Illuminations history and we look forward to exploring how we can build on this next year.”

This year’s Blackpool Illuminations, which are being presented under a theme of Bring On The Light, celebrate the unstinting work of the NHS, key workers and other outstanding individuals during the coronavirus pandemic, with the Golden Mile featuring a display of hearts and rainbows.

A further 47 Corona Heroes have illuminated images of themselves included within that section. They were chosen from hundreds of nominations from across the UK.

It has already been announced that the Illuminations will be extended by two months, starting on September 4 and ending on Sunday 3 January, 2021. It will be the first time the Illuminations have shone over Christmas and New Year.