Popstar confirmed to switch on this year's Blackpool Illuminations

It's the main event in Blackpool's events calendar and resort bosses have now confirmed who will be doing this year's big Illuminations switch-on.

Fresh from her appearance on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor will have the honour of switching on the lights on the evening of Friday, September 1.

The big switch-on is part of a spectacular programme of free entertainment which will start with a colourful float parade featuring the stars of Nickelodeon, the world’s favourite children’s TV channel.

Read more: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community

Starting from Central Pier, the parade will feature larger-than-life characters from SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, Baby Shark, Monsters High and Transformers.

They will be joined by around 100 dancers, musicians and street performers as they make their way to the Tower Festival Headland for a free family party including live music and entertainment leading up to the special moment when Sophie will switch on the famous lights.

The whole event will be free to access with no tickets required.

The parade will be followed by a specially-commissioned sound and light show on The Blackpool Tower that will be synchronised with LED wristbands to be given out to spectators, and then topped off with a fireworks finale.

On the back of the release of her brand new studio album, Sophie will perform on the Tower Festival Headland before pulling the switch to trigger four months of Illuminations.

Sophie said: “I’m so excited to be coming back to Blackpool to perform a few of my favourite tracks and to switch on the iconic Blackpool Illuminations. I can’t wait to see you all there.”

Councillor Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: “We are