DURING a career in comedy and acting that has spanned more than two decades, Johnny Vegas has had many highlights.
He's been a breakthrough star at the Edinburgh fringe, presented the Big Breakfast, ran out in the red vee during a cameo appearance for Saints and launched his own glamping site.
The funnyman has also performed in numerous TV shows, including Benidorm, Shooting Stars, Sunday Brunch, Still Open All Hours, and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
Now he's been chosen for an act that has filled the northerner full of pride.
Johnny, from Thatto Heath, has been chosen to switch on this year’s Blackpool Illuminations.
Blackpool Lights switch on and concert
The stand-up star, who has already provided the “voice” of a seagull that fronts the resort’s biggest ever marketing campaign, will pull the famous switch at the end of a live concert in The Tower Ballroom on Friday, September 2 to trigger four months of illuminations.
The concert, which is being produced in association with MTV, will feature performances from Blue, singer-songwriter Tom Grennan and Mae Muller, one of music’s most exciting new talents.
Johnny follows in the footsteps of a host of national and international celebrities who have pulled the switch down the years including the likes of Peter Kay, Tim Burton, Alfie Boe, Diversity, Star Trek, Jayne Mansfield and Robbie Williams.
This year’s switch-on concert will be played out to a live audience made up of more than 2,000 winners of a free-to-enter ballot, although this has now closed.
The concert and switch-on moment will also be live streamed to a global audience across MTV and VisitBlackpool channels.
Event organisers are exploring the possibility of streaming the event to an outdoor audience on the Tower Festival Headland.
Last year’s switch-on celebration saw Shirley Ballas, head judge of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, pull the switch, watched by a worldwide audience with more than 160,000 views from as far afield as Australia, Canada and the United States.
In 2021, Johnny visited Lightworks, the home of the Blackpool Illuminations, with the Salvage Hunters team and, as part of the programme, did a mock “switch on” of the Illuminations.
Three months ago, he was revealed as the voice of the Only In Blackpool TV ad campaign, spearheaded by ‘spokesbird’ Nigel C Gull, a puppet created by award-winning puppeteer Andy Heath.
The £1.3 million partnership between Merlin Entertainments, VisitBlackpool, Blackpool Tourism Business Improvement District and other partners features Nigel bringing to life the iconic seaside resort’s distinctive charm and character an.
What Johnny is saying
Johnny said: "As a northerner through and through, it is a real honour to be asked to switch on the iconic Illuminations.
"I have a great affection for Blackpool and am really looking forward to the big night in the Tower Ballroom."
“This year, we are delighted to invite him back to do the real thing in front of a worldwide audience.”
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