Blackpool got an injection of Girl Power as Spice Girl Mel B pulled the switch to trigger four months of Illuminations.
The singer made a nostalgic return to the place where her career first started to light up the seafront at the end of a spectacular show, delivered in association with Hits Radio, and featuring Ella Henderson, the former Pussycat Doll, Kimberly Wyatt, and Britain’s Got Talent winner, Sydnie Christmas.
Tens of thousands of people packed on to the Tower Festival Headland to watch Mel step on to the stage to pull the switch and join a star-studded list of national and international celebrities who have turned on the Illuminations down the years.
As a million lights lit up the six-mile display, a burst of fireworks exploded above The Blackpool Tower, accompanied by lasers and a projection show set to Mel’s solo single, For Once In My Life.
Mel started her career as a 16-year-old dancer in the Mystique show at Blackpool Pleasure Beach before rising to global fame as a member of the Spice Girls in which she was nicknamed Scary Spice. With more than 100 million records sold worldwide, they became the best-selling female group in history.
Earlier this year, she received an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University, which recognised the star for her work with domestic abuse victims and her global influence as “a music icon”. Mel – who is patron of Women’s Aid – was also made an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours list for her charitable work.
Moments before pulling the switch, Mel told the audience: “I used to be a dancer in Blackpool, my first ever proper job was at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. I used to come every year with my mum, dad and sister to watch the lights being turned on, and this year, I’m here doing it!”
The Switch-On celebrations started with some of Blackpool’s brightest young musicians taking to the stage with a non-stop series of performances.
The Upbeat Rock Academy, which organises rock music tuition for more than 300 students from across the Fylde Coast, presented Blackpool Introduces, a 90-minute showcase of local talent.
The young people were joined by Blackpool-based House of Wingz, an award-winning hip hop dance crew that has already been featured on prime time national television.
That was followed by the main event – a two-hour show hosted by Leanne and Joel, presenters of Hits Radio breakfast show.
Blackpool Illuminations will now be shining every night until January 5, 2025.
