Illuminating Blackpool
Experience the excitement, the challenges, and the sheer scale of what it takes to illuminate an entire town; a unique glimpse into the making of Blackpool Illuminations
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00:00Every autumn, as the days grow shorter and the nights stretch longer, the seaside town
00:21of Blackpool undergoes a dazzling transformation.
00:25For over a century, the Blackpool illuminations have drawn millions to witness the town bathed
00:29in a spectacular display of light and colour.
00:36This film takes you behind the curtains of the Blackpool illuminations, revealing the
00:40intricate process of creating and installing one of the world's most famous light displays.
00:48We follow the dedicated teams of designers, engineers and artists who pour their passion
00:53into crafting new, breathtaking displays that will capture the imaginations of millions.
01:01Experience the excitement, the challenges and the sheer scale of what it takes to illuminate
01:06an entire town.
01:07A unique glimpse into the making of a cultural sensation that has stood the test of time.
01:29I've been battling ghastly good taste in this country for many incarnations, probably back
01:36to the renaissance.
01:37I hate the snobbery.
01:39I hate the beigeness.
01:40I hate the fact that people feel that they've got to keep up with the Joneses.
01:44I hate the way that they feel that they've got to do things in a certain way.
01:47Blackpool has never done that, you know, Blackpool never did do that.
01:50Blackpool always said design should be sexy, special and big.
01:54And yeah, it was part of a holiday experience.
01:56So you could kind of get away with that.
01:58But I think things have changed.
01:59And I think since lockdown, when everybody was incarcerated in their own grey cells with
02:04those three pebbles from Ikea on the wall and stuff like that, people have suddenly
02:08realised that they are a bit more interesting than that.
02:11And so Blackpool was always where design came for a holiday, where design came here, it
02:18rolled up its trouser legs and it went for a paddle.
02:20And I've always loved it for that.
02:22You know, Blackpool's a big hitter.
02:24It's a very, very big hitter, particularly internationally.
02:28I'm really loving the fact that Blackpool is beginning to wake up to that fact.
02:33Slowly.
02:34It's like a sleeping princess.
02:36Every year I try and slap her awake.
02:39Come on, love, wake up!
02:47We've got, which is really interesting, a special design from Lee Francis, better known
02:55as Keith Lemon, about his connection with Blackpool and how, you know, reminiscing about
03:03childhood holidays here, and so that's fabulous as well, to have that.
03:08I'm so chuffed to be part of it.
03:11When I was a kid, Blackpool was so mesmerising with all the lights, and yeah, I think the
03:17inspiration I took for my design was childhood memories, and when I was a child, it was about
03:24the question, do you prefer space or dinosaurs?
03:27I couldn't decide, but I was obsessed with the idea of flight.
03:33Got the email through saying the Illuminations Project, it was top secret, so we said, right,
03:38so we had to try and explain to the students that, you know, don't tell anybody about this,
03:43so then the theme was aliens and space, so the students got very excited that they were
03:48kind of going back a little bit to their childhood to try and create these designs, so very excited.
03:53I was shocked, to be honest, because it's, you know, like I said, it's a big thing in
03:57Blackpool.
03:59My mum was really excited I was able to do it, and especially when I found out that my
04:04design had been chosen, you know, everyone's just really happy for me, I'm happy.
04:08All they said to us, they wanted a hexagon shape, and they also wanted just an alien
04:14theme, so they said we can go with whatever we feel like.
04:18The design that ended up being chosen, I just, I went with like a funky idea, you know, something
04:22that isn't normally what, you know, a normal thought of an alien, because, you know, we
04:27don't know what they are, but I just went with just a funky design, bright, colourful,
04:32playful.
04:37It's really, really important that we have the illuminations.
04:40It extends our season, and we are as busy in September, October and November as we are
04:46in the summer holidays.
04:48Every single weekend we're busy.
04:50I believe the future's bright in tourism.
04:53We're looking at, bookings are up again this year.
04:56Now, after COVID, we thought everything would go down, and it's gone up and up and up, which
05:00is absolutely amazing, really.
05:02Didn't expect that.
05:04No, I absolutely love the donkeys with the ice cream.
05:07They are amazing.
05:09They're just so off the wall, aren't they?
05:11I mean, you just wouldn't think anybody would even think about that.
05:14Ha!
05:24Usually, you'd start by just a drawing.
05:27I'd be given a drawing, and me and the other welder in here would assess it all, make a
05:34cutting list that we'd cut either on the bandsaw, which is just around the corner, or the cold
05:38saw, which is around that corner.
05:40And we'd chop it all up into easier, smaller parts, grind them all down so they can then
05:47start to be welded together.
05:49At the moment, I'm currently building a back frame for the new Lee Francis tabla, which
05:56will be going out this year.
05:58So, the steelwork will be made behind it, which will then be able to be attached outside
06:05and attached to the fiberglass.
06:07Apart from welding, I'm learning all the machines, the pillar drills, the king's mill, the blades.
06:13And I've done a few months on the robot, which is around the corner, which is the main start
06:20of all where the tablas are built.
06:24It is an honor.
06:25It's also very weird, because obviously, you never, as a kid, you never think, ah, that
06:30could be you one day, working or putting it all up or even building anything around it.
06:35But, I don't know, paths just fall into line, and here I am now.
06:39There, in your face, just to enjoy, you don't really go into much depth and think, how was
06:44that made?
06:45How has it been put up there?
06:46But now, obviously, working here, then you understand it a lot more, and it's a lot more,
06:51there should be a lot more respect, in a sense, as you don't understand how much hard work
06:57and time, especially, goes into making the illuminations.
07:03At the moment, I'm just finishing up the letters for the new Disco Donkey feature.
07:11The ice cream on top, and it's got black pooling letters that go around the outside.
07:17So, at the moment, I've just sorted it out for the 3D printer.
07:23So, this is going to be the L, and inside it, we've designed a channel, which will fit
07:33one of these.
07:34These are just, it's like an LED light strip.
07:40So, it's nice and flexible, so you can, essentially, it outlines the letter itself.
07:47Get it 3D printed, and then it'll come back to me, and I'll smooth it all off, paint it,
07:53and then it goes back to the electricians to be wired up and fitted onto the ice cream.
08:00It'll print the first layer, and then, as it goes on, every layer will add more detail,
08:08and then these bits is the infill, which gives the piece structure, and it's got all the
08:14holes pre-designed in, so it's easy for fitting.
08:18So, you'll have to wait for the printer to print all this, all the way up to the top,
08:22to the full thing, which will take 19 hours and 2 minutes.
08:26For one L?
08:27For one letter, yeah.
08:28So, 19 hours per letter?
08:31Yeah, well, I think I've just sorted out a B as well, and the B, I think it's a day.
08:39A day and a few hours.
08:40So, it depends on what you're making, what letter-wise.
08:44We make, obviously, full 3D objects on here as well, which can take a lot longer,
08:50depending on the detail on it, basically, and the size.
08:55So, today, I am sticking vinyls for the local aliens, which is a new feature for this year,
09:01which will be going on the roadway on the promenade.
09:04What we do is, this is the final result, with the vinyl completely on,
09:09and if you come round this way, you can see the final result.
09:15So, this is the final result.
09:18So, this is the final result, with the vinyl completely on,
09:21and if you come round this way, you'll see I'm just starting to stick one side on.
09:29So, obviously, we've got all the masking tape in place, positioning it up,
09:32lining it up, ready to go.
09:34And then, once that's ready to go, I'll get a squeegee and some water
09:39and basically just flatten that on this fiberglass,
09:42and then we'll do the same for the other side, matching the feature up.
09:45So, it's the full image.
09:47These are a feature that have been used for quite a few different things.
09:51I believe, one year, they were used for Star Trek.
09:53They've been used for Doctor Who.
09:55They've been used for a wide variety of things.
09:58It just so happens that, this year, they've been free for us to use for local aliens.
10:03So, yeah.
10:04They're really quirky designs.
10:06I love the inventiveness of all of them.
10:08They're all different as well, so it's good not having repeats of the same thing.
10:13It's nice that they've all got their own little imaginations of what aliens look like.
10:17So, yeah.
10:18No, they're really cool.
10:19A really nice feature for this year.
10:42The fiberglass has been cured.
10:44So, turn it over, taking the polystyrene off.
10:48So, we've already done this one and that one, which is over there.
10:53And this one hasn't been painted or wired up yet.
10:58So, they're in a fiberglass shop.
11:00And that one's ready for spraying as well.
11:03And then this one to carve.
11:06That's it.
11:07This is a not usual way of doing it.
11:11Making a female, polystyrene female mold carving.
11:17And then we lay up fiberglass inside.
11:21It used to be like making a model like this, all one-offs, and then fiberglass outside.
11:28But because that way, the finish is like fiberglass straw finish.
11:36So, this way is more smoother, more better finish.
11:40So, we started doing the wrong way around.
11:43Making a female, carving a female mold.
11:46And then fiberglass lay up and then dig out.
11:49So, this is a male cast.
12:05ODYSSEY
12:22One of the biggest projects that we've built in recent times is Odyssey.
12:26And Odyssey is a very, very complex system.
12:30And the whole thing is networks.
12:33So, we've got networks of lighting, networks of audio, networks of video, networks of control, all going to each tower.
12:40And then each tower is, in effect, its own standalone thing.
12:43And each tower has lighting, sound, projection.
12:47It also has mapping, tracking to follow people, smoke machines, lasers.
12:53And all of those things are maintained and installed by the technical department.
12:59Unfortunately, we have the joy of the Blackpool weather.
13:02Nobody understands how harsh that salt air is on anything, especially technical, electrical.
13:10It destroys galvanized steel.
13:13So, we buy products which are IP rated, highly IP rated, which, of course, that's how waterproof it is.
13:21And the Blackpool air manages to get inside it and destroys it.
13:25So, we're constantly trying to find ways of almost bettering the manufacturer's IP ratings to create some reliability,
13:32so that we're not constantly going back to do repairs.
13:35And that with the idea, with the theory being that these visitors that come to Blackpool to spend their money,
13:42everybody gets the same thing.
13:46So, everything works.
13:49They look at something, and it's the same as the person saw it.
13:52They look at something, and it's the same as the person saw it last week.
13:56So, there isn't parts.
13:58That's always the goal.
13:59Not always very easy, but that's what we strive for.
14:03The wind causes a lot of problems on the cliffs with the features.
14:07We've got to have ropes and a couple of men to try and steady it as best we can.
14:12If it gets too bad, we just call it.
14:14And safety first all the time.
14:17Hectic at the moment with the lead up to the switch on.
14:21I don't think we're too far behind.
14:23We're a little bit behind, but we'll catch it up.
14:25I'm sure we will.
14:27About ten years I've been here, and we've got a good team,
14:30and we've got a good team, and we've got a good team.
14:33We've got a good team.
14:35We've got a good team.
14:37We've got a good team.
14:40We've got a good team.
14:42We'll catch it up, I'm sure we will.
14:45About 10 years I've been here now.
14:47Yeah, it's something new every year.
14:52New designs, everything's a challenge,
14:55but we'll get it up in the end.
14:59We'll be on call and on the road for the lights
15:03and keeping them maintained.
15:06It's the weather conditions more than anything.
15:10Getting behind the tableaus and onto the grass,
15:13and it's a challenge.
15:22On the roadway, the challenge there
15:24could be parked cars and things like that.
15:26So we try and get out either early morning
15:28or whenever we can, cone it off.
15:35Well, we do some Christmas lights as well,
15:37and it can get a bit cold at 3 o'clock in the morning.
15:40Cold, windy, snowing.
15:44The electricians will follow up behind us
15:46and plug everything in, basically, wire it all up.
15:57Oh, I love the job, yeah.
16:00When you get the nice sun, and the sun's out,
16:02and you get your suntan, a free suntan,
16:04get paid for getting a suntan.
16:06It's not so good in the winter.
16:20It's switch on week, and with just days
16:22to go until the big night, the illuminations are tested.
16:25The promenade is closed, and the bikes
16:27come out to ride the lights.
16:37Woo!
16:53This year, we do a costume every year,
16:56something that we can all do.
16:57But this year, we needed something quick,
17:00so we thought everybody can be aliens.
17:01And then we have a couple of men in black as well,
17:04so chasing us.
17:13It's an illness.
17:13It takes all your life if you're not careful.
17:15You start with one, then you make two,
17:18and then you make two more.
17:20It lasts 12 months.
17:21And then I've got a yard full of them to make.
17:24I've got another five, I think.
17:25How long have you been doing this?
17:27About three, four years.
17:29Yeah, since COVID.
17:31This is a corn-operated ride outside an arcade.
17:34I've cut it up, then I make a mobility scooter to fit it.
17:38So it's a mobility scooter I converted to fit this.
17:42We do a ride around town from Fleetwood,
17:44so we drive around Fleetwood with them,
17:46but it's for tonight.
17:48Some people drink, some people like food,
17:51and I like this.
17:52Some will play fishing and golf.
17:54Yeah, I like fettling.
17:55So this is a highlight of your year?
17:57Yes, this is it.
18:01This is it.
18:24Well, we're from the New Esplanade Hotel
18:26on the front, next to the Pleasure Beach.
18:28And we've got a lovely guest called Mark Harper,
18:30and he brings his dodgem with us,
18:32and he brings his postman, Pat Van.
18:34And we have a gold mine.
18:35Paul brings the gold mine.
18:37And they're all amazing guys, and they hook us all up
18:39with this amazing dodgem.
18:40It brings different ones every year.
18:42We've had a log flume.
18:43What else have we had?
18:44A swan, a black pool tower.
18:47Every year, it tries to bring something different.
18:50Hello.
18:55Hello.
19:03Walt Disney World, yeah, many years ago.
19:06And it only comes out for this event, very special.
19:10We've added to it.
19:11We didn't have lights last year.
19:12We had the butterfly cape, but now we've added the lights.
19:19Yeah.
19:49Hi.
20:06Woo!
20:19Woo!
20:50Woo!
21:11This is going to be the biggest live audience
21:14that I've ever performed in front of.
21:19Massive thank you.
21:20Enjoy your evening, and never give up on your dreams,
21:24because I'm so glad I didn't.
21:27I'm excited for the nightlife.
21:28I'm not going to lie.
21:29I can imagine it's, like, pumping.
21:35I mean, this is legendary, to perform the black pool
21:38illuminations.
21:39It feels like a real honor.
21:42I mean, it's just been phenomenal.
21:44Our impressions today was just the kids
21:45screaming, wanting to go to every little place
21:48to explore it.
21:49The beaches are beautiful.
21:50The piers have been amazing.
21:51We've had so much fun riding all the rides
21:53and eating hot dogs and having ice cream.
21:55It's, like, the ultimate place for family.
22:00I'm just so excited to be here.
22:02I can't wait to vibe with everybody.
22:04Everybody seems like they're really up for having a good
22:06time.
22:07It feels electric.
22:08The streets have just been filling
22:09with people all day long.
22:11So it's time to make it legendary one more time around.
22:18Now it's black pool this time.
22:20Are you all with me?
22:22Everyone, as loud as you can.
22:24Are you ready?
22:25Starting from 10.
22:26Follow the tower.
22:2810, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
22:36Do the black pool.
22:38Black pool.
22:39Black pool.
22:40Black pool.
22:41Black pool.
22:42Black pool.
22:43Black pool.
22:44Black pool.
22:45Black pool.
22:47Go, Blue!
22:48Go, Blue!
22:49Go, Blue!
22:50Go, Blue!
22:51Go, Blue!
22:52Go, Blue!
22:53Go, Blue!
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24:12Go, Blue!