Gold Medallist Steven Burke latest to join Blackpool line up

Blackpool is going for gold with 2012 switch-on.

Olympic Rings on the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle.

“To add a cyclist to the Olympic Medallist line-up really is the icing on the cake. We held our Ride the Lights event here on Tuesday evening and are now looking forward to welcoming the Tour of Britain to Blackpool on the 12 September. To have such a fantastic line-up and six icons in such a momentous year, Switching on The Illuminations, in front of an iconic building is wonderful.” – Natalie Wyatt, MD of Marketing Blackpool

Real Radio, Smooth Radio and VisitBlackpool have secured another London 2012 hero to their illumination switch on line up. Cycling gold medallist Steven Burke will complete the list of Olympians appearing at the Blackpool big switch on.

Organisers have also  revealed that for the first time ever, as well as broadcasting across both stations live from 7pm, Real and Smooth Radio’s websites will transmit a live video stream of this year’s Blackpool Illuminations show and switch-on.

This will include performances from an enviable line-up of top pop acts including Paloma Faith, Scouting For Girls, Noisettes, Little Mix, , Lawson, Lemar, Amy MacDonald and Rick Astley.

The webcast will continue uninterrupted through to the final switch-on which will be performed by six Olympic medal winning members of Team GB; cycling gold medallist Steven Burke joins Women’s doubles scull gold medallist Sophie Hosking, Long Jump gold medallist Greg Rutherford, boxing bantamweight gold medallist Luke Campbell, Uneven Bars bronze medallist Beth Tweddle and bronze medal gymnastics team member Max Whitlock.

“It has been a mammoth task pulling together this year’s incredible line-up and we are very proud to have six amazing Olympians for the Switch-On and a live show overflowing with great artists. And on top of that, the whole country can now enjoy Switch-On as we announce for the first time ever live video steaming of the event. In its centenary year these Olympians, this line-up and live stream will make this a Switch-On that will go down as a landmark in the Blackpool Illuminations history.” – Michael McIntyre, Real Radio and Smooth Radio North West Managing Director