That was the pledge today as work continued to spruce up the town centre.

As exclusively revealed in yesterday's Gazette, the nation's biggest stage show will be held at the Opera House on December 7.

Much of the town centre is currently undergoing a major facelift with parts of it little more than building sites at present.

Cranes are in place as workmen transform the Promenade, Birley Street and St John's Square directly outside the Opera House and where the Queen is expected to arrive.

But bosses at Blackpool Council promise the town centre will be at its best for a show which attracts a global TV audience of 150 million.

And they say they "would consider all options" on how to make the town shine for the event - including possibly relighting the Illuminations which are traditionally turned off in November.

Coun Maxine Callow, cabinet member for tourism and regeneration at Blackpool Council, said: "Getting the Royal Variety Performance in December is the best Christmas present this town could have.

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"I'm sure the whole of Blackpool will be pulling out all the stops to make sure the royal visit is unforgettable for Her Majesty and that she sees the resort in its best possible light.

"It's going to look very nice pulling up outside St John's. The church itself is very attractive and when it's all finished it will be a beautiful part of the town."

Work on Birley Street – which is seeing huge lighting and music installations erected – should be completed within weeks.

Brilliance, as it has been named, should open in August.

The relaying of St John's Square is scheduled for completion in September and council chiefs are confident they can keep to the timetable.

Unfortunately, the mammoth construction project to transform Blackpool Promenade will still be ongoing when the Queen visits.

As for the theatre itself – which last hosted the show in 1955 – there is already talk of refurbishment work and the possibility of a new Royal Box.

The one the Queen used in 1955 was taken down a decade ago to make way for the hit musical Cats.

Leisure Parcs operations director Michael Williams said he would love to see Blackpool talent represented on the bill.

"We have our own Christmas Circus at the Tower when the show is being recorded and, of course, the cast of Funnygirls have been on the show before so it would be nice if they, or any other homegrown talent, were selected for the show," he said.

Although the show is being staged at a Leisure Parcs venue Mr Williams praised the behind the scenes work done by Pleasure Beach managing director Amanda Thompson in securing the show for the town.

"She has worked very, very hard to bring the show to Blackpool – it certainly hasn't just been a Leisure Parcs initiative," he said.

He added: "During its heyday the Opera House welcomed a long list of legendary entertainers from Frank Sinatra to Shirley Bassey."

Coun Callow, who herself appeared in the 1955 show as a young ballet dancer, also applauded the efforts of those instrumental in bringing the event to Blackpool.

She added: "It takes an awful lot of work getting an event like this behind the scenes, most of it while being as discrete as possible.
"We believe we're the capital of variety here in Blackpool.

"Apart from being an honour, the event will also help traders in the resort who will receive a boost from the extra visitors it draws in.
"We'll make the Queen very welcome, give her a real Blackpool welcome."

Meanwhile, Peter Taylor, secretary of StayBlackpool, said the resort was "ready for an event like this."

He added: "There are 3,000 seats in the theatre and all of those people will need somewhere to stay but that's not the point.

"All eyes will be on Blackpool and when they see how well we can do at hosting something like this it might change a lot of perceptions about the town."

For much more on the news, pick up a copy of Thursday's Gazette.