Blackpool's 800-drone Stanley Park spectacular wows on Britain's Got Talent
Blackpool’s spectacular 800-drone display over Stanley Park has finally aired on national television, months after it first lit up the skyline.
The breathtaking light show, filmed on October 15 during auditions at the Winter Gardens, featured in the opening episode of the 19th series of Britain's Got Talent, which launched on ITV1 on February 21.
Viewers watched as Somerset-based drone specialists Celestial transformed the night sky above Stanley Park into a moving tribute to “the best of British”, with 800 synchronised drones forming images including James Bond silhouettes, the RAF Red Arrows, a Union flag and Blackpool’s own Tower.
When filming took place last autumn, the display caused widespread speculation among residents.
Motorists passing Stanley Park spotted the huge illuminated formations and questioned whether it was linked to the Illuminations or Lightpool Festival.
It was later revealed the spectacle was part of Britain’s Got Talent auditions being staged in the resort, though many locals had already guessed.
VisitBlackpool said ahead of the broadcast that it had been Blackpool’s “worst-kept secret”, adding: “Stanley Park looked absolutely wonderful and we’re incredibly proud to have hosted the show right here in Blackpool.”
During Saturday’s episode, judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and KSI were led outdoors to witness the performance, which closed the launch show. The act received four yeses, with Cowell telling the group he could not see “how anyone can beat that”.
Drone displays of this scale require months of programming and testing, with each aircraft following precise flight paths to create complex shapes safely and in sync with music.
For Blackpool, the sequence doubled as a prime-time tourism showcase, broadcasting images of Stanley Park to millions of viewers across the country.
The new series of Britain’s Got Talent continues on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.