I designed the sets for American Idol & Who Wants to be a Millionaire- but Blackpool is my home

Blackpool-born Andy Walmsley is an Emmy-nominated set designer whose work has spanned television and theatre for decades.

Some of his most notable designs include the sets for entertainment programs like The X Factor, America’s Got Talent and American Idol, as well as quiz shows Who Wants To Be a Millionaire and Blockbusters.

Andy’s creative spark comes from his family, who are steeped in Blackpool's entertainment history. His dad, Syd Francis, was a renowned comedian whose name is on the Comedy Carpet and his mum, Judy Allen, performed as a fire eater. His grandparents were both musicians who worked in shows across the town.

With deep family connections into Blackpool’s showbiz world, it was no surprise that Andy’s first job was working for one of the town’s most legendary performers. “I got my first job in showbusiness in 1979 at the Blackpool Tower Circus, working for Charlie Cairoli, prepping his props, musical instruments and making his custard pies,” Andy, now aged 60, explained.

“I was so lucky to have a kind gentle soul like Charlie guiding me as I started in Showbusiness, as I was just 13 years old. I then worked as a stage hand for 3 glorious summers on South Pier- those summers, to this day, were still the greatest of my life.

“The town was buzzing with lots of shows in all the theatres. Blackpool was still thriving back then, the summers were so much fun. I knew as a kid Blackpool was the showbiz mecca of the UK because Blackpool and entertainment go hand in hand. The town is and always has been fun”

Andy is now based across the pond in Las Vegas, where he continues to work as an internationally renowned set designer. Reflecting back on how his upbringing in Blackpool influenced his career, Andy added: ““All of the life changing events that propelled my career, they all stem back to Blackpool. There's no way I would have had this career if I had grown up in any other town.

“The visual style of my work is totally from Blackpool… growing up there, you are surrounded by light bulbs and neon bright colours where everything is designed to attract the eye. My sets look like they are right out of Blackpool with all that sparkle.”

“I'm proud that my name is in the museum (Showtown). It was a shock but made me so happy and I’m so proud of my association with Blackpool.

“Lets be honest, the days of the 1960s and 1970s are never coming back. But, if we could get back to what the town had, in terms of visitors and businesses, we’d really start to thrive again. The title (City of Culture) would help draw attention back and get us on our way.”