'My home': Hunted star Jordan Wylie on love for Blackpool and City of Culture
“People are starting to talk about Blackpool differently and, more importantly, Blackpool is starting to talk about itself differently and more positively.”
Celebrity Hunted star Jordan Wylie has said he is excited by Blackpool’s growing momentum towards being named City of Culture in an exclusive interview with the Gazette. .
The former military man-turned explorer praised Blackpool’s recent growth and urged the town to build on the gathering momentum.
“There is real investment going on in the town, there are plenty of exciting regeneration projects across the area,” Wylie told the Gazette.
“I also think there is a renewed sense of confidence around the town. People are starting to talk about Blackpool differently and, more importantly, Blackpool is starting to talk about itself differently and more positively.
“For me, the big opportunity now is to build on the momentum of this City of Culture bid. We have to keep investing in young people, we have to keep creating opportunities, we have to keep improving education, we need to improve sport, we need to grow tourism.
“If we can give young people the confidence and the opportunities to believe that they can go and achieve something extraordinary without feeling they have to leave Blackpool to do that, I think that’s the best legacy that we can give young people.”
Wylie has always been open about his love for the Fylde coast, and in recent months has been one of the most vocal celebrities in campaigning for the area.
When asked what makes Blackpool special, he added: “I’ve travelled to over 150 countries, I’ve visited all seven continents on the planet and travelled the world many times over- I always have my tangerine Blackpool flag everywhere I go.
“Blackpool is my home. It’s where my family all still live, it’s where I grew up, it’s shaped me, the person I am today and I’ll always be incredibly proud to say I’m from Blackpool.
“I grew up in Grange Park and lived in Layton. I played football for lots of the Saturday and Sunday League football teams in the area, so most of my best memories in life are in Blackpool.
“The town has such great character and charm, it has resilience in abundance, it has community spirit like nowhere else I’ve ever seen in the country..
“People have got a real hard-working special community spirit about them. People talk to each other, people look out for each other, people have a laugh, there’s no pretence. People wear their hearts on their sleeves in Blackpool.”