TV talent mark the start of festive season

Reigning X Factor champion Ben Haenow will do the honours in Blackpool, performing his number one single Something I Need as well as new material including recent release Second Hand Heart.

The action kicks off from 3pm with MOBO and Brit Award winners Stooshe live on stage in St John’s Square, performing their hits including Black Heart.

Britain’s Got Talent favourites The Neales will be joined by finalists Jack Pack with their signature smooth swing voices.

Blackpool talent will be represented by hip hop/pop combo Myth of Unity, singer Chloe Moyle, singer and pianist AJ Brown, children from Starmaker Performing Arts Academy, and preview performances from Viva Blackpool plus Paul Nicholas and the cast of A Christmas Carol from the Opera House.

Radio Wave presenters Roy Lynch and Scott Gallagher will host the show with Ben flicking the switch at 5.30pm.

Jack Pack have a double date, heading from Blackpool to Lytham where they will flick the switch at 6pm, after a full afternoon of entertainment gets under way with local musician Jo Ashcroft at 2pm.

Students from AKS will perform extracts from their forthcoming show Bugsy Malone, while members of the cast of the Lowther Pavilion panto Cinderella, singer Peter Anthony, Britain’s Got Talent dancer Steven Hall are also on the bill, among others - concluding with a fireworks finale.

The lights star in Fleetwood will be a lucky local child after a competition in the town’s primary schools.

The lantern parade will light up the town setting off at 5.15pm from Fisherman’s Walk, to head through town to the Marine Gardens, where the switch-on ceremony takes place at around 6.15pm.