Popstar Sophie Ellis-Bextor is switching on the lights at this year’s Blackpool Illuminations, it has been confirmed.
The Murder On The Dancefloor singer will perform on the Tower Festival Headland on Friday 1 September, before pulling the switch to trigger the magic Christmas lights switch on that thousands look forward to each year.
Her special appearance will mark the crescendo of a day full of events that will also include a Nickelodeon float parade, live entertainment, a light show, and fireworks.
Sharing the news online this afternoon, the Visit Blackpool tourist and marketing board tweeted: “Delighted to announce Sophie Ellis Bextor is this year’s Switch-On star, who will perform an exclusive set and turn on the iconic Blackpool Illuminations on Friday 1 September!”
Fans of the star have been quick to react, with one person replying: “I am literally soooo happpyyyy”
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Switch-On ⭐
Delighted to announce Sophie Ellis Bextor is this year’s Switch-On star, who will perform an exclusive set and turn on the iconic Blackpool Illuminations on Friday 1 September!
The performance from Sophie Ellis-Bextor comes fresh off the back of her recent Worthy Farm set at Glastonbury, which saw her take over a Sunday afternoon slot on the Pyramid Stage.
However, fans were left outraged when her Glastonbury set wasn’t shown during live coverage on BBC One or uploaded to iPlayer afterward.
As a result, it seems like the opportunity to see her in Blackpool has left followers more excited than ever at another chance to see the singer in action.
Sophie Ellis Bextor first shot to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience, before achieving success as a solo artist in the early noughties with the hit single Murder On The Dancefloor.
She has since released a total of seven UK albums. Her music is a mixture of mainstream pop, disco, nu-disco, and 1980s electronic influences, with Bextor being adopted in recent years as a favourite of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Oldham police issue dispersal order following ‘repeat incidents’ of disorder in town centre
Emily Sergeant
A dispersal order has been issued in Oldham following ‘repeat incidents’ of disorder between groups of youths.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that it has implemented a Section 35 dispersal order and additional Section 60 ‘stop and search’ powers in Oldham following repeat incidents of disorder between groups of youths in the town centre.
The measures were introduced yesterday afternoon (9 December) after reports of disorder came into police, which also followed similar incidents seen earlier this and last week.
So far, five arrests have been made in connection with the incidents – two for violent disorder, and three for possession of offensive weapons.
A Section 35 dispersal order is in effect for 48 hours until 1:25pm this Thursday (11 December), and the Section 60 is in effect for an initial 24 hours until 1:25pm today.
#UPDATE | We have implemented a Section 35 dispersal order and a Section 60 stop and search powers in Oldham Town Centre today at 1:25pm.
The measures will remain in place for 48 hours for the S.35 and for 24 hours for the S.60 following disorder.
The dispersal order allows officers to exclude a person, or people, from an area for up to 48 hours through a written notice, while the Section 60 authority grants officers extended powers to stop and search individuals within the area.
Neighbourhood officers will maintain a high-visibility presence in the area and will use these powers where necessary to ‘keep the public safe’.
“These measures are in place to prevent further disorder and ensure the safety of those living, working, and visiting Oldham town centre,” commented Inspector Amie Whitehead, who is the Neighbourhood Inspector for Oldham South & West.
“We will not tolerate antisocial behaviour and will take robust action against anyone involved.
“These powers are crucial to preventing any further offences from taking place. If you have any concerns or any information, then please speak to those officers who are there to help.”
Anyone with any information is urged to contact police via 101 or using the LiveChat function on www.gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1619 of 09/12/25.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Trafford Centre announces opening hours for 2025/26 festive season – including Boxing Day
Emily Sergeant
Trafford Centre has published its full list of opening hours for this current festive season.
We all know that the Christmas period is one of the busiest times of the year for the retail industry, with people flocking to the shops in their millions to snap up festive gifts for their loved ones, and it only gets busier from Boxing Day onwards too when all the sales launch, offering shoppers some unmissable deals and bargains.
And nowhere in Greater Manchester gets busier during the festive season than the Trafford Centre. After all, with more than 200 stores all under one room, it’s not hard to see why.
This year, shoppers can make the most of extended opening hours at the Trafford Centre right through to New Year’s Day – with late night shopping until 11pm on selected dates in December leading up to the big day.
Alongside being a one-stop-shop for gifts, there’s also dozens of festive events and new Christmas lights to enjoy at the Trafford Centre too, so visitors can tick everything off their list and have a great day out while they’re at it.
The shopping centre will be open from 9am – 5pm on Christmas Eve, so you can whip round and grab any last-minute presents, before it’s closed fully on Christmas Day, and then opens again bright and early at 8am on Boxing Day.
Trafford Centre Christmas Opening Hours 2025/26
18 and 19 December: 10am – 11pm
20 December: 10am – 10pm
21 December: 12pm – 6pm
22 and 23 December: 10am – 11pm
Christmas: 9am – 5pm
Christmas Day: Closed
26 December: 8am – 8pm (some stores may be closed, please check with individual brands)
27 December: 10am – 9pm
28 December: 12pm – 6pm
29 and 30 December: 10pm – 10pm
New Year’s Eve: 9am – 5pm
New Year’s Day: 12pm – 6pm
It’s also worth noting, however, that not every store inside the Trafford Centre will be open on Boxing Day, so you’ll need to check with individual brands ahead of time.
For the restaurants, stores, and leisure venues that are open, you can check their specific trading hours on the Trafford Centre website here.
When it comes to festive event, The Grotto is open until Christmas Eve for pre-bookings only, and the Christmas fairground and ice rink, Big Wheel, and Gandeys Snowstorm Firebird show are all open until 4 January (closed Christmas Day).
The Manc -
14th August 2023 
