00:00Yeah, I mean, as most places are, they're finishing up, you know, seaside resorts, we're, you know, revving up and getting going again, so it's massive for us, 40 million visitors, 1.98 million, you know, really fit to the economy, it's massive for us, but I think, you know, tonight is also about the importance of the illumination to people like meek to residents, you know, because we're really, you know, we're proud of this, it's part of us, that, you know, this culture, and there's something, you know, and I really felt it this year, about that resilience, that whatever's chucked at that point, we have the, you know, all of these
00:29wonderful events, the illuminations, and they continue to shine brighter, and come back bigger and better every year, and still attracting millions upon millions of people, and, yeah, it's quite emotional, actually, and seeing, we're just, I'm sure people are here in the background, the young people, the children and young people, all those amazingly talented young people, and they're just knocking it out of the park, so to see, for them to have the opportunity to perform to this crowd, it's incredible, and they're doing it so well, so, yeah,
00:59fabulous, it's filling up, it's going to be a massive night, I mean, it's really good, because, you know, we want, obviously we want a big act, we want people to, you know, to enjoy it, and Blackpool deserves that, those big names, you know, so, yeah, proud that we've got Holly here, and, you know, and we've done, you know, last year, Mel B, turning them on, which was, you know, for my year, it was just fantastic, you know, to meet her, so, yeah, we're really
01:27grateful, and excited, and I think you can feel the excitement tonight, so, yeah, it's brilliant, there's, obviously, you know, up to the old favourites, updated, and, you know, we've been putting new bulbs in, so, they're shining brighter,
01:41but we've got some amazing new stuff, Jason Wilshire-Mild, who's done this amazing, it's really lovely, and it's about love, and it charts the story of two people meeting in the Tower Ballroom, and there, and through their, through their lives, and that's, so, it's all about love,
01:55and that's quite beautiful, we've got Robert E. Fuller, who's, um, he's a renowned wildlife artist, so there's, there's some really beautiful stuff from him,
02:03and, of course, we've got Lawrence, and, you know, the Guardians of the North, the three far-breathing dragons, which, they're not out yet,
02:09they're, because they'll be here, so, we're going to, um, wait for, for, you know, to switch on tonight, and, oh, yeah, it's, it, there's lots of new stuff,
02:17and working with that level of artist is, you know, and, and that's something that, you know, Lawrence has attracted, I think, because it, that's having that conversation,
02:24and that acknowledgement, but the illumination, it, it, it's light art, you know, and all of that is working with those designers,
02:32and artists, but it's created here in Blackpool, we have an amazing team down at Lightworks, who, who, you know,
02:37not just working, maintaining all the year, but building this, and, you know, all that, that goes into it all year round, so, yeah, really proud.
02:44There is, there is, there is some exciting stuff, but I can't, I can't, I am not allowed, Lawrence would, yeah, never speak to me again,
02:52and, as well, I could bear that.
02:53Ha, ha, ha.
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