Armfield Academy is a new school that opened in September 2018, built on the site of the former Arnold School, which was established in the late 1800s. The academy was named in honor of Blackpool FC legend and former Arnold pupil, Jimmy Armfield, and is run by the Fylde Coast Academy Trust (FCAT). The new building was created to replace the outdated Arnold School facilities, aiming to provide a better learning environment for young people on the Fylde Coast.
On 24 October 2018, Blackpool Police appealed to the public for help identifying a man caught on CCTV carrying a crate of beer—immediately sparking viral attention due to the suspect’s uncanny resemblance to Friends actor David Schwimmer. The image, shared on the police force’s Facebook page, drew widespread amusement and thousands of show-related comments. The post gained even more traction when Schwimmer himself responded with a tongue-in-cheek video. Mimicking the suspect’s actions in a New York store, he furtively glanced at a camera while carrying beer, captioning the video: “Officers, I swear it wasn’t me. As you can see, I… Read more »
The building, originally a British Gas showroom and now a block of apartments, boasts a fascinating history. Aside from being the second version of the Music Hall Tavern, the other being at Yates Wine Lodge, the site also became home to the Joe Longthorne Theatre. The site underwent major redevelopment in 2018 and has since been completely renovated to provide 10 high-quality apartments. Four of these apartments offer stunning views of Blackpool Tower, the sea, and the distant fells. The block includes eight two-bedroom apartments, one 2.5-bedroom apartment, and a single one-bedroom apartment. All the apartments are equipped with brand…
Nathan Parker is an independent author and spoken artist from Blackpool. Proud of his northern roots, Nathan is a keen champion of northern voices, committed to enabling people of all ages to engage with words, stories and conversations. He has a background in Youth Work, having worked in the community, schools, colleges and hostels in Blackpool and the North-West for over 13 years. His vision is to combine youth work values and approaches with the topic of literacy to engage and motivate people to access reading, writing and storytelling, removing barriers and enabling confidence. Nathan is proud of his northern roots… Read more »
Molly Florence Wright is an actress who was born 20 March 1996 in Blackpool. For her debut film Apostasy (2017), she was named Young British/Irish Performer of the Year in 2018 by the London Film Critics’ Circle and nominated for two British Independent Film Awards. On television, she is known for her role in the BBC drama ‘The A Word’ (2016–2020). Wright attended Blackpool Sixth Form College and took the Foundation Acting course at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (ALRA). She joined an extras agency and made her television acting debut when she starred in the BBC One… Read more »
Zoe Louise Ball, born on 23 November 1970 in Blackpool, is a renowned broadcaster and presenter celebrated for her pioneering roles on BBC Radio. Raised in Hounslow until 1978, her family relocated to Farnham Common in Buckinghamshire, where she attended Farnham Common First School, Middle School, and later Holy Cross Convent School in Chalfont St Peter. Ball completed a “City & Guilds in radio and journalism” at Amersham College of Art and Technology. She is the daughter of iconic children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball and Julia (née Anderson). Following her parents’ divorce when she was two, Zoe was raised by… Read more »
Alfie Boe headlined the Blackpool Illuminations Switch-On concert on 31 August 2018 at the Tower Festival Headland, drawing thousands of visitors to celebrate the launch of the town’s world-famous illuminations. But there’s a bigger connection, the fact he was born in Blackpool. He’s the youngest in a family of nine children and was brought up in nearby Fleetwood. He is of Irish and Norwegian descent and his mother and father named him after the Italian name of Pope John XXIII. He attended St Wulstan’s and St Edmund’s School and Cardinal Allen Catholic High School in Fleetwood. His earliest musical memories were… Read more »
The West Division Police Headquarters in Blackpool, completed in July 2018, is the central hub for Lancashire Constabulary’s operations in the western part of the county. Located on Clifton Road, this modern facility was designed to significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of policing in Blackpool and the surrounding areas by bringing together various functions that were previously spread across multiple locations under one roof. The headquarters is a state-of-the-art building focused on functionality, security, and sustainability. It incorporates energy-efficient materials and systems to reduce environmental impact. Inside, the facility is equipped with the latest technology to support a broad… Read more »
Judges Amanda Holden (centre), Alesha Dixon (second from left), David Walliams (second from right) and Simon Cowell with presenters Anthony ‘Ant’ McPartlin (left) and Declan ‘Dec’ Donnelly (right) attending the Britain’s Got Talent auditions at Blackpool’s Opera House on 16 January 2018. But for fans of the show what’s even better is that it looks like auditions will be coming back to Blackpool October 2024! Everyone is officially invited to become the 5th judge and join Ant & Dec, and all the judges LIVE at the glittering auditions taking place in the Winter Gardens.