Tag: Shows

Marie Lloyd Performs at the Empire Theatre

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Marie Lloyd, one of the most celebrated music hall stars of her era, was renowned for her cheeky and charismatic stage presence. She captivated audiences with her playful, double-entendre-laden performances and an ability to infuse even the simplest lyrics with charm and innuendo. Her influence on British entertainment was profound, and her enduring popularity made her a headline act across the country. Her first visit to Blackpool came in May 1896, when she was booked at the Empire Theatre—an engagement described at the time as being arranged “at enormous expense.” The Empire, however, struggled financially and later reopened as the… Read more »

Victoria Monks Appears at the Empire Theatre

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Victoria Annie Monks, born in Blackpool on 1 November 1882, was a prominent music hall singer in the early 20th century. During the Edwardian era and the First World War, she gained recognition for performing and recording popular songs such as Take Me Back to London Town and Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home? The daughter of optician Andrew Thomas Monks, she was educated in both England and Belgium. Her early performances were recorded in the Blackpool Gazette & Herald on 13 August 1897, where she was billed as “Little Victoria” at the Empire, Blackpool. She made her London debut… Read more »

Charles Dickens Relaxes at the Imperial Hotel

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Charles Dickens never cared for Preston, once calling it an unpleasant place. So, when he had a break between readings—one completed in Bolton and another scheduled in Preston two days later—he chose to spend his time in Blackpool instead. His manager, George Dolby, booked them into the Imperial Hotel for 20 and 21 April 1869, where they found the accommodation comfortable. Though intending to rest, Dickens was suffering from the strain of his Farewell Reading Tour, which had begun in October 1868 and involved 72 performances. His health was declining—his friend Edmund Yates noted he looked exhausted, while Dolby remarked… Read more »

Diana Ross Performs at Lytham Festival

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Diana Ross performed at the Lytham Festival on June 28, 2022, as part of her Thank You Tour, marking a highly anticipated return to the stage. As the headliner for the first night of the festival, Ross captivated thousands of fans with her signature charisma, powerhouse vocals, and an electrifying setlist featuring both classic hits and newer material. The Lytham Festival, an annual music event held on the picturesque banks of the Ribble Estuary, provided a stunning coastal backdrop for the legendary singer’s performance. The Thank You Tour was named after her 2021 studio album, Thank You, which was her first… Read more »

Caroline O’Neill Appears in Endeavour

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Caroline O’Neill, born on 13 December 1961 in Blackpool, is a British actress with an extensive career spanning television, film, and theatre. Best known for her roles in Endeavour (2012), Queer as Folk (1999), and Robin Hood (2006), she also made a lasting impression on soap audiences as Andrea Clayton in Coronation Street. Her career in television has been remarkably diverse, with appearances in over 80 different series. She has featured in Poirot, Doctors, All Creatures Great and Small, Casualty, Doc Martin, Happy Valley, Whitechapel, Holby City, The Inbetweeners, The Bill, Heartbeat, Fat Friends, EastEnders, Peak Practice, Birds of a… Read more »

Joseph-Warren Plant Joins Emmerdale

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Joe-Warren Plant, born on 12 April 2002 in Blackpool, is a British actor best known for his role as Jacob Gallagher in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He has played Jacob since 2010, beginning his time on the show at the age of eight. His portrayal has earned him three nominations for Best Young Performance at the British Soap Awards in 2014, 2019, and 2021. Raised in Poulton-le-Fylde with his parents, Steph and Warren Plant, he developed an early interest in acting and was enrolled at Scream Theatre School in Blackpool from the age of four. He later attended Baines… Read more »

Wayne Michaels’ Bungee Stunt in James Bond Film Goldeneye

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Wayne David Michaels, born on 22 January 1959 in Blackpool, is an English stuntman and stunt arranger known for his work in film and television. He attended Millfield School from 1972 to 1977 and has been married to fellow stunt performer Tracey Eddon since 1990, with whom he has one child. He is best known for performing the iconic bungee jump in the opening sequence of the James Bond film GoldenEye. The 220-metre jump, filmed at the Verzasca Dam in Switzerland, was voted the best movie stunt of all time in 2002 and set a record for the highest bungee… Read more »

Tom Rolinson Lands Role in Top CBBC Show

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Tom Robinson, born on 25 May 1997 in Blackpool, is a television actor best known for his role as Ash Newman on the CBBC children’s series 4 O’Clock Club. He grew up in Thornton and attended Cardinal Allen High School in Fleetwood. In 2012, he was selected from over 900 hopefuls to play Ash, securing a main role in the popular CBBC show. Robinson starred alongside Khalil Madovi in 4 O’Clock Club, a series centred around school life and music, and later appeared in its spin-off series The 4 O’Clock Files. His character, Ash, was best friends with Josh and… Read more »

Christine McGuinness Becomes Miss Liverpool

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Christine McGuinness, born Christine Martin on 20 March 1988 in Blackpool, is an English model, television personality, and former beauty queen. She gained recognition as a cast member on The Real Housewives of Cheshire, appearing between 2018 and 2020, and has since featured on various television programmes, including The Real Full Monty and The Games. In 2021, she took part in a BBC documentary alongside her then-husband, Paddy McGuinness, to raise awareness about autism. Her early life was marked by challenges, including sexual abuse by a family member and her father’s struggle with heroin addiction. She pursued a career in… Read more »

Danny Howard Wins BBC Radio 1 Role as Superstar DJ

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Danny Howard, born on 14 July 1987 in Blackpool, is a British DJ, dance music producer, and the current host of Radio 1’s Dance Party. He studied sport and exercise science at Edge Hill University, where he also began developing his career as a DJ. During his time at university, he held a residency at The Syndicate, one of the UK’s largest nightclubs, based in Blackpool. Following his studies, he spent three months DJing for Ministry of Sound in Egypt, gaining further experience in the industry. Howard’s breakthrough came in August 2011, when he won the BBC Radio 1 Superstar… Read more »