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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Hannah Al-Othman, North of England correspondent

‘Where design gets to take its bra off’: Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen on his 20 years with the Blackpool Illuminations

Blackpool Laurence LlewelynBowen London
Street illuminated with colourful lights with Blackpool Tower lit up in the background
‘The British seaside does have an extraordinary place in everybody’s holiday legacy,’ Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen said. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

When the pop star Olly Murs switches on Blackpool’s famous Illuminations next weekend, it will continue a tradition that has endured for almost a century and a half.

The Lancashire town was first lit up by twinkling bulbs 146 years ago – 12 months before Thomas Edison even patented the electric lightbulb.

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