Tim Burton Is Turning On The Blackpool Illuminations... Obviously

Tim Burton and Blackpool - not two things you’d necessarily throw together, but sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.

The veteran Hollywood director is to turn on the famous illuminations on September 4.

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Why? Well, turns out he’s a big fan of the town’s renowned Pleasure Beach, filming parts of his latest project ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children’ there in May this year.

Burton closed off swathes of the promenade for filming, covered the pavements in fake snow and did stunts at the Tower and the town’s North Pier.

It wasn’t all plain sailing, however, and he did end up in A&E with a sprained finger on one occasion, but it appears not to have soured him to the delights of the town.

Blackpool council’s deputy leader Gillian Campbell said: “Having one of the most famous film directors in the world turn on the Blackpool Illuminations is a major coup and shows the high regard the town is held in the hearts of our famous visitors.

“We know he is a huge fan of Blackpool and we are delighted that he has agreed to switch the Illuminations on for us on the biggest night of Blackpool’s year. This is gearing up to be one of the best switch-on events we have ever had.”

Burton joins an eminent group of celebs and dignitaries to have switched on the illuminations, among them Robbie Williams, the Bee Gees, Shirley Bassey, Frank Bruno, Status Quo and last year, Peter Kay.

Red Rum turned them on – presumably with his hooves – in 1977.

Thanks to Burton’s movie, a host of incongruous stars descended on the seaside town, including Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Green and Asa Butterfield.

Due out in March next year, it also stars Allison Janney, Chris O'Dowd, Terence Stamp and Dame Judi Dench, the action being adapted from the novel by Ransom Riggs.

It’s not the first time that Burton has been found in Blackpool either.

He filmed parts of the music video for The Killers’ Here With Me there too.

Image credits: PA/Rex Features/Twitter