Celebrity TV shows are at fever-pitch with the likes of Celebs on the Farm, Strictly Come Dancing, Bake off and MasterChef – not forgetting our top UK favourite, Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

We take a look at the stars and winners who’ve appeared on these shows and at Blackpool’s Grand Theatre over the years (or a very close connection).

From huge stars like Alan Carr to Coleen Nolan, Ruby Wax to Lorraine Chase the list is endless.

So What Links Celebrity TV Shows and Blackpool Grand

Celebrity TV… Dancing On Ice

Dancing On Ice presented by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. The show consists of celebrities and their professional partners figure skating in front of a panel of judges. The series, broadcast on ITV, from 2006 to March 2014.

In 2017, it was announced that it would return in January 2018 again with top ‘TV couple’ Schofield and Willoughby alongside backstage host, Jordan Banjo. Dancing On Ice will return 2019.

Hayley Tamaddon, winner (S5) Blackpool’s own Soapstar Superstar (she came second to Coronation Street’s Anthony Cotton) and formerly Emmerdale’s Delilah Dingle, appeared at Blackpool’s Grand theatre as Janet in Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show (Jun 07). She also returned in V Monologues (Feb 12)

Ray Quinn of X Factor fame (3^rd series, lost out to Leona Lewis) and winner of Dancing on Ice (S4) has appeared in Sunday Night At The Grand (Mar 17), and returned for Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Nov 12).

Celebrity TV Shows… Celebs On The Farm

Lorraine Chase starred in our (88) pantomime Aladdin – Actress and former model she became well known for her strong cockney accent and frequent use of cockney slang, and found fame through a series of television adverts for Campari before embarking on an acting career.

In 1980, she appeared in the ITV children’s television programme Worzel Gummidge, as the character Dolly Clothes-Peg. Dolly tried to woo the hapless scarecrow Worzel, played by Jon Pertwee, but he spurned her in favour of his unrequited love affair with Aunt Sally, played by Una Stubbs.

She played the role of Steph Forsythe in ITV soap opera Emmerdale from 2002 to 2006.

In February 2017, she appeared as one of the four Celebs in the travelogue ‘Barging Loving Celebs’ (with Debbie McGee, Nigel Havers and Simon Callow).

Celebrity TV… Britain’s Got Talent

David Walliams famed for Britain’s Got Talent and rumoured to be helping on this year’s X Factor is one of the UK’s is a British comedian, actor, author, and presenter known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the BBC One sketch show Little Britain.

Since 2012, Walliams has been a judge on the ITV talent show Britain’s Got Talent. He wrote and starred in two series of the BBC One sitcom Big School, playing the role of chemistry teacher Keith Church.

Walliams is also a writer of children’s books. He has sold more than 25 million copies and his books have been translated into 53 languages. He has been described as “the fastest growing children’s author in the UK” and his literary style has been compared to that of Roald Dahl. Walliams’ Gangsta Granny, from the acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories, appeared at Blackpool’s Grand (Apr/May 16).

Celebrity TV… Strictly Come Dancing

Dancing Fever-pitch has been reached! This year’s Strictly Come Dancing stars announced including; Charles Venn (EastEnders), Susannah Constantine (TV presenter, What Not to Wear, with Trinny Woodall), Lauren Steadman (Double World Champion paratriathlete experienced her first Paralympic Games in Beijing at the age of 14 and is currently a five-time European Champion), Lee Ryan (the second band member to appear on Strictly. Four-piece Blue have sold over 15 million records, bagged three number one albums and played to crowds all over the globe.), Comic Seann Walsh, Katie Piper (TV Presenter and former Model), Faye Tozer (Steps), Danny John-Jules (Cat from Red Dwarf, Dwayne from Death in Paradise), Joe Sugg (YouTube star and vlogger), Vick Hope (Capital FM’s breakfast show), Graeme Swann (England cricketer), Dr Ranj Singh (ITVs This Morning’s Dr), Stacey Dooley (Stacey Dooley Investigates), Ashley Roberts (Pussycat Doll, and in 2012 appeared in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here), and Kate Silverton (fronted several news programmes on the BBC since 2005, including Breakfast and News at Ten).

Strictly Come Dancing has run on BBC One since 15 May 2004.

Stars that have appeared at Blackpool’s Grand over the 14 years include; Brendan Cole who will appear in All Night Long this October, Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace who appeared twice including The Last Tango (Jun/Jul 16) and Tango Moderno (Oct 17). Professional dancers Katya Virshilas and Jared Murillo (Jul/Aug 15) also appeared in the summer Spirit Productuions hit Puttin’ On The Ritz.

Celebrity partners Lisa Riley and Lesley Joseph both appeared in V Monologues (2009), Lisa said ‘The Blackpool Grand is a fabulous theatre and it has always been an ambition of mine.’

Celebrity TV… Celebrity Master Chef

Who is cooking tonight? Celebrity MasterChef returns for another year, with a new batch of famous faces in the kitchen. Stars hope to impress Gregg Wallace, John Torode and special guests along the way to be crowned top chef.

Anita Harris who’s appeared in the 2018 series of Celebrity Master Chef appeared at the Grand in Rehearsal For A Murder (16). Harris sang with the Cliff Adams Singers and had a number of chart hits in the 60s. She appeared in the Carry On films Follow That Camel and Carry On Doctor. And in 2018 appeared in ITV’s Last Laugh in Vegas alongside other Blackpool Grand greats including Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball, Bernie Clifton, Mick Miller and Su Pollard.

The previous year in Celebrity MasterChef 2017, starred CBBC Prank Patrol presenter Barney Harwood. He also co-presented Basil’s Swap Shop, alongside Basil Brush. In 2011 (to Sept 2017) it was announced Harwood would be a new presenter on BBC’s Blue Peter, taking over from Joel Defries. Barney departed Blue Peter in September 2017.

Harwood appeared in Pantomime twice at Blackpool’s Grand – Peter Pan (09/10) and returning in  (16/17) Aladdin.

Other stars that have appeared in Celebrity MasterChef and at Blackpool’s Grand include; Shelia Furguson, Midge Ure, Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson, Vicki Michelle, Stephen K Amos, Gareth Gates, Anne Charleston, Christopher Biggins, Ken Morley, Alex Fern, Tommy Cannon, Syd Little and Jimmy Osmond – American singer, actor, and businessman. He is the youngest member of the sibling musical group the Osmonds.

Celebrity TV… Celebrity Come Dine With Me

Christopher Biggins actor and television presenter is best known for his role as Luke Warm in Porridge.

Biggins took part in an episode of Celebrity Come Dine With Me (Feb 09). As Winner he won the  £1,000 for his chosen charity. In the same year he appeared at Blackpool Grand in The Producers (Jul 09).

However, Biggins first ‘celebrity’ style TV Show was the seventh series of I’m a Celebrity…Me Out of Here! in 2007. He was voted the winner of the show.

He has since starred in the second series of Channel 4’s Celebrity Five Go To… in May 2011 where celebrities visited South Africa. In 2013, he appeared on The Celebrity Chase, where he was the first person in the history of the show to answer all 6 questions correctly while going for a higher offer. The next year (2014), he took part in the celebrity cookery programme Celebrity MasterChef, and in a celebrity edition of Catchphrase.

On 28 July 2016, Biggins entered the Celebrity Big Brother house to participate in its eighteenth series but was controversially removed.

Celebrity TV… The Real Marigold Hotel

Syd Little (born Cyril Mead) comedian and most known for being the straight man in the double-act Little and Large, with Eddie Large.

A Blackpudlian, Little started as a singer and guitarist in pubs before teaming up with Large. The double act Little and Large won Opportunity Knocks in 1971 and this led to a hugely successful 20 year television career.

Little appeared on Shooting Stars, until 2005 when he took part in the reality television show Trust Me I’m A Holiday Rep. He also appeared in The Bob Monkhouse Show, Wogan and Comedy Map of Britain.

In 2015, Little took part in BBC One’s Celebrity MasterChef and made it through to the third round.

Most recently Little is starring in the second series of The Real Marigold Hotel (18).

Little appeared with Eddie Large at Blackpool’s Grand in Rock With Laughter in the summer of 1990.

Celebrity TV… I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!

Joe Pasquale, comedian, actor and television presenter, is known for being crowned “King of the Jungle”, in the fourth series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2004.

In 2013, Pasquale participating in the eighth series of Dancing on Ice, with professional Vicky Ogden. The following year Pasquale partook in the show again in an All Stars series.

Pasquale is known for the naturally high pitch of his voice – He has also hosted the revived version of the game show The Price is Right.

Joe Pasquale has appeared too many times to mention at Blackpools Grand including; the big hit Summer Season show Blackpool’s Comedy Bonanza (98) and in a one man show Joe Pasquale (13).

Other participants of I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! have include; Christopher Biggins (Series 7 Winner) and Antony Costa (Series 5).

Celebrity TV… The Great Celebrity Bake Off (Stand Up To Cancer)

Alan Carr comedian and television personality starred in The Great Celebrity Bake Off (Stand Up To Cancer) 2018.

Carr’s breakthrough was in 2001, winning the City Life Best Newcomer of the Year and the BBC New Comedy Awards. Carr became well known for hosting The Friday Night Project with Justin Lee Collins. This led to the popular comedy chat show Alan Carr: Chatty Man. He also hosted a radio show on BBC Radio 2 The star has won two British Comedy Awards, two National Television Awards and a BAFTA TV Award.

In 2009 Carr switched on Blackpool Illuminations, then appeared at Blackpool’s Grand in a solo stand up show, Yap Yap Yap in 2015.

See 2017 Illumination Switch on here. And we take a look at our Top Ten Blackpool Illuminations Switch On.

Celebrity TV… Celebrity Big Brother

Coleen Nolan singer, television presenter and author. As a Blackpool girl, we knew them ‘The Nolans’. Now she is a regular panelist and host on the ITV chat show Loose Women (00 to 11, 13 onwards).

As a member of The Nolan’s she first performed on TV in 1974, and a member of the fab group from 1980 to 1994. They were hugely successful in Japan, winning Tokyo Music Festival (81) and a Japanese Grammy Award (92). She was a member when the group re-formed for a UK and Ireland tour (09).

In 2012 she appeared on Series 10 of Celebrity Big Brother, finishing as runner-up.

This wasn’t her first ‘Celebrity’ show however, in 2009 she competed in the fourth series of the ITV show Dancing on Ice, where she finished in fourth place. Most recently in January 2017 Nolan returned as an all-star for the 19th series and went on to win with 33% of the final vote.

Coleen appeared with The Nolans at Blackpool’s Grand In July 1980 in Midnight Matinee with co-stars John Inman, Syd Francis and again in 1989.

Coleen says ‘My favourite theatre has to be The Grand – it’s beautiful and has an amazing history. It’s a real ‘chocolate box’ theatre.’

Two other stars that have appeared in Celebrity Big Brother and at the theatre have included; Cheryl Fergusson and Amanda Barrie (Coronation Street).

Celebrity TV… The Jump

Joseph McElderry singer and songwriter appeared at Blackpool’s Grand in 2014 and 2015.

McElderry won the first ever series of The Jump in 2014. But this wasn’t his first experience of celebrity shows, after winning the sixth series of ITVs The X Factor in 2009. He was also crowned the winner of the second series of Popstar to Operastar in 2011.

To date he has released five top 20 albums – three of them reaching the UK top three, a record for a solo X Factor winner.

Celebrity TV… Celebrities Go Dating

It’s Charlotte ‘Chuffin’ Dawson the 25-year-old – daughter of the Blackpool renowned and regular Summer Season headliner Les Dawson is currently entertaining viewers in Celebs On The Farm.

Despite the show having only aired two episodes so far, ‘darling’ Charlotte has left viewers in hysterics mistaking an alpaca for a giraffe.

In a recent scene, the daughter of the late Les Dawson said: ‘is that a llama?’ before asking ‘is that a giraffe?’

Les Dawson appeared in Laugh With Les, featuring the Roly Polys and Roy Barraclough (Cissie and Ada) (84) and Run For your Wife with Eric Sykes (86).

Celebrity TV… Comic Relief Does Celebrity Apprentice / MaterChef

Ruby Wax, OBE an American actress, mental health campaigner, lecturer, and author appeared on a Comic Relief Does The [Celebrity] Apprentice (09) and MasterChef (11).

Wax appeared in her one woman show Frazzled – (Jul 18) based on her number one best seller, Mindfulness A Guide for the Frazzled.

Wax starred in the sitcom Girls on Top (85–86). She was the script editor for the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (92–12), also appearing in two episodes. Her memoirs, How Do You Want Me? (2002), reached the Sunday Times best-seller list.

Wax studied psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2013 she gained a master’s degree in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy from Oxford University. In 2015, she was appointed a Visiting Professor in Mental Health Nursing at the University of Surrey.

Blackpool Grand

Take a look at what’s on at Blackpool Grand Theatre this Autumn / Winter 20/21

Blackpool Grand set out a COVID-Community Communication Programme (CCCP) during the Coronavirus pandemic. Our aims were simple, to CONNECT, COMFORT and UPLIFT. We would Connect people by offering tutorials on communication tools like Zoom and conduct community face-to-face meetings (book readings, youth groups and more). Comfort through stories of heritage, memories and storytelling, and to Uplift visitors spirits through laughter and exercise. Please do enjoy and if you can afford to donate please do.

The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it’s possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice around COVID-19, visit the World Health Organisation. If you’re in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.