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Wallace and Gromit in bid to revamp Blackpool as a grand day out Wallace and Gromit ride in to revamp Blackpool as a grand day out
(35 minutes later)
Two newly-appointed figureheads of a campaign to breathe fresh life into English tourism are to start working next week in Blackpool – the Lancashire seaside town that, despite its long reputation as a holiday resort, has been struggling to update its appeal. Two newly appointed figureheads of a campaign to breathe fresh life into English tourism are to start working next week in Blackpool – the Lancashire seaside town that, despite its long reputation as a holiday resort, has been struggling to update its appeal.
On Wednesday Wallace and Gromit, the Oscar-winning stars of a series of Aardman Animations, are to attend the launch of the world's first ride to be themed around their adventures in the films A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave. Their creator Nick Park will be at their side as visitors try out the Thrill-O-Matic, the £5.25m new jewel in the crown of the vintage Blackpool Pleasure Beach amusement park. On Wednesday Wallace and Gromit, the stars of a Oscar-winning series by Aardman Animations, are to attend the launch of the world's first theme park ride to be based on their adventures in the films A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave. Their creator, Nick Park, will be at their side as visitors try out the Thrill-O-Matic, the £5.25m new jewel in the crown of the Blackpool Pleasure Beach amusement park.
"We have the perfect marriage between Wallace and Gromit and Blackpool Pleasure Beach," said Park ahead of the opening. "I grew up in Preston, which is just down the road, so Blackpool feels like a natural home for Wallace and Gromit." "I grew up in Preston, which is just down the road, so Blackpool feels like a natural home for Wallace and Gromit," said Park.
The ride – the result of three years of planning from Aardman and the amusement park staff – it will take passengers, seated in a giant slipper, through key scenes from the films, including A Matter of Loaf and Death and The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. The park promises lots of special effects and some careful detailing, such as a holiday brochure to the moon and functioning representations of some of the contraptions invented by Wallace. Themed goods, including cheese-flavoured Blackpool "Moon Rock" and modelling clay kits, will inevitably be sold in the first Wallace and Gromit merchandise shop too. The ride – the result of three years of planning by Aardman and the amusement park staff – will take passengers, seated in a giant slipper, through key scenes from the films, including A Matter of Loaf and Death and The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. The park promises lots of special effects and some careful detailing, such as a holiday brochure to the moon and functioning representations of some of the contraptions invented by Wallace. Themed goods, including cheese-flavoured Blackpool "Moon Rock" and modelling clay kits, will be sold in the first Wallace and Gromit merchandise shop too.
Park revealed his plan to build a ride at Blackpool when he appeared on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2010. "It is not going to be a hair-raising, terrifying ride; it is a family-friendly ride. It's nice because they are a family-run business and Blackpool is just down the road. I used to go down there as a kid for the switching on of the lights and so it feels right," he said.Park revealed his plan to build a ride at Blackpool when he appeared on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2010. "It is not going to be a hair-raising, terrifying ride; it is a family-friendly ride. It's nice because they are a family-run business and Blackpool is just down the road. I used to go down there as a kid for the switching on of the lights and so it feels right," he said.
The Thrill-O-Matic ride replaces the Gold Mine run. Some veteran fans of the Pleasure Beach have been reluctant to see change – mourning the passing of the Blue Grotto cafe, as well as favourite old rides such as Turtle Chase and the Whip, both replaced during the modernising reign of managing director Amanda Thompson, great-granddaughter of William G Bean, the man who founded the 42-acre theme park in 1896. The Thrill-O-Matic ride replaces the Gold Mine run. Some veteran fans of the Pleasure Beach have been reluctant to see change – mourning the passing of the Blue Grotto cafe, as well as favourite old rides such as Turtle Chase and the Whip. Both were replaced during the modernising reign of the managing director, Amanda Thompson, great-granddaughter of William G Bean who founded the 17-hectare (42-acre) theme park in 1896.
The Aardman animator chose the site of the first Wallace and Gromit fun ride in the face of lucrative competing offers from around the world and its launch this week will also mark the start of a crusading English summer for his two best-known creations. The Aardman animator chose the site of the first Wallace and Gromit fun ride amid competing offers from around the world. Its launch will also mark the start of a crusading English summer for his two best-known creations.
For Wallace and Gromit are about to step into the shoes of celebrities Julie Walters, Judi Dench, Jamie Oliver, Stephen Fry and Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint, who have all fronted campaigns to encourage people to holiday at home in England in the last couple of years. A television advertisement will air early next month that will see the intrepid animated characters travelling around the country in their trademark motorbike and sidecar on a road trip intended to highlight tourist attractions. For Wallace and Gromit are about to follow the likes of Julie Walters, Judi Dench, Jamie Oliver, Stephen Fry and Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint, and front campaigns to encourage people to holiday at home in England. A television advert will be broadcast early next month that will see the animated characters travelling around England in their trademark motorbike and sidecar on a road trip intended to highlight tourist attractions.
VisitEngland, the national tourist board, has recruited the duo to inspire Britons to take a "staycation" this year in a £4.5m government-funded push called Great Adventure. Next Sunday afternoon, Wallace and Gromit will be visiting the National Space Centre in Leicester, reflecting Wallace's interest in space travel, while other destinations are expected to emphasise the importance of the British cheese industry. The VisitEngland tourist board has recruited the duo to inspire Britons to take a "staycation" this year in a £4.5m government-funded push called Great Adventure. Next Sunday afternoon, Wallace and Gromit will be visiting the National Space Centre in Leicester, reflecting Wallace's interest in space travel, while other destinations are expected to emphasise the importance of the British cheese industry.
According to James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEngland, Wallace and Gromit are "a quintessentially English double-act with universal appeal at home and abroad". According to James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEngland, Wallace and Gromit are "a quintessentially English double-act with universal appeal at home and abroad.
"We hope this ad, which I think breaks the mould of cliche tourism ads, will capture the imagination of Britons to inspire them to visit their local travel agent and book a break at home this year," he added. "We hope this ad, which I think breaks the mould of cliche tourism ads, will capture the imagination of Britons to inspire them to visit their local travel agent and book a break at home this year."
The campaign is the second part of Holidays at Home are GREAT, a government-funded strategy launched last year and credited with generating £300m in additional tourism spend. The campaign is the second part of Holidays at Home are GREAT, a government-funded strategy launched last year and credited with generating £300m in additional tourism spending.
"The coup of landing Wallace & Gromit for the campaign's second push is great news," said tourism minister Hugh Robertson. "Their ad will no doubt capture the imagination, encourage people to have a fresh look at what England as a holiday destination has to offer and boost domestic tourism further." "The coup of landing Wallace & Gromit for the campaign's second push is great news," said the tourism minister, Hugh Robertson. "Their ad will no doubt capture the imagination, encourage people to have a fresh look at what England as a holiday destination has to offer and boost domestic tourism further."
And if anywhere needs a boost it is Blackpool, thought to have the highest level of youth unemployment in the north-west of England. The numbers of people claiming jobseeker's allowance in the town may have dropped from 6,226 in January this year to 6,179 in February, but there are thousands of young people hoping to get seasonal work at its tourist attractions this summer. And if anywhere needs a boost it is Blackpool, thought to have the highest level of youth unemployment in the north-west of England. The numbers of residents claiming jobseeker's allowance may have decreased from 6,226 in January to 6,179 in February, but there are thousands of young people hoping to get seasonal work at its tourist attractions this summer.
The town also faces a threat to its image as a safe place to sunbathe and swim, or ride a donkey, as it waits to hear whether the water quality of the sea is about to earn it a bathing ban.The town also faces a threat to its image as a safe place to sunbathe and swim, or ride a donkey, as it waits to hear whether the water quality of the sea is about to earn it a bathing ban.
Two years ago another of the town's traditional attractions, the illuminations along its lengthy promenade, were also tarnished by accusations from Blackpool businesses that the council was scrimping on bulbs and had failed to repair storm damage. The town's annual illuminations have a history dating back to 1879, when "artificial sunshine" was first created by eight arc lamps, the first electric street lights in the country. In 1912 a more elaborate display was put on for a royal visit and spectacular lighting displays became the established way of extending the holiday season into dark autumn nights. Two years ago another of the town's traditional attractions, the illuminations along its lengthy promenade, were also tarnished by accusations from Blackpool businesses that the council were was scrimping on bulbs and had failed to repair storm damage
For Thompson, Park's decision to put his faith in Blackpool is crucial. For Thompson, Park's decision to put his faith in Blackpool is crucial. "We are very proud of the ride and we know that families will want to ride it again and again to see all their favourite characters," she said.
"Wallace & Gromit have a special place in the heart of lots of people so we thought it would be an ideal fit to have their first ride here at Blackpool Pleasure Beach," she said. "We are very proud of the ride and we know that families will want to ride it again and again to see all their favourite characters." Later this summer 1.5-metre (5ft) tall Gromits will appear on the streets of Bristol – where Aardman is based. Gromit Unleashed exhibition runs for 10 weeks from July, after which the sculptures, which have been designed and created by invited artists, will be auctioned to raise funds for the Bristol Children's Hospital Charity.
Later this summer Park has also licensed a public art exhibition deploying giant fibreglass sculptures of Gromit around the city of Bristol, where Aardman Animations is based. Gromit Unleashed will see 5ft tall Gromits, each individually designed and created by invited artists, out on the streets of Bristol and the surrounding area for 10 weeks from July.
At the end of the exhibition the sculptures will be auctioned to raise funds for Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal in support of Bristol Children's Hospital Charity.
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