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| Blackpool Illuminations switch-on 'worst in 100 years' | Blackpool Illuminations switch-on 'worst in 100 years' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Blackpool's Illumination switch-on concert lost £372,000, organisers said. | Blackpool's Illumination switch-on concert lost £372,000, organisers said. |
| The two-day event, which saw Gary Barlow step in at the last minute, was the first time visitors were charged. | The two-day event, which saw Gary Barlow step in at the last minute, was the first time visitors were charged. |
| Marketing Blackpool, part-funded by the Labour-led council, said it decided to introduce a fee in the hope of making the event profitable within five years. | Marketing Blackpool, part-funded by the Labour-led council, said it decided to introduce a fee in the hope of making the event profitable within five years. |
| Blackpool Council's Conservative leader, Tony Williams, said it was "the worst switch-on in 100 years", but the council leader has not commented. | Blackpool Council's Conservative leader, Tony Williams, said it was "the worst switch-on in 100 years", but the council leader has not commented. |
| "Gary Barlow did a wonderful job of standing in at the last minute but the people didn't turn up and it was doomed from the start," he added. | "Gary Barlow did a wonderful job of standing in at the last minute but the people didn't turn up and it was doomed from the start," he added. |
| Taxpayer costs | Taxpayer costs |
| TV presenter Jonathan Ross flicked the switch to turn on the famous illuminations, which will shine for 73 nights until 10 November. | TV presenter Jonathan Ross flicked the switch to turn on the famous illuminations, which will shine for 73 nights until 10 November. |
| Expenditure for the event was £775,000 with income being £402,891, Marketing Blackpool said. | Expenditure for the event was £775,000 with income being £402,891, Marketing Blackpool said. |
| It said the deficit would be contained within its budget, although the cost to taxpayers for staging, production, marketing and road closures was £170,000. | It said the deficit would be contained within its budget, although the cost to taxpayers for staging, production, marketing and road closures was £170,000. |
| A spokesman said: "We appreciate that there will be questions relating to artist fees but due to confidentiality clauses we are not, for legal reasons, able to provide these." | A spokesman said: "We appreciate that there will be questions relating to artist fees but due to confidentiality clauses we are not, for legal reasons, able to provide these." |
| Irish rockers The Script were due to play at Friday's concert but withdrew citing a "serious family illness". | Irish rockers The Script were due to play at Friday's concert but withdrew citing a "serious family illness". |
| Barlow then stepped in and asked organisers to make an undisclosed donation to Children in Need. | Barlow then stepped in and asked organisers to make an undisclosed donation to Children in Need. |
| Simon Blackburn, leader of Blackpool Council, has been unavailable for comment. |