EAST Lancashire residents could catch a glimpse of Hollywood royalty at this year's Blackpool Illuminations switch on.

Legendary film director, Tim Burton, has confirmed he will be switching on the lights spectacular on Friday, September 4.

As a a regular visitor to Blackpool in recent years, Burton chose to shoot scenes for US band The Killers music video “Here with Me” and his latest film, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” in the resort.

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The switch-on will take place on the Tower Festival Headland following a star-studded concert with performances from a host of stars including The Vamps, Lawson and Professor Green.

Burton, who has previously referred to himself as Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s biggest fan, will turn on this year’s illuminations in front of a crowd of 20,000 people.

Earlier this year, the director shot scenes for his upcoming film Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children in Blackpool.

Hollywood A-lister, Samuel L Jackson, was one of the cast that filmed in scenes on the Promenade and inside The Blackpool Tower.

The film, set to be released early next year, will showcase Blackpool to a world-wide audience.

The Friday night Switch-On concert marks the start of a three-day festival of entertainment on the Tower Festival Headland entitled Blackpool iFest.

CBBC will take over the arena on the Saturday morning to broadcast their Saturday Shout Out show live.

Then on Saturday evening, Pat Sharp will host a night of vintage music headlined by Bananarama followed by a comedy extravaganza on Sunday night hosted by Al Murray – The Pub Landlord.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, deputy leader of Blackpool Council, said: “Having one of the most famous film directors in the world turn on the Blackpool Illuminations is a major coup.”

The lucky recipients of the 15,000 free tickets to the Friday night concert have now been issued with wristbands but there are still some tickets up for grabs if people by a £30 weekend ticket giving them access to each of three nights.

To buy tickets, go to seetick ets.com or telephone 0871 220 0260, ticketmaster.co.uk/ifest or direct from visitblackpool.com/shop or telephone 01253 478222.