Earlier this week the town's tourism chiefs announced that Kay, who holidayed in the resort as a child, would be given the honour of turning on the lights.
But then 24 hours later, on Thursday, it was announced that while Kay would appear as part of the celebrity line-up at the Big Switch On, it would be the BBC's National Lottery host Dale Winton who would flick the switch.
According to reports, Winton got the vote because Kay is not a BBC-contracted performer and the ceremony was broadcast on Radio 2.
Chance
On stage at the event last night, during a "special guest appearance", Kay told the 25,000 crowd that it had been his "dream" to switch on the illuminations and that when he was asked he had jumped at the chance.
But that excitement appeared to have turned sour, when he told the crowd how he had been lined up to do it on Wednesday, but then on Thursday told that he was not doing it.Last night, imploring them to cheer him back on stage to help switch on the lights, he said: "I wanted to switch on the lights and if Dale will let me I'll come on and do it with him, if that's okay with you."
But his jokey appeal appeared to fall on deaf ears as Winton turned on the lights alone.
He said: "This is fantastic. I have to say, no word of a lie, this is the best illuminations in the world. And I am so privileged to be here."
And following the countdown to the switch-on, he said: "I love you Blackpool."
Keating
Thousands of people had turned out for the switch-on - after being treated to a show that included The Zutons, Ronan Keating, Heather Small and Duncan James - which has become the highlight of the town's calendar.
Leader of Blackpool Council Coun Roy Fisher said: "This is incredibly important year for Blackpool and the switch-on is as always, the biggest and brightest event in the town's calendar.
"This is the biggest A list line up we have ever had and it has attracted a very impressive turnout. I would encourage everyone to come and see the Illuminations - it's a fabulous free show and there is something for everyone."
Fibre-optics
Now featuring hi-tech fibre-optics, lasers and video projection as well as traditional bulbs the staggering display is very different to the town's first Illuminations 127 years ago, when the tide made the lights go out because the water leaked into the cast iron wiring pipes on the seafront.
The centrepiece to this year's illuminations is a billboard-sized version on Picasso's Guernica, depicting the massacre of a Basque Spanish town in the 1930's, next to a 50-foot missile.
According to a council spokesman the scenes of war are designed to inspire peace.
And among the highlights of this year's light show with be a 110ft "Green Machine", which will be powered entirely by wind and solar energy, and feature families playing and taking healthy exercise. That could go some way to keeping down the Illuminations' energy consumption to just under one million kilowatt hours, and electricity bills of "only" é50,000.
Organisers stress there's fun for all the family with more traditional light shows for the kids, as well as lights devoted to Postman Pat and Beatrix Potter.
This year's 66 nights of 1million lights promises to be bigger and better than ever, costing a record é2.4million to put up.
Check out a video of the switch on, below. Tweet
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What an absolute discrace that dale winton was chosen over peter kay to switch the lights on,theres just no comparison is there,the bbc should have asked us the license payers to decide! how many would have chosen kay over a non talent like winton?
I'm afraid Peter Kay now believes his own hype and has lost touch with reality.Not surprising really when everyone around him is telling him how good he is.All he does now is keep repeating the same old corny jokes or gatecrashing concerts at the MEN.
Still he thinks he is a world class actor now so we will no doubt have to endure him for a while longer.
what are these losers at the BBC doing not letting peter Kay help switch on the Blackpool lights. it was one of his ambtions to do it.
Peter if ya should read this dont work form em again.
Never mind Peter, suppose Dale only got the job becuase of his vast experience of being surrounded by bright illuminated lights.
sounds like blackpool tourist board rolled over on this one, question now is who actually runs blackpool? the council or the bbc???.
i would prefer peter kay as he is funny and talented, dale wint on is well orange and bland.
Shame on you Blackpool & the BBC. Peter Kay's a Northern Lad born & bred. No disrespect to Dale Winton, but when you've got very talented home grown Performers why do you need to look elsewhere.
One things for sure, the next time your on tour Pete I'll be one of the peeps in the crowd laughing. A tad more than can be said of Mr Winton.
Sod Blackpool.
Memo to Peter Kay.
Get over it.We are all sick of your childish antics anyway.
Is anybody else sick of the sight of Mr Kay?
If he's not appearing on stage at the arena, butting in on someones show as if he's the main event he's sulking at not getting his own way.
The north west does not revolve around Peter Kay.
Garlic Bread? Whatever....
So, Peter Kay used to holiday in the resort as a child, and had Dale Winton ever heard of the place before his BBC masters told him to 'jump through hoops'? Probably not.
Not the best advertisement for Blackpool is it. Slap one of your own in the face and let the southern limelight lovers hog the glory.
Nice one Blackpool - not!
I'm behind peter kay on this one.he should have turned the lights on a northerner.
Poor Peter "Man-of-the-people" Kay. I'm sure he's very disappointed not to have turned on the Illuminations. Nearly as disappointed as the fans who bought his last Live DVD from the arena to discover it was the same show as on the previous one from Bolton. Classy Peter. Really Classy. Mum wants a bungalow? More like Mum wants Buckingham Palace.
P1 Manchester Evening News on a day to be confirmed;
HEADLINE reads;
Bolton funny man Peter Kay
STORY reads;
Bolton funny man Peter Kay...er that's it.
(See pages 1 - 88 for more and online.)
Only a matter of time before this is a genuine MEN story, I'd say. Can't you put this droner out to editorial grass for a month or three? Poor old Pete never got the Blackpool lights gig - it's a good sign; it's a clue to how far down you've gone if you actually get to flick the switch. There's only one thing worse than a professional northerner - that's Peter Kay!!!