Councillor hits back at Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen in Illuminations row

A Blackpool councillor has hit back at TV personality and Illuminations designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen in an ongoing row over the town’s famous lights display.

In October, Councillor Paul Galley, leader of Blackpool’s Conservative Group, criticised the designer’s work on the Illuminations and said the town deserved better.

He said money that should have been used to bring colour, energy and excitement back to the world-famous Illuminations had instead been “squandered on a vanity project”.

One of the councillor’s targets was Llewelyn-Bowen’s 2025 addition, Lusch Puppy, a canine-themed feature. The designer also created some smoke-breathing dragons this year.

The comments prompted a response from Llewelyn-Bowen last week, in which he called the councillor “out of touch”.

The designer, who became nationally known through the TV programme Changing Rooms and has been the Creative Director of the Illuminations since 2010, said the councillor wanted to keep looking backwards.

Llewelyn-Bowen told the BBC: “I’ve always ensured that we keep the heritage as part of the display, I think that’s a very important commitment to the legacy, but I love the idea of moving forward.

“We are different people now and I think it’s funny that he (Mr Galley) thinks we should keep the clock turned back.

“I’ve strived right the way through my tenure to make sure we are embracing modern technology and I absolutely think the illuminations should always reflect the fact that all of us have different tastes.”

But this week Cllr Galley said: “Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen says I’m ‘out of touch’ for questioning his illuminations. If standing up for Blackpool residents and visitors makes me out of touch, I’ll wear that badge proudly, unlike dogs in dresses, which many feel belong on a fashion catwalk, not the Promenade.

“Laurence tells us ‘we should all say what we feel, ‘ I’ll always listen’, before immediately declaring that the illuminations are ‘in a good place at the moment.’ That doesn’t look much like listening, it looks like shutting the conversation down the moment someone disagrees.

“More importantly, who exactly gave Mr Llewelyn-Bowen the autonomy to decide what Blackpool Illuminations should be?

“His comments raise serious questions about governance and decision-making within this Labour-run council department. The Illuminations are not a personal art exhibition they are a public attraction, paid for by taxpayers, and they should reflect Blackpool, not one individual’s taste.”

Cllr Galley’s original comments prompted a response from Cllr Lynn williams, leader of Blackpool Council, who defended Llewelyn-Bowen’s work with the Illuminations.

She said: “I and millions of others disagree with Cllr Galley. He hasn’t made known to me or anyone at the Council of anyone who holds these views, other than himself.

“I choose to promote Blackpool and our illuminations. People travel from all over to see them and we should be proud of Blackpool’s role in British culture. The history of the illuminations is innovation, entertainment and artistry.”

Blackpool Illuminations has been an annual attraction for the resort since September 1879, featuring six miles of a free lights display which this year switched on in August and will continue until Sunday, January 4, 2026.