Switch On with Alan Carr

Blackpool’s big ‘switch-on’ happened last month. It’s that time when the entire Golden Mile is even more colourful than usual. Blackpool Illuminations have become a bit of a tradition in my household and every year we pile in the car and make our way to the west coast’s most glorious (and gay friendly) seaside town.

Radio 2 where sponsoring the event and a host of stars had gathered to help Alan Carr press a knob. OK, that’s me being a bit cheeky; he never needs any help from what I gather. JLS were on hand, and needless to say, the girls and a few lads, were screaming their lungs out as they took the stage. Alan thought all the screaming was for him and wondered if anyone had told the girls they were barking up the wrong tree. The switch-on is always a great night and huge crowds fill the entire town… that then continues right through until the 8th November… so don’t miss out on this de-LIGHT-ful extravaganza. Sorry.
Alan is a mate of mine so, after he’d done his duty he dragged me along to the after show party. We jumped into the waiting car along with Kate Thornton – she was on the phone to her mum who was saying she’d just heard her on the radio, which I thought was rather sweet.
Once we’d reached our destination, The Tower Ballroom, we jumped out of the car but couldn’t find the correct entrance – it was like being in a siege situation as everybody was trying to get Alan’s autograph.

Laurence Llewelyn Bowen was there, whom I’ve met several times in the past and always found him a bit aloof. Once Alan had introduced me to him, he seemed to take more interest in who I was and what I did. Funny that! Boxer Ricky Hatton was his usual fun and joyful self but folk were taking the mickey out of him, as he’s looking a bit ‘chunky’ at the moment. However, I know from previous meetings with the ‘Hitman’ that he can put the weight on and take it off with relative ease.

After a while Alan said, “Terry take me to one of these gay places around town” So I called Basil Newby owner of the Flying Handbag, Flamingo and really… he’s Mr Blackpool… to check if it was OK to bring a few people along. What started out as just 5 of us ended up being 30. Later, in Flamingo Alan was recognised and he was very accommodating and posed for photos with all the fans who gathered around him. Still, he ended up dancing the night away with singer Paloma Faith (who is going to be BIG) not caring at all. I don’t know where he gets the energy.

I’ve never avidly watched Big Brother before but this time around, I was addicted as I knew some of the housemates –Rodrigo, Charlie and David. Charlie, who was a Mr Gay UK finalist a couple of years ago and Rodrigo, who comes into Bar Fibre in Leeds.

I got a surprise call from Charlie when he came out of the house, he rang up to thank me for some photos I’d done of him before he went into the house. He said they helped him with his confidence, which in turn helped at the auditions to get into Big Brother. I thought that was a lovely thing for him to do.

So, having a few friends round for Sunday lunch recently I invited him and Rodrigo. They were both lovely and it was bizarre as all the other guests wanted to have their photo taken with them. It must be a very strange feeling coming out of Big Brother and everyone knows who you are and knows so much about you. Some one said that it was like meeting your best mates who’d been away for a while, even though they had never met them before. Both of them said they felt lonely since leaving the house –waking up without all the other housemates around was weird for them.

I’m just waiting for the call to take part in the last Big Brother… I think I’d be great… although I’d want my own toilet.