THE pressure will be on at the Big Switch On when the festive season officially begins in Blackburn tomorrow.

For among the host of great entertainment lined-up for the Christmas lights switch-on in the town centre will be a band formed by tutors at Blackburn’s newest music school – McNally Music Tuition.

Six tutors from the Sudell Cross-based school will be performing live at the start of over two-and-half hours entertainment which includes Britain’s Got Talent judge and pop star Alesha Dixon, East Lancashire stars fromBritain’s Got Talent Ella Shaw and Henry Gallagher and King of the Jungle, Carl Fogarty.

Alesha Dixon found fame in the all-female R&B/garage trio Mis-Teeq.

In 2007, she won Strictly Come Dancing and two years later she became a judge on the seventh series of the programme, replacing Arlene Phillips.

After the ninth series she quit Strictly to become a judge on Britain’s Got Talent.

Alesha released her latest single The Way We Are in the summer.

Philip McNally, owner of the music school, said: “All our tutors are in various bands or connected with the music business and we just thought it would be good for us get involved in this great event. I think that their pupils will be keeping a critical eye on how they do.”

MMT takes would-be musicians of all ages – they currently have students from primary school age to those in their 80s.

“The emphasis is on people having fun with their music,” said Philip.

Tomorrow night the event, organised by Blackburn BID, starts at 4.30pm and culminates in the switch-on at 7pm.

Children’s TV favourites The Clangers will be making special appearances at The Mall Blackburn and at the market during the afternoon before joining a host of celebrities on the main stage in King WIlliam Street outside the town hall.

The free event will be hosted by radio personality and Phoenix Nights star Ted Robbins and also appearing will be former X Factor and I’m A Celebrity contestant Jake Quickenden.

There will also be guest appearances from soap stars Peter Gunn and Alex Bain who is well known for his portrayal of Simon Barlow on Coronation Street.

Shops in the Mall Blackburn will stay open until 8pm for the switch-on to mark the beginning of late night shopping every Thursday in the lead up to Christmas.

A selected number of food stalls based in Blackburn Market will also be open on the night until 6.30pm.