Tez Ilyas announced as guest presenter of Lancashire Tourism Awards

Marketing Lancashire is delighted to announce that Blackburn-born comedian Tez Ilyas is to present the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2021, which will be held on Wednesday 2 February at Stanley House Hotel & Spa, supported by Headline Sponsor UCLan and Destination Sponsor Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

Tez Ilyas is one the most celebrated stars in British comedy. Credit highlights include Live at The Apollo, The Last Leg, Mock the Week, Live From the BBC, The Chris Ramsey Show, Man Like Mobeen, Live from the Comedy Store, Roast Battle and fronting his own Channel 4 show, The Tez O’Clock Show, to huge critical acclaim. “Radiantly entertaining” (The Times).

Last year Tez released his hotly anticipated debut novel The Secret Diary of a British Muslim Aged 13 3/4, the book is about his life growing up in Blackburn and how this influenced his comedy. The publication was quickly snapped up for scripted adaptation. His mammoth Vicked Tour sold thousands of tickets, including a sell-out performance in his home town in November 2021, at King George’s Hall. Audiences have hailed this landmark show as Tez’s best work to date.

Commenting on presenting the Lancashire Tourism Awards Tez Ilyas said, “As a Lancashire lad who takes pride in his county, I am absolutely delighted to be hosting this year’s Lancashire Tourism Awards and I’m really looking forward to getting the inside scoop so I can plan my next weekend away.”

Tez, like many Lancastrians, is also supporting Blackburn’s bid for city status, as part of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year.

Rachel McQueen, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire said, “We’re delighted that such a proud Lancastrian will be helping us celebrate the county’s very best in tourism at Stanley House Hotel & Spa. After an intense last couple of years, I’ve no doubt that Tez will be putting smiles on our faces and lifting spirits, as he shares his favourite memories of growing up in Blackburn and how the county has shaped him.

Rachel continued, “It is fantastic to have Blackburn with Darwen Council supporting the awards once again.  Blackburn has grown and reinvented itself over the years, embracing new cultures and driving an ambitious future. Marketing Lancashire is actively supporting #BackingBlackburn in its bid to be named a city this year.”

Councillor Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Growth and Development, commenting on the awards said: “We are delighted to be once again sponsoring the Lancashire Tourism Awards as Destination Sponsor.

“While the industry faced one of its toughest years in 2021, we saw some fantastic work right across Lancashire. Here in Blackburn with Darwen, we were incredibly proud to host the international CP Company exhibition curated by talented Adidas designer, Gary Aspden, as part of the British Textile Biennial.

“And this year, we’ll see the return of the award-winning National Festival of Making – the biggest free festival in the whole country – as well as the new Summerfest music event at Blackburn Rovers, the ever-popular Restricted Rocks weekend and Darwen Live, which will coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It promises to be a fantastic summer for the borough and our county.

“I’d like to congratulate all of the Lancashire Tourism Awards finalists and wish them all the very best for the night.”

The event is also supported by: Creative Council, Dewlay, DFC Limited, Ewood Experience at Blackburn Rovers, insight6, Lancashire Business View, Lancashire Life, Links Signs and Graphics, Northern Print Distribution LTD and Stanley House Hotel & Spa.

For more information on the finalists go to lancashiretourismawards.com and enjoy the night as it unfolds by following #LTA21 on twitter.