EastEnders’ Cheryl Fergison addresses ill-timed Blackpool Tower tribute after fire gaffe

Former EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison has addressed her viral tribute about Blackpool Tower after the iconic landmark appeared to be on fire this week. Firefighters were called to reports of a blaze coming from a metal section at the top of the tower, which was later determined by the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service as loose orange netting.

Unaware of the update at the time, Cheryl, 58, shared a picture in front of the tower on Thursday evening, writing: “May the tower stand tall forever in Blackpool.” Shortly after, many of the actress’ 87,000 followers flocked to her post to tell her about the misunderstanding.

One wrote: “It’s not on fire Cheryl it was netting.” A second commented: “It’s not a fire, it was a mistake,” while a third joked: “This aged well.”

Soon to realise there was no fire, the actress, who played Heather Trott on the BBC soap, shared a video addressing her original tribute. She shared: “So, it was just orange netting and not a fire at Blackpool Tower.

“Do you know what folks, my little heart was bleeding because I thought, there can’t be a fire in our tower, no way. I mean, that’s been standing since the 1800s, come on.

“And, it’s iconic, it’s what makes my heart beat every time I go towards home, it’s there and I see it in the distance.

“So, forgive me for being passionate about the Blackpool Tower, I love it and I’m so happy that it wasn’t a fire and that everybody is OK and the building is good. Happy days.”

Cheryl went on to clarify that the picture shared with her fans was taken back in the summer, when she was not in panto.

The actress is currently performing in the Wizard Of Oz in Peterborough, but is to return back to her hometown soon.

She added: “It’s not a panto near Blackpool, it’s in Peterborough, but very soon I will be near Blackpool where I live and I will go and visit that tower, because I love it.”

Concluding her latest video, she added: “Is there anything else anyone wants to rip me apart about?”

On Thursday afternoon, a Blackpool Tower spokesperson told media: “We can confirm that the fire brigade have established that there is no fire.

“Our well-rehearsed emergency procedures were implemented, and we can confirm that what looked like a fire from a distance was in fact lights on a reflective netting surface at the top of the tower.”

Ahead of the confirmation, staff were told to evacuate the tower while fire fighters investigated the case.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) sent six fire engines and a rope rescue team to the scene, but it was difficult to access the top due to renovations.

With this, the National Police Air Service supported the investigation.

A helicopter from Lancashire Police later determined “orange netting” could be seen and not a fire.