"much-repeated items from this era include the Girl Guides' campfire that got out of hand on the 1970 Christmas edition, John Noakes's report on the cleaning of Nelson's Column, and Simon Groom referring to a previous item on the production of a facsimile door knocker for Durham Cathedral which was displayed alongside the original, with the words 'what a beautiful pair of knockers'. ""Blue Peter"" was first aired on 16 October 1958. It had been commissioned to producer John Hunter Blair by Owen Reed, the head of children's programmes at the BBC, as there were no programmes for children aged"
"Trace and Leila Williams were the first presenters of ""Blue Peter"" in October 1958, and since then, there have been 37 subsequent presenters. The current presenting team comprises Radzi Chinyanganya and Lindsey Russell, who both joined the programme in 2013. Other personnel who have played roles on the show include the zoologist George Cansdale, who was the programme's first on-screen veterinarian, and Percy Thrower who was the show's gardening expert from 21 March 1974 to 23 November 1987 and was presented with a Gold ""Blue Peter"" badge shortly before he died in 1988. He was followed from 1988 until 1991"
"claimed that they still had their Blue Peter badge). During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the programme's main presenter was Gordon Clough, who would typically prepare for the programme by completing the ""Times"", ""Guardian"" and ""FT"" crosswords. Valerie Singleton and Hugh Sykes co-presented the show during the 1980s but had a difficult relationship, with Singleton admitting she threw a cup of water in his face while live on air. Singleton made a one-off return to ""PM"" on 29 February 2016 to co-present a special 'Leap Day' programme, alongside Eddie Mair, and proposed marriage to him at the end of"
"be published. She was the subject of ""This Is Your Life"" in 2001 when she was surprised by Michael Aspel. Earlier, in 1974, she had been the featured castaway on ""Desert Island Discs"". Valerie Singleton Valerie Singleton, OBE (born 9 April 1937) is an English television and radio presenter best known as a presenter of the popular children's series ""Blue Peter"" from 1962-1972. She also presented the BBC Radio 4 ""PM"" programme for ten years as well as a series of radio and television programmes on financial and business issues. She is the daughter of an ex-RAF wing commander from"
"against Frankie Fredericks and Darren Campbell and even directed an edition of the show. He also presented the Queen with a Gold Blue Peter badge when she visited the studio and remarked on presenting Her Majesty with the badge that ""she could get into the Tower of London free with it"". Thomas co-presented with Stuart Miles, Katy Hill, Konnie Huq, Matt Baker, Liz Barker and Zöe Salmon. Thomas announced his intention to leave ""Blue Peter"" in January 2005, and his last live show was aired on 25 April of that year. Thomas presented ""CBBC Proms in the Park"" in Hyde"
"and Ed Sheeran, who was presented with a gold ""Blue Peter"" badge. Former presenters returned for the show and contributed to the broadcast, including Leila Williams, Anita West, Valerie Singleton, Peter Purves, Lesley Judd, Sarah Greene, Peter Duncan, Janet Ellis, Yvette Fielding, John Leslie, Diane-Louise Jordan, Anthea Turner, Tim Vincent, Stuart Miles, Katy Hill, Richard Bacon, Konnie Huq, Simon Thomas, Liz Barker, Zöe Salmon, Andy Akinwolere, Helen Skelton, Joel Defries and Barney Harwood. Matt Baker contributed a pre-recorded message and Mark Curry was represented by a lego model as he had to cancel his contribution due to ill health. The"
"Valerie Singleton Valerie Singleton, OBE (born 9 April 1937) is an English television and radio presenter best known as a presenter of the popular children's series ""Blue Peter"" from 1962-1972. She also presented the BBC Radio 4 ""PM"" programme for ten years as well as a series of radio and television programmes on financial and business issues. She is the daughter of an ex-RAF wing commander from Hitchin, Hertfordshire, named Dennis Singleton, later an advertising manager. She was educated at Frensham Heights School in Surrey and at the independent Arts Educational School, Tring Park in Hertfordshire. Singleton wanted to be"
"""Blue Peter""'s dog Petra, a lion bust at Gloucester's Nature in Art museum, a lifesize ""Sumatran white rhino"" at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Canterbury and a 15 ft ""elephant fountain"" at Saint Louis Zoo. Other cartoons he produced include ""Bengo the Boxer puppy"" and ""Wuff, Snuff and Tuff"". William Timym William Timym, (1901–1990) was an artist whose best known work is probably the ""Bleep and Booster"" cartoons for the BBC's ""Blue Peter"". Timym (pronounced Tim) was Austrian, grew up in Vienna and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. He moved to England in 1938 because of the"
"suffered while trying for a fourth child. Away from writing and broadcasting Ellis is a Board Member of the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, a Patron of Maggie's Centres, a patron of Humanists UK, and a Council and Honorary Member of the National Youth Theatre. Ellis was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to charity and theatre. Janet Ellis Janet Michell Ellis, (born 16 September 1955) is an English television presenter, actress and writer, who is best known for presenting the BBC children's television programmes ""Blue Peter"" and ""Jigsaw"" between 1979"
"Door"", spotted his enthusiasm and talents and he was offered a regular slot. The first TV series with which he was associated was ""Country Calendar"", followed by ""Out and About"". When colour television came along, this programme was renamed ""Gardeners' World"". He became nationally known through presenting these programmes and regularly presented ""Gardeners' World"" from 1969 until 1976. He was also the gardener on the children's programme ""Blue Peter"" from 1974 until 1987, appearing in over a hundred broadcasts and establishing the Blue Peter garden at BBC TV Centre. In 1983, the Italianate garden was destroyed by vandals, ruining all"
"Yvette Fielding Yvette Paula Fielding (born 23 September 1968) is an English television presenter, producer and actress. She became the youngest presenter on ""Blue Peter"" aged 18, and one of her episodes was subsequently voted the ""Favourite ""Blue Peter"" moment"" ever. With her husband Karl Beattie, she presented the ""Most Haunted"" series on the Living channel, via their own production company, followed by ""Ghosthunting With..."", establishing Fielding as ‘first lady of the paranormal’. She has appeared in a wide range of other programmes, from ""The Wright Stuff"" to ""Through the Keyhole"" and ""I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!""."
"appearing as guests on the programme. Valerie Singleton was awarded a gold badge during a studio interview recorded for the 1990 video release ""The Best of Blue Peter, the 60's and 70's"". Her fellow presenters John Noakes and Peter Purves were given gold badges on the first programme in 2000 when the time capsule for the year 2000 was dug up. Peter Duncan was presented with a gold badge in February 2007, whilst appearing on the programme as a guest. ""Blue Peter"" badges are frequently given out to children who appear on the show. Additionally, viewers aged 6–15 can apply"
"programme was repeated on BBC Two on 20 October. The celebration was also marked by other BBC programming, including ""The One Show"" hosted by Matt Baker and former ""Blue Peter"" contributor Gabby Logan, which featured Sarah Greene, Mark Curry, Simon Thomas and Konnie Huq; ITV's ""Lorraine"", where Greene appeared with Leila Williams and Anthea Turner; and ""BBC Breakfast"" which featured Lesley Judd. A documentary entitled ""Happy Birthday Blue Peter"" was broadcast that evening on BBC Radio 2. It was hosted by Barney Harwood and featured interviews with past and present presenters, as well as members of the production team. Christopher"
"subsequently purchased and installed at Sunderland University's David Puttnam Media Centre in August 2013. When the new series started on 26 September 2011, after the usual summer break, Harwood and Skelton revealed the new look ""Blue Peter"" studio along with the new music and title sequence. Departed presenter Andy Akinwolere was not initially replaced, and for the first time in 50 years only two presenters remained on the programme. The new ""Blue Peter"" Garden, located outside the studios, was officially opened by Princess Anne in February 2012. From 12 January 2012, ""Blue Peter"" has been broadcast all year round (with"
"whilst it performed aerial acrobatics. She also interviewed serving Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on the programme in 1988. After four years, Keating left ""Blue Peter"" on 22 January 1990. Keating joined BBC Radio 5 where amongst other programmes she co-hosted an early 90s afternoon show with film critic Mark Kermode, the show was named ""A game of two halves"" and in his autobiography Kermode described Keating as ""The very dictionary definition of Lovely"". She presented several other TV programmes including ""This Morning"", before breast cancer was diagnosed in 1997. Keating was the face of Sainsbury's Reward Card from 1996 to"
"before being sacked in September 2007. In October 2006, ""Blue Peter"" ran a competition called ""Whose Shoes?"". More than 13,800 people entered, with calls costing 10p each, including 3.25p for a Unicef charity. Because of technical difficulties the researcher was unable to access callers' details, and subsequently selected the winner from a guest in the studio without referring the decision to the editor, deputy editor, or producer. Along with this, ""Blue Peter"" staff ignored the result of the online poll to name a new kitten, ignoring the winning name – ""Cookie"" – and calling the pet ""Socks"" instead. According to"
"by the Chalk Farm Salvation Army Band, who had been playing outside Harrods. Janet Ellis became a ""Blue Peter"" presenter in 1983. She was asked to audition with Chorus master Gareth Morrell and sing with the Chorus at the Last Night of the Proms on 14 September 1985. Zöe Salmon was unwrapped from a giant present under the tree as a new presenter in the Christmas 2004 edition of ""Blue Peter"". Shortly after her debut, she famously said ""I’ll try anything once"", which started a trend in her being asked to do dangerous or embarrassing things. Among consequent challenges, a"
"mongrel dog named Petra, was introduced on 17 December 1962. The puppy soon died of distemper, and having decided against upsetting young viewers over the news, Barnes and Baxter had to search London pet shops for a convincing clandestine replacement. Features such as ""makes"" (normally involving creating something such as an advent crown, out of household junk) and cooking became regular instalments on ""Blue Peter"" and continue to be used today. The Blue Peter badge was introduced in 1963, along with the programme's new logo designed by Tony Hart. Baxter introduced a system that ensured replies sent to viewers' letters"
"In 1978, the show celebrated its twentieth anniversary with a nationwide balloon launch from five regional cities during a special edition of the programme when Christopher Trace, Leila Williams, Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves returned. John Noakes contributed a message pre-recorded on film. At this time, Trace introduced the Blue Peter Outstanding Endeavour Award. Its theme music was updated by Mike Oldfield in 1979, and at the end of the decade a new presenting team was brought in, consisting of Simon Groom, Tina Heath and Christopher Wenner. They were overshadowed by the success of the previous two decades, and failed"
"her debut. She presented the show with Konnie Huq, Simon Thomas, Matt Baker, Liz Barker, Gethin Jones and Andy Akinwolere. Shortly after her debut, she said ""I'd Try Anything Once"", which started a trend in her being asked to do dangerous or embarrassing things including wing-walking on top of an antique biplane and stamp collecting. When she mentioned in her blog on the ""Blue Peter"" website that she had an ambition to be sawn in half by a magician, viewers started a campaign for her to do a challenge where she would become a magician's assistant. This campaign was successful,"
"the charity, SightSavers, which was the ""Blue Peter"" appeal for 1986. He travelled all over the Soviet Union for the 1987 summer expedition and was known for his history features on the show, his cooking disasters and his performing. Due to Curry's successful children's history programme ""Treasure Houses"", created by Dorothy Smith and the head of children's programmes, Edward Barnes, he was invited to replace Simon Groom without auditioning for the show. Curry's co-hosts during his time with the programme were Janet Ellis, Peter Duncan, Caron Keating, Yvette Fielding and John Leslie. Curry was very emotional in 2004 after the"
"Anthea Turner Anthea Millicent Turner (born 25 May 1960) is an English television presenter. She was a host of ""Blue Peter"" from 1992 until 1994, and of ""GMTV"" from 1994 until 1996. Turner was born in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and educated at the direct grant grammar catholic school St Dominic's High School for Girls, Brewood, South Staffordshire. She was one of three daughters born to her parents Brian and Jean Turner. One of her sisters, Ruth, died aged 15. Her other sister is presenter Wendy Turner Webster. Turner joined BBC Radio Stoke as a runner, eventually joining breakfast show presenter Bruno"
"Blue Peter Blue Peter is a British children's television programme that was first broadcast in 1958. The programme, which has had continuous seasons since it was first aired, is now the longest-running children's TV show in the world. It is currently shown live on the CBBC television channel. The show's content, which follows a magazine/entertainment format, features viewer and presenter challenges, competitions, celebrity interviews, popular culture and sections on making arts and crafts items from household items. The longevity of ""Blue Peter"" has established itself as a significant part of British culture. It was broadcast mainly from BBC Television Centre"
"Joel Defries Joel Nirmalan Defries (born 14 March 1985) is a British-born presenter, who worked on the BBC1 children's programme ""Blue Peter"" from 2008-10. He previously worked on the New Zealand television station, C4. Born in Hammersmith, London, Defries' New Zealand media career began at the alternative radio station Channel Z, before going on to host the music jukebox show ""Select Live"". Defries presented a new New Zealand-based live music show called ""Live at Yours"". He became a household name among young New Zealanders and saw a rapid rise in popularity. He also made a successful move into radio where"
"1983 respectively, Singleton moderated the live link-ups from around the British nation to launch the anniversary badge balloon hunts, thus extending her presenting tenure to 21 years. As a guest, she presented the ""Outstanding Endeavour"" award to its young recipient on the programme's 30th anniversary edition. Richard Marson states in his ""Blue Peter 50th Anniversary"" book that ""Singleton never really left Blue Peter"". During her time on ""Blue Peter"", Singleton also presented another BBC children's show, ""Val Meets The VIPs"", a chatshow which ran for three series during 1973–74. Each edition featured an interview with a single public figure to"
"award in 1984 followed by Bob Geldof in 1985. Don Allum took the award in 1987 and teenagers Simon Marsh and Anthony Walters were recognised in 1988 for saving a school bus from disaster, being given their award by Valerie Singleton on the show's 30th anniversary edition. In 1989 the show honoured the boys of Emanuel School who had assisted the victims of the Clapham train crash on 12 December 1988 This was the last time the award was presented. In March 2006 the news that ""Blue Peter"" badges were available for sale on auction websites such as eBay attracted"
"""The Magic Flute"" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Her book choice was ""The Traveller's Tree"" by Patrick Leigh Fermor. Biddy Baxter Joan Maureen ""Biddy"" Baxter, MBE (born 25 May 1933) is best known as the former editor of the long-running BBC TV children’s magazine show ""Blue Peter"", a position she held from 1965 to 1988. As editor of the programme, Baxter devised much of the format that is still used today. She was born Joan Maureen Baxter in Leicester to a teacher father who became the director of a sportswear company and a mother who was a pianist. She was educated"
"Peter website. Blue Peter badge A ""Blue Peter"" badge is an award for ""Blue Peter"" viewers, given by the BBC children's television programme for those appearing on the show, or in recognition of achievement. They are awarded to children aged 6 to 15, or to adults who have been guests on the programme. Approximately 22,000 are distributed annually. The badges were introduced to the programme by editor Biddy Baxter in 1963, from an idea by ""Blue Peter"" producer Edward Barnes. Except for the ""Gold"" badge and the pre-2005 ""Competition Winners' Badge"", the badges are in the shape of a shield"
"left and the presenting team of Akinwolere with new additions Helen Skelton and Joel Defries was introduced. On 16 October 2008, Blue Peter celebrated the 50th Anniversary with a reception at Buckingham Palace hosted by Queen Elizabeth II and featuring several former presenters. There was a special live edition of the show broadcast to celebrate the anniversary with many returning presenters and a 60-minute documentary on BBC1 featuring interviews with many previous presenters and production staff, including Edward Barnes, Biddy Baxter and Rosemary Gill. Writing in the BBC's in-house magazine, ""Ariel"", in 2009, BBC Children's Controller Richard Deverell announced plans"
"appeals. In 2018, it was announced that to celebrate ""Blue Peter""'s 60th year, it's 'Bring and Buy Sales' would be returning in aid of BBC Children in Need. ""Blue Peter"" promotes the Blue Peter Book Awards, a series of literary prizes for children's literature awarded annually, and inaugurated in 2000. One of the most iconic parts of the show is its time capsules. Tradition began in 1971 when the first Blue Peter time capsule was buried, set to be opened in 2000 to show the next generations of viewers about life of the time, viewers selecting what goes in the"
"the early 1970s, she worked as an assistant manager at a Dorothy Perkins clothing store in Harrow. The couple then ran public houses in Kingston-upon-Thames and Surbiton for many years before retiring to Spain. Fred Mudd died there in 2007. Notes Bibliography Leila Williams Leila Williams (born 1937) is a former British beauty queen and television presenter. She was one of the original presenters of ""Blue Peter""; she worked on the programme from 1958 until 1962. In 1957 Williams won the Miss Great Britain title. The following year she became the first female ""Blue Peter"" presenter, co-presenting with Christopher Trace."
"having been her owner for more than nine years. There is a bust of Petra in the ""Blue Peter"" garden. It originally stood in front of BBC Television Centre but was moved to the garden in 1984 due to redevelopment works and now stands in the current garden at MediaCityUK. It was later revealed that the original (unnamed) puppy had died of distemper a few days after her first appearance on ""Blue Peter"", broadcast just before Christmas 1962. Instead of informing viewers, and feeling there was no need to upset children needlessly, the programme's director and producer Edward Barnes and"
"Blue Peter ship logo, designed by Tony Hart. The badge provides the wearer with free entry to many British attractions, particularly museums and exhibitions that are featured on the show although many of the attractions will only allow one badge holder for each full price paying adult. The programme producers suspended the privileges amid concerns about the badges being sold in March 2006, but they were reintroduced with additional security a few months later. The presenters almost always wear their badges on the show – the only exception being when their apparel is incompatible (for example, a life jacket), in"