News
1 February 2018
Picture: The first presenters of Blue Peter - Christopher Trace and Leila Williams.
February 1st 2018 marked the 5000th edition of Blue Peter, the ever-popular BBC children's magazine programme that celebrated its 60th birthday in October of the same year.
Blue Peter is the world’s longest running children's television show, and kicked off a year of celebration. A special edition of the programme launched a new Diamond Badge, designed by international fashion designer Henry Holland.
The programme was created by John Hunter Blair and first presented by Leila Williams and Christopher Trace. Initially it was just 15 minutes long and scheduled to run for only 6 weeks. It became the programme we recognise today following the appointment of Biddy Baxter in 1962, since which time it has been a cornerstone of BBC children's output.
Presenters have been asked to undertake a wide range of inspiring adventures over the years, from John Noakes riding a toboggan down the Cresta Run, to Helen Skelton walking a high-wire between the chimneys of Battersea Power Station. But they often perform less hazardous tasks in the studio, such as the celebrated "makes" - cookery and craft projects made with household objects such as "chocolate bean tubes" and "detergent bottles".
The show has always had a strong connection with viewers, not only rewarding participants in the programme with the coveted Blue Peter badge, but getting them involved in the annual charity appeal. In 2013 the involvement was taken a step further as viewers were asked to vote for a new presenter, eventually choosing Lindsey Russell, the 36th presenter on the programme.
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