Blue Peter

It may be stuffed away on a Freeview channel these days but lets not forget the fact that 'Blue Peter' is an institution of British TV, and an iconic kids show, having been launched way back in 1958.

It deserves all the plaudits, it really does. No other show has really been able to be a voice for young people for as long, and with such respect and honesty.

I think it's a crying shame that it's buried away on one of the Freeview channels rather than on BBC1 where it belongs to be. I hope it continues to at least remain on TV for as long as possible. There surely would be outcry if it wasn't.

Blue Peter is one of those programmes that your parents watched, you ahve watched, and your children will likely watch. It was launched in 1958 as part of "Children's Hour" on the BBC Television Service and lasted 15 minutes once a week with hosts Leila Williams and Christopher Trace. The Editors of Blue Peter are generally considered the person at the helm of the show, and therefore, Biddy Baxter's appointment as Editor in 1963 set the tone of the show for the future. She extended the broadcasts' length to 25 minutes and they were now screend live twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. Baxter also launched the famous Blue Peter Badge - a shield shaped device with a blue galleon ship on it - this ship was the Blue Peter Ship designed the same year by BBC artist Tony Hart. The Blue Peter Badges could be won by sending in a letter or an idea to the programme, or for appearing on it. The Blue Peter ship is still used as the programme's symbol today - a true television icon.

The title "Blue Peter" is reference to the flag of the same name raised on a ship as it leaves port - i.e. children were being taken on an adventure by watching the programme. The programme's signature tune since the very first edition has been the famous "Barnacle Bill". In 1979, music star Mike Oldfield remixed the famous theme tune after his demo version on the programme proved so popular. The same happened in 1994 when music band STOMP appeared on the programme making music out of old junk and glass bottles. Their unusual version of the theme tune lasted until 1999 when "Barnacle Bill" was re-recorded in the more traditional orchestral style. Each 'standard' edition typically has a mix of filmed reports from home or abroad, often a 'make' or cookery item and special guest - ranging from authors, sportspeople to music artists and usually children who take part in the show - for example in a choir or playing a musical instrument. The show's famous catchphrase taken from the numerous cookery and practical items on the show is "Here's one I made earlier" - relating to the little time alloted for these items in the live broadcasts, thus they use a number of pre-made or pre-cooked examples to illustrate the finished item.

Around 30 presenters have hosted the show, some like John Noakes and Valerie Singleton exceeding 10 years' service with the show; Katy Hill and Diane Louise-Jordan notched up 5 years, as has current presenter Konnie Huq. Some only stay for a couple of years, but all have their place in the programme's history. Most of the time the show had 3 presenters at any given time with them all presenting each show, although in the 1970s there were 4 presenters when Leslie Judd joined as an extra presenter when Valerie Singleton was off filming special reports or the 'spin-off' series "Blue Peter Special Assignement", but often the four of them would appear in the same editions together.

At other times in the show's history there have been 4 presenters - usually an indication that one of the existing members would leave soon. However, since 1995 the programme has been transmitted 3 times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the trend has been to have a continuous 4 presenter line-up with at least 3 of them presenting each edition while the fourth is away filming, but often, and especially for special programmes, the 4 of them host the show.

Since its very early days it's been common for the team to go on a 'Summer Expedition' during the school holidays - a time when Blue Peter would be off the air. The show would return in September with the films they made abroad during the past few weeks. Since 2001, the Summer Expeditions have continued, but the show continues to be broadcast throughout the summer holidays using pre-recorded programmes such as a reminder of the previous year's expedition and other specially filmed editions (a bit like the 1970s' 'Special Assignment' series). Since 2001, Blue Peter has also used the first few summer weeks before embarking on its expedition to present summer roadshows with other Children's BBC stars. These roadshows tour the country's seaside resorts and feature competitions, music acts and special reports. Since these changes in 2001, the programme is now screened live on Mondays and Wednesdays from Easter until the Autumn, then 3 times a week from the Autumn until the Spring.

Another big tradition of the show is its annual appeal to raise funds for charities and good causes. The appeals are launched in November and last until the Spring. Typical good causes have been building schools for the disabled; raising money for premature babies; building day care centres for the elderly and providing safe drinking water in Romania. The appeals alternate each year between UK causes and those abroad. Ways of raising the money vary each year, but often include "Bring and Buy Sales"; collecting drink cans and recycling them; collecting postage stamps and saving old cutlery and metalwork. The progress of the appeals is followed in each edition using the "totaliser" which flashes at different values depending on how much has been raised since the last programme. Christmas is also celelbrated with a traditional programme in the studio including a "last minute present idea", the story of the Nativity and a large group fo school children from London and the Salvation Army Band who join in the "Carols Around the Tree".

Blue Peter is a true evergreen British insitution that should be cherished for years to come.

In all of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the classic children's TV magazine show 'Blue Peter' there has been no mention of the most tragic of all the presenters, Michael Sundin. He was a presenter on the show for one (maybe two) sometime around the late '70s/early '80s, and was intended to be one of the shows great 'action figures', ala John Nookes, but, as I recall, it was discovered that, horror of horrors, he might be gay!, a fact born out by the fact that he died very young - 28ish - of an Aids related illness.

I am aware he was not the most popular of the presenters - personally I did not take to him much, which was more due to the way he spoke than his sexuality - but he did play a part in this most famous, and important, children's TV programme and thus he is due his rights to be mentioned alongside the other presenters. After all, Val can come clean about her affair with Peter Purvis, John once stood as a National Front candidate for Parliment, Janet Ellis was an unmarred mother, Richard Bacon was sacked for snorting cocaine but they all still get mentioned, so why not this tragic figure, or is the BBC trying to wipe the memory of Micheal off the roll call of honour for this show!

And that is no exaggeration at all, I assure you! Literally everyone grows up watching this programme and have done for almost 50 years (since it started in 1958). It has enlightened numerous generations about world issues and the environment we live in, and has managed to keep it interesting consistently. It's been through many generations television-wise as well, it was in black and white for 20 years before changing to colour in 1970.

The show itself has changed a lot since it started, in order to keep up with the children of that age. It's never out of date and is always in tune with what kids like, this is simply because they interact with young people so they know what is "in" and what's not for them, so they can make the programme as good as possible.

As well as entertaining, Blue Peter has been fantastic in the work it has done for charities, getting the viewers involved in their appeals- the latest one to help Childline which it has done by collecting old mobile phones. It's not just in a studio either, presenters are challenged to attempt daring activities such as sky diving and skiing. Each year, the team visit at least one foreign country, where they discover the cultures there and look into it's history.

To sum up, Blue Peter is thoroughly enjoyable as well as educational. It covers all kinds of topics- past, present and future. Without it our childhoods would have been a lot less interesting, with Blue Peter badges to be awarded and prizes to be won, as well as lives to be saved.

Thankyou Blue Peter!

This programme is a great institution and part of childhood for anyone growing up in the UK in the second half of the 20th century or the early 21st century. It is full of interesting items and coveys the message that nothing in life is dull or uninteresting. It is a programme that can be watched over the evening meal and it only lasts for 25 minutes. But what a knack they have of cramming a lot into 25 minutes. I think it's fair to say that many people will have visited places that have been featured on Blue Peter, both at home and abroad, and taken up activities that have been featured in the programme (such as free fall parachuting, but rather them than me). It also features practical advice on matters like dog care. Teaching kids cookery is another good aspect of the programme. But the makes! They are so cheesy. I mean, who ever made anything useful that was featured on Blue Peter. Aren't you better buying something at the shops rather than making it out of Fairy Liquid bottles and sticky back plastic. And making a model of the Blue Peter studio? This is the aspect of the show that the comedians always pounce on. But the show has a good sense of humour. John Noakes first introduced humour to the show. He was a good counter to the rather stuffy Christopher Trace who acted and looked middle-aged even though he was only in his 20s. Featuring Rowan Atkinson as Mr Bean and Catherine Tate as her Lauren character have been good ideas in more recent times. Presenters seem to have got younger and this is not entirely like policemen getting younger. In the 70s presenters were older and John Noakes was still presenting the show in his 40s. Today presenters tend to be mid to late 20s which is I think a bit more kid friendly. A great programme and more educational daytime TV than Richard and Judy (and the competition questions are harder than those on Richard and Judy)