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.

I can't really give a rating for a programme that's ran for 54 years and had over thirty presenters.

For me, the best era was 1999-2004, particularly the early 2000s. Simon, Matt, Konnie and Liz were the ultimate presenting team and we had things like The Quest and the Blue Peter Christmas Show, which were either pantos or spoofs (for example, Christmas at The Club Blue Peter, that one set in the fifties and that one set in the eighties).

It's gone downhill now and I can see the BBC hovering over it with an axe but many children and adults have grown up with Blue Peter and I will always remember it fondly.

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)

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!