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List of Blue Peter presenters

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List of Blue Peter presenters
File:Bp logo.gif
The Blue Peter logo
GenreChildren's
Entertainment
Created byJohn Hunter Blair
Country of origin United Kingdom
Production
Running time25 minutes
Original release
NetworkBBC One
BBC Two
CBBC Channel
Release16 October 1958 –
present

Blue Peter is a British children's television programme created by John Hunter Blair. The first programme was broadcast on 16 October 1958,[1] and the series still airs as of 2008.[2] It is the longest running children's television programme in the world,[3][4] and one of the longest running television programmes in the world.[5] Blue Peter airs twice-weekly in the United Kingdom on the CBBC programming block of BBC One, a terrestrial television channel, and the CBBC Channel, a digital terrestrial television channel. Blue Peter is produced in a magazine format, often transmitting live, and features a combination of studio presentation, interviews and outside broadcasting items.[1] There have been thirty-two presenters of Blue Peter.[6] This figure is expected to rise to thirty-four in September 2008 as Zöe Salmon and Gethin Jones, who both departed in June 2008, will have to be replaced.[2]

The first presenters of Blue Peter were Christopher Trace and Leila Williams. Trace presented for over eight years, and Williams for over three years. Anita West presented Blue Peter for just sixteen editions over four months—the shortest tenure of any presenter—in 1962, before being fired due to her imminent divorce, and its perceived inappropriateness for a presenter of a children's programme in this era.[7] Her tenure was so short that no footage from her time on show exists in the BBC Archives.[8] It was not until 1998 that she was even recognised as a former presenter.[9] John Noakes is the longest-serving male presenter, having presented the show for over twelve years, and Konnie Huq is the longest-serving female presenter, with a tenure of over ten years, narrowly beating Valerie Singleton by three months. The youngest presenter of Blue Peter was Yvette Fielding, who was eighteen when she began presenting,[10] and the oldest was John Noakes, who was forty-four when he left the show.[11] Only one presenter, Peter Duncan, has had two stints of presenting the show, his first being from 1980 to 1984, and his second being from 1985 to 1986.[12]

Many former presenters of Blue Peter have been plagued by scandals which have effectively ended their television careers. A light-hearted documentary produced by North One Television titled The Curse of Blue Peter aired on the rival television channel Five on 1 September 2003,[13] detailing the fates of Blue Peter presenters, and featured interviews with past presenters.[14][15] Christopher Trace cheated on his wife with a nineteen-year-old girl while on location in Norway in 1968. The BBC fired him, his wife divorced him, and he eventually took a job as a taxi driver before declaring himself bankrupt.[16] Michael Sundin was fired in 1985 after being exposed as a homosexual, and video emerged of him dancing with male strippers.[16] Clips of Peter Duncan appearing in a 1975 pornography movie, The Lifetaker surfaced,[16][17] and John Leslie was arrested in 2002 and 2008 following numerous allegations relating to rape and assault.[18][19] On 18 October 1998, the tabloid newspaper The News of the World reported on its front page that Richard Bacon had taken cocaine.[20] The following day Lorraine Heggessey, then Head of Children's BBC, appeared on BBC One informing viewers that "Richard admits that he has done this and that he very much regrets it. I believe that Richard has not only let himself down … but he's also let all of you down badly".[21] He was released from his contract immediately.[22] However, not all Blue Peter presenters have had poor fates: Tim Vincent presented Short Change and Fully Booked and acted in Emmerdale after leaving Blue Peter, and he currently presents Access Hollywood for NBC in the United States.[23] Katy Hill went on to present Live and Kicking, Top of the Pops and hit40uk, a networked music singles chart for commercial radio.[24] Richard Bacon's television career even survived his scandal, and he has since presented The Big Breakfast, Top of the Pops, and numerous radio shows.[21]

Presenters

Information is correct as of 25 June 2008, at the end of the most recent series.

Christopher Trace was one of the first two Blue Peter presenters, from 1958–1967.
Caron Keating, the 16th presenter
Anthea Turner was the 20th Blue Peter presenter, from 1992–1994.
# Presenter Tenure began Tenure ended Length[25] Ref
1 Christopher Trace October 16, 1958 July 24, 1967 3204 days [26]
2 Leila Williams October 16, 1958 January 8, 1962 1181 days [27]
3 Anita West May 7, 1962 September 3, 1962 120 days [8]
4 Valerie Singleton September 3, 1962 July 3, 1972 3592 days [28]
5 John Noakes December 30, 1965 June 26, 1978 4562 days [11]
6 Peter Purves November 16, 1967 March 23, 1978 3781 days [29]
7 Lesley Judd May 5, 1972 April 12, 1979 2534 days [30]
8 Simon Groom May 15, 1978 June 23, 1986 2962 days [31]
9 Christopher Wenner September 14, 1978 June 23, 1980 649 days [32]
10 Tina Heath April 5, 1979 June 23, 1980 450 days [33]
11 Sarah Greene May 19, 1980 June 27, 1983 1135 days [34]
12 Peter Duncan September 11, 1980 June 18, 1984 1377 days [12]
13 Janet Ellis April 28, 1983 June 29, 1987 1524 days [35]
14 Michael Sundin September 13, 1984 June 24, 1985 285 days [36]
— Peter Duncan September 9, 1985 November 27, 1986 445 days [12]
15 Mark Curry June 23, 1986 June 26, 1989 1100 days [37]
16 Caron Keating November 13, 1986 January 22, 1990 1167 days [38]
17 Yvette Fielding June 29, 1987 June 29, 1992 1828 days [10]
18 John Leslie April 20, 1989 January 20, 1994 1737 days [39]
19 Diane-Louise Jordan January 25, 1990 February 26, 1996 2224 days [40]
20 Anthea Turner September 14, 1992 June 27, 1994 652 days [41]
21 Tim Vincent December 16, 1993 January 24, 1997 1136 days [42]
22 Stuart Miles June 27, 1994 June 21, 1999 1821 days [43]
23 Katy Hill June 23, 1995 June 19, 2000 1824 days [44]
24 Romana D'Annunzio March 1, 1996 February 20, 1998 722 days [45]
25 Richard Bacon February 21, 1997 October 19, 1998 606 days [46]
26 Konnie Huq December 1, 1997 January 23, 2008 3706 days [47][48]
27 Simon Thomas January 8, 1999 April 25, 2005 2300 days [49]
28 Matt Baker June 25, 1999 June 26, 2006 2559 days [50]
29 Liz Barker June 23, 2000 April 10, 2006 2118 days [51][52]
30 Zöe Salmon December 23, 2004 June 25, 2008 1281 days [53][54]
31 Gethin Jones April 27, 2005 June 25, 2008 1156 days [55][56]
32 Andy Akinwolere June 28, 2006 Present 729 days[α] [57]
  • αα Correct as of the end of the 2008 series.

References

  1. ^ a b McGown, Alistair. "Blue Peter (1958- )". British Film Institute. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  2. ^ a b Dowell, Ben (2008-04-08). "Gethin Jones leaves Blue Peter". The Guardian. Clerkenwell, London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  3. ^ "Entertainment Children crown best TV shows". BBC News. BBC Online. 1998-10-18. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  4. ^ de Lisle, Tim (2006-03-28). "How much is a Blue Peter badge worth?". The Guardian. Clerkenwell, London: Guardian Media Group. p. 3 (G2). Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  5. ^ Paul Jackson (2003-05-24). "Yoghurt Pots and Sticky-Backed Plastic". Britain in a Box. BBC Radio 4. {{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |city= (help)
  6. ^ "The History of Blue Peter". BBC Online. 2005-11-16. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  7. ^ Horne, Marc (2008-06-22). "One gay Blue Peter host, some lippy and a frock – all you need to make your own Fringe show". The Scotsman. Edinburgh, Scotland: Johnston Press. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  8. ^ a b "Anita West". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Matthewman, Scott (2007-03-26). "Stop the "TV cheats" madness!". The Stage. London. This is the TV show … who denied Anita West a place in the programme's list of past presenters until 1998
  10. ^ a b "Yvette Fielding". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  11. ^ a b "John Noakes". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  12. ^ a b c "Peter Duncan". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  13. ^ "The Curse of Blue Peter". The Curse of…. 2003-09-01. Five.
  14. ^ Billen, Andrew (2003-09-08). "Putting the boot in". New Statesman. London. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  15. ^ "The Curse of Blue Peter". BBC Online. 2003-09-01. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  16. ^ a b c Latcham, Tim (2007-03-16). "Blue Peter: The Dark Side". Daily Mirror. Canary Wharf, London: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  17. ^ Hattenstone, Simon (2004-08-04). "Peter Pan". The Guardian. Clerkenwell, London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  18. ^ Seenan, Gerard (2002-12-06). "TV presenter John Leslie arrested on rape and indecent assault claims". The Guardian. Clerkenwell, London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  19. ^ "John Leslie arrested over rape allegation". The Times. Wapping, London: News International. 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  20. ^ "Blue Peter goody-goody is a cocaine-snorting sneak". News of the World News Group Newspapers. Wapping, London. 1998-10-18. p. 1. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  21. ^ a b James, Silver (2007-11-19). "'I should be out of work'". The Guardian. Clerkenwell, London: Guardian Media Group. p. 5 (Media Guardian). Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  22. ^ "Blue Peter Presenter Sacked". BBC News. BBC Online. 1998-10-18. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  23. ^ "Tim Vincent". Talent4 Media. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  24. ^ "Katy Hill". RDF Management. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  25. ^ "Date calculator". TimeAndDate.com. Time and Date Aksjeselskap. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  26. ^ "Christopher Trace". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  27. ^ "Leila Williams". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  28. ^ "Valerie Singleton". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  29. ^ "Peter Purves". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  30. ^ "Lesley Judd". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  31. ^ "Simon Groom". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  32. ^ "Christopher Wenner". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  33. ^ "Tina Heath". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  34. ^ "Sarah Greene". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  35. ^ "Janet Ellis". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  36. ^ "Michael Sundin". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  37. ^ "Mark Curry". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  38. ^ "Caron Keating". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  39. ^ "John Leslie". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  40. ^ "Diane-Louise Jordan". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  41. ^ "Anthea Turner". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  42. ^ "Tim Vincent". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  43. ^ "Stuart Miles". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  44. ^ "Katy Hill". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  45. ^ "Romana D'Annunzio". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  46. ^ "Richard Bacon". I Love Blue Peter. BBC Online. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  47. ^ "Konnie Huq" (Press release). BBC Press Office. December 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  48. ^ "Host Huq bows out of Blue Peter". BBC News. BBC Online. 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  49. ^ "Simon Thomas to leave Blue Peter". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. 2005-01-18. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  50. ^ "Blue Peter says bon voyage to Matt Baker". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. 2006-06-06. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  51. ^ "Blue Peter unveils new host". BBC News. BBC Online. 2000-06-23. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  52. ^ "Blue Peter's Barker leaves show". BBC News. BBC Online. 2006-01-24. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  53. ^ "Irish Beauty Zoe New Blue Peter Gal". Sky.com. British Sky Broadcasting. 2004-10-26. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  54. ^ Rushton, Katherine (2008-05-20). "Salmon quits Blue Peter" (Note: Registration required). Broadcast. EMAP. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  55. ^ "Welsh TV host to join Blue Peter". BBC News. BBC Online. 2005-01-24. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  56. ^ "Gethin Jones quits Blue Peter". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  57. ^ "Andy Akinwolere joins Blue Peter crew". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. 2006-06-28. Retrieved 2008-07-06.

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