Blue Peter has been on our screens for 60 years this week, we were invited onto their Blue Carpet to take part in their celebrations.
On 16th October 1958, Christopher Trace and Leila Williams took the role of the first ever presenters of Blue Peter. 35 more presenters later, Williams was at the event alongside many of the shows other presenters and said that it was lovely to be alongside all of the presenters that her children grew up watching in a wonderful atmosphere.
When asked if she thought the show would be successful, she answered: “I thought the programme when I went into it was totally original because it didn’t talk down to children.
“I was just happy to be in it and wish I could’ve been in it longer.”
The day was also focused on the achievements that the show has made. Helen Skelton and Joel Defries, who both began presenting the show in 2008 spoke about the range of guests they had from Justin Bieber and Helen Mirren to Emma Thompson and Jack Black.
“Do you remember who you were back then?
Your plans, your hopes, your dreams…” ?⛵️Tony Walsh’s beautiful tribute to Blue Peter will give you goosebumps.@LongfellaPoet pic.twitter.com/f6QoAzNymU
— CBBC (@cbbc) October 14, 2018
After speaking to the shows stars, we were invited into the studio to be able to watch the special anniversary episode. The studio was filled with the past presenters as well as performers for the day- the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Sophie Ellis-Bextor (daughter to Janet Ellis, former Blue Peter presenter), HRVY with Jonas Blue and The Vamps.
The event also paid tribute to the presenters that had passed away including Caron Keating and John Noakes. Matt Baker and Mark Curry sent their apologies for not making the celebrations due to prior commitments and illness respectively.
It was clear on the day that the programme really is a family show, the stars from across many eras interacting with each other and taking in the celebratory atmosphere.
Blue Peter airs every Thursday on the CBBC Channel at 17:30, the 60th anniversary episode is repeated on BBC2 this Saturday at 16:30.
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