- The world’s longest running children’s TV programme is making a shift
Legendary BBC teatime show Blue Peter is facing a shake-up and fears for its future – as memories are shared of its most notable moments.
The children’s television programme which first hit British screens almost 67 years ago has found itself at times dogged by controversy – including, well, dogs.
The series has notched up as many as 5,294 episodes, involving 42 official presenters – the latest being Joel Mawhinney, Abby Cook and Shini Muthukrishnan.
Yet various generations will have their favourites among previous iconic hosts – such as Janet Ellis, John Noakes, Valerie Singleton and Peter Duncan – as well as the incidents which bear plenty of TV repeating.
The programme began in October 1958 and in its heyday was screened three times a week on BBC1 – but now, after 66 years, there are concerns Blue Peter is being given more of an online focus with a move to iPlayer.
The show’s current director confirmed the show would no longer be transmitted live – describing the move as ‘the end of an era’.
Insiders have told the Mail on Sunday how a decision to take it off air was kept a secret by bosses, with even the presenters unaware of the extent of the changes.
As fans as well as ex-hosts now react to the show’s shock shift, MailOnline looks back at some of Blue Peter’s most amusing as well as controversial episodes…
Blue Peter presenters Valerie Singleton, John Noakes and Peter Purves are pictured here in 1971 with show pets Jason the cat and dogs Shep (left) and Petra (right)
Lulu the elephant caused havoc on the show when appearing in the studio in July 1969
Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon was fired in 1998 after being pictured taking cocaine
Konnie Huq apologised on air in 2007 over a quiz question phone-in controversy
