Blue Peter through the years
Created by NationalMediaMuseum on Sep 24, 2008
Last updated: 03/12/10 at 02:45 AM
Zoë left Blue Peter in June 2008 along with co-presenter Gethin Jones. She has since signed up to present a new game show on CBBC called Hot Rods.
While working on Blue Peter Gethin also took part in the fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2007, reaching third place with his dance partner Camilla Dallerup. Since leaving Blue Peter in June 2008 Gethin has continued to present, hosting his own show on BBC Radio 5 Live and presenting the BBC News 24 entertainment news programme E24.
Since leaving Blue Peter, Konnie Huq has worked as a presnter for the BBC Asian network, BBC News 24 and most recently on the ITV morning programme GMTV. Konnie controversially took part in the Olympic torch relay in London in April this year, where a protestor tried to grab the torch from her hand, before being arrested. She is involved with many charities, and is a Red Cross Ambassador.
Disc Drive Appeal with Banardo's for young carers Blue Peter viewers were asked to send in… CDs, DVDs & Games discs Target = 250,000 unwanted discs Result: tbc
When Matt left Blue Peter on 26 June 2006 Meg went with him.
Following his departure from Blue Peter, Matt Baker's love of animals and the countryside made him the obvious choice for television programmes such as Animal Rescue, Summer Countryfile Diaries, One man and His Dog and Crufts, in which he was often accompanied by faithful companion Meg. Matt has also carried out presenting duties on City Hospital, The One Show and the Evacuation series. More recently Matt has presented the BBC's coverage of the gymnastics events at the 2008 Olympic Games from Beijing.
On 4th January 2006 Blue Peter decided the time had come to find a replacement cat for Smudge and an ragdoll kitten was brought on to the programme. As ever, Blue Peter viewers were asked to come up with the new kitten’s name. A staggering 52,000 suggestions were sent in and a shortlist was selected from which viewers were asked to vote for their favourite online. However, it was revealed in August 2005 that the chosen name, ‘Cookie’, was overruled by the production team in favour of the name Socks. When this was announced, it was decided to introduce another cat called Cookie to the team, alongside Socks.
Shoe Biz Appeal with UNICEF Blue Peter viewers were asked to send in… shoes Target = 500,000 pairs of shoes Result: 1.4m pairs of shoes = equipment and support for Children's Corner project in Malawi.
The news of George’s death on April 28th 2004 made headlines and Blue Peter buried the star tortoise in the Blue Peter garden, with a plaque to mark the spot and a ‘Blue Peter’ rhododendron planted nearby.
Born in Cardiff, Gethin Jones presented Welsh language programmes on televsion channel S4C before joining Blue Peter. A keen rugby player and all round sports man, Gethin is also a talented musician with grade eight violin and grade six piano. During his time with Blue Peter Gethin flew with the world-famous Red Arrows, played violin with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in the Proms and became the first civilian to complete a gruelling 30 mile "yomp" with the Royal Marine Commandos.
Simon Thomas left Blue Peter in 2005 after over six years on the programme. He is currently presenting on Sky Sports News as well as Sky's programme Cricket AM.
Zoë Salmon grew up in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Like Blue Peter's first ever presenter, Leila Williams, Zoë was a former beauty queen, having won the title of Miss Northern Ireland in 1999. A qualified solicitor, Zoë became the 30th Blue Peter presenter in 2004 when Liz Barker left to have her baby. During her time on Blue Peter Zoë became the first female Blue Peter presenter to run the London Marathon, the first presenter to pull her own parachute cord while falling 15,000 ft, has raced a Formula One car, walked on fire and attempted barefoot waterskiing.
In September 2004 Blue Peter decided that it was time for the famous felines to retire.
On the very next programme after Kari and Oke had retired, Blue Peter introduced the programme’s latest kitten. Just like Kari and Oke, he came from a rescued litter. Over 15,000 suggestions flooded in to the Blue Peter office from viewers suggesting names for the cat. The winning name was Smudge and he became an instant hit with viewers and production team alike.
The news of George’s death on April 28th 2004 made headlines and Blue Peter buried the star tortoise in the Blue Peter garden, with a plaque to mark the spot and a ‘Blue Peter’ rhododendron planted nearby.
Welcome Home Appeal with the Red Cross to reunite families in Angola Blue Peter viewers were asked to send in… used clothes Target = 25,000 bags of clothes to sell in charity shops Result: 102,537 bags = tracing posts and starter kits to help find and reunite family members
In the spring of 2004 Blue Peter introduced another tortoise to the programme as a friend for George. Once again Blue Peter viewers were asked to name the new tortoise and the most popular choice was Shelly. Like George, Shelley is a Mediterranean thighed tortoise.
Water Works Appeal with charity WaterAid to help in Tanzania and Uganda Blue Peter viewers were asked to hold… Bring and buy sales Target = £500,000 Result: £1,431,000.00 = 78,000 people provided with a fresh water supply.
Wheel Help Appeal with Help the Aged Blue Peter viewers were asked to hold… Bring and buy sales Target = £500,000 Result: £1,013,104.32 = Minibuses and scooters for the elderly.
Meg joined Blue Peter in 2001 as a canine friend for presenter Matt Baker who had grown up around sheep dogs on his family farm.
After leaving Blue Peter Katy Hill presented many programmes, from a stint on the BBC’s Saturday morning Live and Kicking to the magazine programme Best Inventions. In 2004 she took part in Channel Four’s The Games and was beaten into second place by just one point. Soon afterwards she started presenting the weekly chart programme on London’s Capital Radio and in 2006 she became a mum for the first time.
Stamp Aid Appeal with Health Unlimited in Peruvian Andes Blue Peter viewers were asked to send in… stamps Target = 100,000 envelopes of used stamps Result: 187 million stamps = 21 community bikes and 1 vehicle to provide health care
Since leaving Blue Peter in 1999 Stuart has guest presented on such shows as Holiday, Soap Fever, This Morning and Dial-A-Date. He also stepped behind the camera, directing the programme Phonezone in 2000. Stuart has appeared in pantomime productions of Jack and the Beanstalk and Aladdin as well as dabbling in the world of stand-up comedy.
On Monday, February 22nd 1999, Lucy became the 6th dog to join Blue Peter. Just like Bonnie before her, she lives with Blue Peter animal handler Leonie Pocock. In 2003 Lucy was taken for a state of the art medical examination which revealed that because of a slight problem with her hips, she would be unable to have puppies.
On her retirement frorm the programme Bonnie was presented with a special collar inlaid with a gold Blue Peter badge.
Romana D’Annunzio has recently finished a four year degree and now hopes to become a secondary school teacher.
Richard Bacon began his media career at BBC Radio Nottingham; first as a tea boy and later as news reporter. When Richard heard that Tim Vincent was leaving Blue Peter, he sent an audition tape to the Blue Peter office. Richard became the 24th Blue Peter presenter in February 1997 and was described as a 'charming, witty and keen' addition to the team. His adventures with Blue Peter included training to be an army officer at the elite Sandhurst military academy. Richard's career with Blue Peter came to an abrupt end following news reports that he had taken drugs.
Cystic Fibrosis Appeal with the CF Trust Blue Peter viewers were asked to hold… Bring and buy sales Target = £500,000 to help those with cystic fibrosis Result: £2,045,000 = 4 Day care centres, 7 Nurses & equipment
On 8th January 1996, Blue Peter presenter Katy Hill met a cross breed dog while reporting on the work of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. On the 19th of February 1996, the dog – named Mabel by Blue Peter viewers - joined the team. In February 2006, Mabel’s first decade on the programme was marked with a special programme and a sculpture made of recycled materials, which was placed in the Blue Peter garden.
When Blue Peter began broadcasting three times a week in 1995 it was decided that a fourth presenter was needed and so Katy Hill joined the programme. Prior to joining Blue Peter Katy was working as a secretary at the BBC, working for the channel controllers and Head of Children’s Television. Having been a fan of Blue Peter she knew how to engage with her audience and became one of the programmes more popular presenters. Katy threw herself into challenges and was well known for her enthusiastic personality and action girl status.
Paperchain Appeal with the charity Whizzkids to provide wheelchairs for children Blue Peter viewers were asked to send in… junk mail Target = 5,000 tonnes of junk mail Result: 8,500 tonnes of junk mail = 385 wheelchairs
Anthea Turner joined the ITV morning programme GMTV in 1994 after only two years with Blue Peter. As well as presenting on GMTV, Anthea went on to present the National Lottery draw, Wish You Were Here and Turner Round the World. Anthea made a return to television presenting in 2006 with her own programme, Anthea Turner: Perfect Housewife.
For a decade after John Leslie’s departure in January 1994 he was rarely off the small screen, presenting programmes such as Wheel of Fortune and This Morning. His name has been in the headlines regularly, following a series of controversial newspaper reports.
Well Water Appeal with charity Wateraid to help in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh Blue Peter viewers were asked to hold… Bring and buy sales Target = £350,000 Result: £1,568,806 = help provided in 825 villages across India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
Anthea Turner joined Blue Peter in 1992, replacing Yvette Fielding and becoming the programme's 20th presenter. Anthea took the Blue Peter badge she'd won when she was eight to bring her luck at her audition. She was an unusual choice for Blue Peter because she was already an established TV presenter, having appeared on programmes like ITV's The Best of Magic, and the BBC’s Top of the Pops. She brought experience to the programme and was a success with viewers - particularly after she showed them how to make Tracy Island from papier mache and toilet rolls in 1992.
Yvette Fielding left Blue Peter five years to the day after she started. She went on to present the ITV Saturday programme What's Up Doc?, City Hospital for BBC1 and Dear Denise, an advice programme with agony aunt Denise Robertson. In 2002 she began presenting Living TV's Most Haunted, investigating haunted locations using psychic mediums and scientific equipment.
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