Blue Peter
Blue Peter is a British children's television show created by John Hunter Blair. It is the longest-running children's TV show in the world,[4] having been broadcast since October 1958.[5] It was originally shown live on BBC One until 2012 and then it would move full-time to the CBBC television channel, since March 2025, all editions are now pre-recorded.
| Blue Peter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Entertainment |
| Created by | John Hunter Blair |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Production locations | BBC Lime Grove Studios (1958–1960) BBC Television Centre (1960–2011) dock10 studios (2011–present)[1] |
| Running time | 15 minutes (1958–1960s) 25 minutes (1960s–2008) 35 minutes (2005–2006; CBBC Channel Extension) 24 minutes (2008–2011) 28 minutes (2012–) 60 minutes (birthday specials and documentaries) |
| Original release | |
| Release | present |
Background
Blue Peter uses a magazine format which includes viewer and presenter challenges, competitions, interviews, and an arts and crafts making feature, which has the famous catchphrase "Here's one I made earlier".[6]
The show has had 43 presenters in its history, some of the best known ones include Valerie Singleton, John Noakes, Peter Purves, Janet Ellis, Caron Keating, Anthea Turner, Konnie Huq, Matt Baker, Helen Skelton, and Adam Beales. The current presenters are Joel Mawhinney, Abby Cook, and Shini Muthukrishnan.[7]
Another well known feature is the resident pets, of which there have been many over the years, the first was a dog named Petra who was introduced in 1962, as well as another dog named Shep, who was known for being excitable and presenter John Noakes often said "Get down, Shep!", which also became a catchphrase. There were also cats, tortoises, and parrots as well, the current pet is a dog named Henry who has been on the show since 2019.
A popular feature on the show is the iconic Blue Peter badges, which are awarded to viewers and celebrities, there are different types of badges depending on what they have achieved, from the standard blue and white badge to the gold badge for exceptional achievements. Badge holders get free entry to various attractions across the United Kingdom.[8]
Blue Peter Media
"Blue Peter" maritime signal flag
First logo from 1979 to 1985.
Second logo used from 1985 to 1999. This is also the first time that they used the iconic ship imagery.
Second era branding used from 1999 to 2004.
Third branding used from 2008 to 2011.
The specially painted Blue Peter British Airways Boeing 757 landing at London Heathrow Airport
First reworking of the 2008 logo used from 2011 to 2015.
The former Blue Peter garden at BBC Television Centre in 2009
Current Blue Peter garden at Media City in Salford (2014)
References
- ↑ "BBC's Blue Peter is filmed at dock10 studios, MediaCityUK". Dock10.co.uk. 9 February 2015. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
- ↑ "BBC Studios to take on BBC Children's Productions". Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ↑ "BBC Studios Kids & Family division opens for business". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ↑ Marson, Richard (2008). Blue Peter 50th Anniversary Book: The Story of Television's Longest-running Children's Programme. Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-61793-8.
- ↑ Sheridan, Simon (2004). The A-Z of Classic Children's Television: From Alberto Frog to Zebedee. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. pp. 61–66. ISBN 1903111277.
- ↑ Asa Briggs The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom: Volume V: Competition Archived 24 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995, p.178
- ↑ McGown, Alistair. "Blue Peter (1958- )". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 1 July 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
- ↑ "Blue Peter - The Blue Peter Doctor Who Competition Rules". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
