BBC News | Entertainment | New presenter for Blue Peter Thursday, January 7, 1999 Published at 14:35 GMT Entertainment New presenter for Blue Peter Simon Thomas: Seems like a nice boy The BBC children's TV programme Blue Peter has picked a new presenter - he is taking over from Richard Bacon who was sacked from the show for taking drugs. Simon Thomas, the son of a vicar from Suffolk, landed the job after applying to the programme for the fourth time. "I was gob-smacked when I was told I'd got through all the hoops," he said. Richard Bacon: Sacked for taking cocaine Former presenter Richard Bacon lost his job three months ago after admitting to his bosses that he had taken cocaine at a party. As a result Blue Peter's producers took the unprecedented step of apologising on-air to viewers. Although new to Blue Peter and presenting, Simon Thomas has worked for some time behind the scenes at Sunday morning Children's BBC. He also has lots of experience working with children, spending every summer for the past eight years at a Christian centre in Norfolk running workshops for young people.

He will be the 27th presenter in the history of the long running programme - and he joins the current team of Stuart Miles, Katy Hill and Konnie Huq. Blue Peter editor Oliver MacFarlane said: "Simon's showreel really stood out amongst hundreds of others - it just goes to show how perseverance can pay off." The new presenter has already been welcomed by the rest of the team and his first show will be on Friday. He said: "Action man Peter Duncan was my Blue Peter favourite when I was growing up - I'm really looking forward to following in his footsteps." BBC News | Entertainment | Top radio DJ suspended Sunday, April 25, 1999 Published at 10:31 GMT 11:31 UK Entertainment Top radio DJ suspended Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker has been suspended by the BBC following Sunday newspaper allegations of drug abuse. Johnnie Walker was due on air on Monday The News of the World said it had film of Walker, a former Radio 1 favourite, cutting up cocaine, snorting the drug and offering it to the paper's team of undercover reporters. The paper said Walker had also offered to supply them with Russian prostitutes.

The report comes only six months after Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon was sacked from the popular BBC children's programme after he admitted taking cocaine. 'Full investigation under way' A statement from the BBC said: "We have suspended Johnnie Walker from his Radio 2 show pending a BBC investigation to be led by Jenny Abramsky, the BBC's director of radio." Walker, 55, hosted his Saturday afternoon show, apparently unaware of the coming storm, but was suspended late on Saturday night after the story broke. He was due to go back on air at 1700 BST on Monday but a replacement presenter will now present his drive time show. 'Undercover reporters' The report, by the News of the World's award-winning investigations editor Mazher Mahmood, said Walker met an undercover team from the paper in a London hotel room. The paper said it was tipped off about Walker by a source at the BBC and bumped into him during his 55th birthday party. Reporters, claiming to be interested in setting up a new radio station, arranged a meeting at the Grosvenor Park Hotel in central London.

The paper claims it covertly filmed Walker cutting cocaine with a credit card, snorting it through a �20 note and offering it to his guests. Walker has not commented on the allegations. The paper said it would pass its dossier onto the police. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "If anything of this sort is brought to our attention we will investigate accordingly." Blue Peter History | Blue Peter Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Add Image Over 4,000 editions have been produced since 1958, and almost every episode from 1964 onwards still exists in the BBC archives. This is extremely unusual for programmes of that era, and is a testament to the foresight and initiative of editor Biddy Baxter, as she personally ensured that telerecordings and, from 1970, video copies were kept of the episodes.

Many items from Blue Peter's history have become embedded in British popular culture, especially moments when things have gone wrong, such as the much-repeated clip of Lulu the elephant (from a 1969 edition)[4] who urinated and defecated on the studio floor, appeared to tread on the foot of presenter John Noakes and then proceeded to attempt an exit, dragging her keeper along behind her. Other well-remembered and much-repeated items from this era include the Girl Guides' campfire that got out of hand on the 1970 Christmas edition, John Noakes's report on the cleaning of Nelson's Column,[5] and Simon Groom referring to a previous item on door-knockers with the words 'what a beautiful pair of knockers'.[6] Through the Years Edit Early Years Blue Peter was first aired on 16 October 1958. It had been commissioned to producer John Hunter Blair by Owen Reed, the head of children's programmes at the BBC, as there were no programmes in existence that catered for children aged between five and eight.

Reed got his inspiration after watching Children's Television Club, the brainchild of former radio producer, Trevor Hill, who created the latter show as a successor to his programme Out of School, broadcast on BBC Radio's Children's Hour; Hill networked the programme from BBC Manchester and launched it aboard the Royal Iris paddle steamer on Merseyside with presenter Judith Chalmers welcoming everyone aboard at the bottom of the gangplank. It was subsequently televised about once a month (see Hill's autobiography Over the Airwaves, Book Guild 2005). Hill relates how Reed came to stay with him and his wife, Margaret Potter, in Cheshire, and was so taken with the "Blue Peter" flag on the side of the ship and the programme in general, that he asked to rename it and take it to London to be broadcast on a weekly basis (see Reed's obituary). The "Blue Peter" is used as a maritime signal, indicating that the vessel flying it is about to leave, and Reed chose the name to represent 'a voyage of adventure' on which the programme would set out. Hunter Blair also pointed out that blue was a child's favourite colour, and Peter was the common name of a typical child's friend.

The first two presenters were Christopher Trace, an actor, and Leila Williams, winner of Miss Great Britain in 1957. The two presenters were responsible for activities which matched the traditional gender roles. As Asa Briggs, the historian of broadcasting, expressed it in 1995: "Leila played with dolls; Chris played with trains".[7] They were supported on occasion by Tony Hart,[8] an artist who later designed the ship logo,[9] who told stories about an elephant called Packi (or Packie). It was broadcast every Friday for fifteen minutes (17.00-17.15) on BBC TV (which later became BBC One).[8] Over the first few months more features were added, including competitions, documentaries, cartoons, and stories. Early programmes were almost entirely studio-based, with very few filmed inserts being made. 1960s[edit] From Monday October 7, 1960, Blue Peter was switched from every Friday to every Monday and extended from 15 minutes to 20 minutes (17.00-17.20). In 1961, Hunter Blair became ill, and was often absent.

After he produced his last edition on 12 June 1961,[10] a series of temporary producers took up the post. Hunter Blair was replaced the following September by Clive Parkhurst.

He did not get along with Leila Williams, who recalled "he could not find anything for me to do", and in October, Williams did not appear for six editions, and was eventually fired, leaving Christopher Trace on his own or with one-off presenters.[11] Parkhurst was replaced by John Furness,[10] and Anita West joined Trace on 7 May 1962.[12] She featured in just 16 editions, making her the shortest-serving presenter, and was replaced by Valerie Singleton,[13] who presented regularly until 1972,[14] and on special assignments until 1981.[14] Following the departure of Furness, a new producer who was committed to Blue Peter was required, so Biddy Baxter was appointed.[10] At the time she was contracted to schools' programmes on the radio, and therefore unable to take up her new post immediately.[15] It was suggested that Edward Barnes,[16] a production assistant,[10] would temporarily produce the show until Baxter arrived, at which point he would become her assistant.

This suggestion was turned down, and a more experienced producer, Leonard Chase, was appointed, with Barnes as his assistant.[17] Baxter eventually joined Blue Peter at the end of October 1962.[16] During this period, many iconic features of Blue Peter were introduced.

The first appeal took place in December 1962, replacing the practice of reviewing toys that children would ask for themselves.[18] Blue Peter's first pet, a brown and white mongrel dog named Petra, was introduced on 17 December 1962.[19] The puppy soon died of distemper, and having decided against upsetting young viewers over the news, Barnes and Baxter had to search London pet shops for a convincing clandestine replacement.[20] Features such as "makes" (normally involving creating something such as an advent crown, out of household junk) and cooking became regular instalments on Blue Peter and continue to be used today.[21][22] The Blue Peter badge was introduced in 1963, along with the programme's new logo designed by Tony Hart.[9] Baxter introduced a system that ensured replies sent to viewers' letters were personal; as a girl, she had written to Enid Blyton and twice received a standard reply, which had upset her.[23] The next year, from 28 September 1964, Blue Peter began to be broadcast twice weekly, with Baxter becoming the editor in 1965, and Barnes and Rosemary Gill

 (an assistant producer who had joined as a temporary producer while Baxter was doing jury service) becoming the programme's producers.[24] The first Blue Peter book, an annual in all but name, was published this year, and have been produced nearly every year since.[25][26] A third presenter, John Noakes, was introduced at the end of 1965 and became the longest-serving presenter.

A complete contrast to Trace, Noakes set the scene for "daredevil" presenters that has continued through the generations of presenters.[27] Trace left Blue Peter in July 1967,[28] and was replaced by Peter Purves in November. The trio of Valerie Singleton, John Noakes and Peter Purves lasted five years, and according to Richard Marson were 'the most famous presenting team in the show's history'.[29] In 1965, the first Summer Expedition (a filming trip abroad) was held in Norway, and continued every year (except 1986) until 2010 all over the world.[30] 1970–1990s[edit] The first colour edition of Blue Peter aired on 14 September 1970, and the last black and white edition on 24 June 1974.[31] A regular feature of the 1970s were the Special Assignments, which were essentially reports on interesting topics, filmed on location.

Singleton took this role, and in effect became the programme's "roving reporter".[32] Blue Peter also offered breaking news on occasion, such as the 1971 eruption of Mount Etna, as well as unique items such as the first appearance of Uri Geller on British television. In May 1976, presenter Lesley Judd interviewed Otto Frank, father of Anne Frank, after he had agreed to bring his daughter's diaries to Britain.[33] In 1974, the Blue Peter Garden was officially opened in a green space outside the Television Centre restaurant block.[34] By this time, Blue Peter had become an established children's programme, with regular features which have since become traditions. Its theme music was updated by Mike Oldfield in 1979, and at the end of the decade a new presenting team was brought in, consisting of Simon Groom, Tina Heath and Christopher Wenner. They were overshadowed by the success of the previous two decades, and failed to make an impact.[35] Heath decided to leave after a year when she discovered she was pregnant, but agreed to have a live scan of her baby, something which had never been done on television before.

Blue Peter was praised for this by the National Childbirth Trust who told the BBC that in 'five minutes, Blue Peter had done more to educate children about birth than they'd achieved in ten years of sending out leaflets'.[36] Wenner was unpopular with viewers, so left along with Heath on 23 June 1980.[37] Sarah Greene and Peter Duncan both joined in 1980, and a new producer, Lewis Bronze, joined in 1982.[38] The 1980s saw the Blue Peter studio become more colourful and bright, with the presenters gradually wearing more fashionable outfits, in contrast to the more formal appearance of previous decades.[39] Several videos of Blue Peter were released from 1982, the first being Blue Peter Makes, and an omnibus comprising the two weekly editions appeared in 1986 on Sunday mornings.

On 27 June 1988, Baxter took part in her final show, after nearly 26 years of involvement,[40] and Bronze took her place as editor.[41] Around this time, Blue Peter became distinctively environmentally aware, and introduced a green badge in November 1988 for achievements related to the environment.[42] In 1989 (and again in 1992 and 1994), new arrangements of the theme tune was used. Due to falling ratings in BBC children's programming, BBC1 controller Alan Yentob suggested airing a third edition of Blue Peter each week from 1995. This meant that it was sometimes pre-recorded; Joe Godwin, the director, suggested that the Friday edition should be a lighter version of Blue Peter, which would concentrate on music, celebrities and games.[43] A fourth presenter, Katy Hill, was introduced in 1995,[44] but unlike earlier decades, there was little stability in the line-up, with resignations and new additions made almost every year of the decade.

The 1990s also saw many more live broadcasts on location, with many shot entirely away from the studio.[43] Blue Peter was also one of the first television series to launch a website. There were also two changes of editors: Oliver Macfarlane replaced Bronze in 1996,[45] 1998 marked the 40th anniversary of the TV show and the most talked about event to celebrate the show's 40th birthday was a trip behind LNER Peppercorn Class A2 60532 Blue Peter On an Edinburgh to London railtour. Due to safety rules none of the presenters were permitted to ride on board the footplate during the trip, however Peter Kirk (the man incharge onboard 60532 and who was presenting from the footplate) allowed Stuart Miles to travel on board the footplate between Newark-on-Trent & Peterborough (the reason for this was being due to this section being where back on 3 July 1938 an LNER A4 Locomotive no 4468 Mallard set a world speed record of 126 mph, this record still stands to this day).

In October 1998, Richard Bacon was sacked, following reports in the News of the World that he had taken cocaine.[46] Steve Hocking then replaced Macfarlane as editor, at a time that was believed to be a difficult period for the programme.[47] He introduced a further re-arrangement of the theme tune and a new graphics package in September 1999. 2000s–present[edit] The 2000s started off when two time capsules that had been buried on Blue Peter were opened up. The former presenters were invited back to assist, and the rest of the programme looked at life in the 1970s when the first capsule was buried.[48] With Hill's departure and replacement by Liz Barker in 2000, the new team of Konnie Huq, Simon Thomas, Matt Baker and herself made the programme strong and consistent for the next five years, which had been somewhat lacking in the 1990s. The Friday edition, as in the previous decade, featured games and competitions, but additionally there was a drama series, The Quest, which featured cameos from many former presenters.

Basil Brush also made several appearances on Fridays. It was at this time that the new Head of the BBC Children's Department, Nigel Pickard, asked for Blue Peter to be broadcast all year round. This was achieved by having two editions per week instead of three during the summer months, and using pre-recorded material.[49] The early 2000s also introduced Christmas productions, in which the presenters took part.[50] In 2003, Richard Marson became the new editor, and one of his first tasks was changing the output of Blue Peter on the digital CBBC, which for the first year of the channel's launch consisted of repeated editions, plus spin-off series Blue Peter Unleashed and Blue Peter Flies the World.[51] This new arrangement involved a complex schedule of live programmes and pre-recorded material, being broadcast on BBC One and CBBC. Marson also introduced a new set, graphics and music.[52] In September 2007, a new editor, Tim Levell, took over. At the same time, budget cuts meant that the programme came from a smaller studio.

In February 2008 the BBC One programme was moved from 5 pm to 4.35 pm to accommodate The Weakest Link, and as a result, Blue Peter's ratings dropped to as low as 100,000 viewers in the age 6–12 bracket but have since steadily improved. The specially painted Blue Peter British Airways Boeing 757 landing at London Heathrow Airport. Writing in the BBC's in-house magazine, Ariel, in 2009, BBC Children's Controller Richard Deverell announced plans to re-invent the show to be more like the BBC's motoring programme Top Gear. Deverell hopes that by adding "danger and excitement", Blue Peter will achieve the same "playground buzz" among children as Top Gear.[53] On 29 March 2011, Blue Peter became the first programme in the UK to broadcast an entire show in 360 degrees on the web.

Viewers were able to watch the programme via their TVs and simultaneously interact with the television studio in front and behind the cameras on the website.[54] Viewers were also challenged to play a game where they had to find particular crew members and staff dressed up in distinctive costumes. The final edition of Blue Peter to broadcast from the BBC's Television Centre in London, was broadcast on 28 June 2011, before a move to the BBC's new facilities at MediaCityUK in Salford.[55] The set left behind at BBC Television Centre was subsequently purchased and installed at Sunderland University's David Puttnam Media Centre in August 2013.[56] When the new series started on 26 September 2011, after the usual summer break, Barney Harwood and Helen Skelton revealed the new look Blue Peter studio along with the new music and title sequence. It also saw the launch of the Blue Peter Appeal 2011 in support of Children in Need.

Departed Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere was not initially replaced, and for the first time in 50 years only two presenters remained on the programme, until a third member of the team, Lindsey Russell, joined the team in July 2013.[57] From 12 January 2012, Blue Peter has been broadcast all year round (with no break for summer) once a week, its original premiere being on CBBC Channel on Thursdays at 5.45pm, changed to 5.30pm from April 2013. It was usually repeated on Fridays on BBC One, although this ceased in December 2012. At this time, Levell left to work at BBC Radio 5 Live; he was replaced (initially in an acting capacity) as editor by Ewan Vinnicombe, who had worked on the programme as a producer since 2007. The reformatted Blue Peter occasionally also includes specials and spin-offs such as "Helen's Polar Adventure" or the Stargazing Live special on other days of the week.

On 25 July 2013, Blue Peter aired its first live outdoor broadcast from Leeds.[58] 'Don't take it too seriously' | UK news | The Guardian 'Don't take it too seriously' The red-top papers are read with a pinch of salt, Peter Kellner reports Saturday 29 May 1999 20.17 EDT Share on Messenger Close After a week of rows about tabloid newspaper stories and the methods used to obtain them, the public turns out to be more critical of the papers than it is of some of their victims. Few of us trust the tabloids to tell the truth, most of us would like to see a privacy law, and a clear majority think that a history of teenage drug-taking has no bearing on a person's ability to hold down a responsible job later in life. The Observer's exclusive poll, conducted by ICM, first asked people how much they trust the media 'to report the truth about people in the public eye'. Television news emerges as easily the most trusted news source, with 85 per cent trusting it 'a lot' or 'a fair amount', and just 12 per cent 'not much' or 'not at all'.

Broadsheet papers such as the Guardian, Times and Telegraph are also widely trusted - by 59 per cent of all Britons, and by 83 per cent of those who read them. The red-top tabloids, such as the Mirror, Sun and News of the World, are in a different category. Only 17 per cent of the public trust them, while 78 per cent do not. The gap closes among tabloid readers, but even here as many as 68 per cent declare little or no trust, while just 30 per cent say they trust the red-tops 'a lot' or 'a fair amount'. This may help to explain the paradox behind the Sun's photographs of Sophie Rhys-Jones last week. The paper had few defenders and apologised for what it had done - yet it sold an extra 250,000 copies of the offending edition. Our poll suggests that most readers of the red-tops buy their morning paper not expecting responsible and truthful journalism, but looking for entertainment.

Intrusive stories of the private lives of the famous also help to sell copies - yet 77 per cent of the public (including 76 per cent of the readers of red-top tabloids) think Britain should 'have a privacy law which prevents the media reporting some aspects of the private lives of people in the public eye'. 'I don't think intrusive stories should be published - but, if they are, I want to find out what is in them' seems to be the view. More specifically, ICM tested public attitudes to the controversy surrounding the News of the World's entrapment of Lawrence Dallaglio, the former captain of England's rugby team. Respondents were asked about two situations in which reporters 'sometimes tell lies and use hidden microphones in order to trap people in public life into making confessions'. Opinions are evenly divided on the use of these techniques to expose drug-dealing: 43 per cent say it is right, 50 per cent wrong. However, by 53 to 36 per cent a majority backs entrapment methods 'in order to uncover corruption in business or politics'. Such methods were used by The Observer last year to investigate 'cash for access' claims by some political lobbyists.

Dallaglio later admitted to taking illegal drugs as a teenager. So does such an admission debar someone from holding a responsible job later in life? A clear majority rejected the notion that it is a resignation issue - in the case of school teachers by 72:19 per cent, captain of national sporting teams by 67:23 per cent, government Ministers by 64:28 per cent, and even police officers by 61:33 per cent. What, though, of the state of the law itself? A massive majority of 92 per cent rejects the legalisation of hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine; only 4 per cent want them legalised. Views about soft drugs such as cannabis, are more evenly divided, but even here the majority wants the law left as it is. Thirty-six per cent want the law to be changed, while 55 per cent disagree. Not surprisingly, older people are most opposed to legalisation. But even 18-34-year-olds divide 52:43 per cent in favour of maintaining the ban on smoking cannabis. ICM interviewed a random sample of 520 adults throughout Britain by telephone on Thursday.

Those stings Lord Lambton and the call girls In 1973, a News of the World photographer hid in a wardrobe and took secret photographs of Defence Minister Lambton with two call-girls, allegedly taking cannabis and amphetamines. Lambton resigned from the Government. William Straw and the dope deal 'Friends' of William Straw, son of Home Secretary Jack, tipped off reporters from the Daily Mirror that he would sell them cannabis. Dawn Alford (posing as an estate agent) and Tanith Carey bought pounds 10-worth from him on Christmas Eve 1997. Hi father said: 'William has been rightly cautioned. I hope he goes on to lead a prosperous, drugs-free life'. Young Straw received a police caution, was not expelled from school and did not lose his place at Oxford University. The coke-snorting Blue Peter presenter The News of the World received a tip-off and ran a story in October last year about Richard Bacon snorting cocaine in a London nightclub. He was immediately sacked.

Newcastle United and the Spanish brothel Freddie Shepherd and Doug Hall, chairman and vice-chairman respectively of Newcastle United, were caught by undercover reporters from the News of the World in March 1998 in a Spanish brothel allegedly groping prostitutes, ordering lesbian sex shows, and mocking Newcastle fans and women ('Newcastle girls are all dogs'). They were forced to resign, but were later reinstated. The drug-dealing TV star Last November, London's Burning star John Alford was caught on tape snorting cocaine by a News of the World reporter posing as an Arab prince. He was later convicted of supplying cocaine and cannabis and sentenced to nine months in jail. Last month News of the World undercover reporters secretly filmed Radio 2 DY Johnnie Walker at the Grosvenor Park Hotel in London snorting cocaine and allegedly supplying a prostitute to the journalists, who posed as potential business contacts. He was charged with possession and supply of cocaine (0.11 grams) and is suspended from his drive-time show.

Tom Parker Bowles May 1999 Tom Parker Bowles, junior film publicist and son of Camilla, unwittingly told a female News of the World reporter at this month's Cannes film festival that he had taken cocaine at the festival and at a function in London. She had asked him to help her to get drugs. Kept his job. Frank Bough's 'confession' The TV presenter's family-man image was shattered in May 1988, when the News of the World revealed he had freebased cocaine and had watched couples having sex at parties. The story came after a lengthy investigation following a tip off from a polo-playing friend of Prince Charles. After an initial injunction, Bough made a 'controlled confession' and soon after announced he was taking a rest from the BBC. He was kept on a £1,000 a week retainer and returned to the screen at Christmas to present a programme on the highs and lows of the year. The toe-sucking judge Judge Anthony Thornton In 1995, the News of the World alleged that Judge Anthyony Thornton had inhaled from a cocaine and cannabis cigarette while visiting two prostitutes with criminal records.

Three weeks later, the NoW published video footage of the judge sucking wine from a prostitue's toe. He kept his job. The Minister and the actress In July 1992, the People exposed Tory Minister David Mellor's affair with Antonia De Sancha. The paper enlisted the help of De Sancha's landlord, who had legally bugged her flat. He ran an extension line to a reporter on the patio below. Mellor resigned from his job as Secretary of State for National Heritage. In November 1994, he announced his divorce after the News of the World exposed a second affair. Chief of Defence Staff SIr Peter Harding (married, 4 kids) - News of the World splashed over five pages alleged details of his affair with Lady Bienvenida Buck, Spanish former wife of ex-Tory defence minister Sir Anthony Buck. Reporters and photographers from the paper secretly recorded her meeting with Harding at the Dorchester Hotel. He resigned from his post.

March 1994 Pamela Bordes 1988 News of the World reporter Stuart White posed as a Hong Kong businessman looking for a £500 date with high class prostitute and Commons researcher Pamela Bordes for a £500 fee. They met in a hotel room where she stripped naked. He made his excuses and left. Friend of Andrew Neil then editor of Sunday Times and Colin Moynihan Sports Minister. Bordes quit her £750,000 Westminster apartment and fled to Bali. Lord Archer In 1986 a News of the World reporter trailed a prostitute Monica Coghlan to Victoria station where she was given £2,000 by a man acting for Jeffrey Archer. The woman told of her liaisons with Archer. In 1987 the paper paid £50,000 to charity in an out-of-court settlement with Archer over allegations he paid the prostitute money to leave the country. He resigned his position as Deputy Chairman of the party. Lord Joseph Yorke, Earl of Hardwick News of the World claimed he supplied 2 grams of cocaine at the House of Lords to an undercover News of the World reporter posing as a businessman interested in buying scooters.

He should have been at the Houses of Parliament for an emergency anti-terrorism debate. Suspended from the Conservative party Whip. September 1998 Michael Brown In May 1994 the News of the World reported that Brown, then a junior minister had a relationship with a 20 year-old male student and a Ministry of Defence civil servant. Brown immediately resigned his position. Robin Cook July 1997 Two News of the World photographers 'happened' to be outside his London flat when he came out carrying a black bin bag which he put in a skip and then filled a parking meter. The Renault Clio belonged to his secretary Gaynor Regan. He left his wife and later married Ms Regan. Kept his job. Annabel Goldsmith wife of the late Sir James Goldsmith and her assistant Charlotte Blacker were caught out by a young man posing as an out of work poor student. They enlisted his help at the Referendum Party HQ. He turned out to be a Daily Express reportter seeking evidence of electoral irregularities.

Tory MP, the Tycoon and the Sunday School Teacher Richard Spring In April 1995 the News of the World revealed that the MP had taken part in a threesome with his friend financier Chris Holmes and Holmes's girlfriend Sunday school teacher Odette Nightingale. Her memories of events were so accurate Spring felt sure she must have taped events. Spring resigned from his post as parliamentary private secretary. Research: Dorota Nosowicz Blue Peter | Cartoon Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Share Blue Peter was first aired on 16 October 1958. It had been commissioned to producer John Hunter Blair by Owen Reed, the head of children's programmes at the BBC, as there were no programmes in existence that catered for children aged between five and eight.[1] The name "Blue Peter" was thought up by Hunter Blair; the Blue Peter flag , used as a maritime signal, indicates the vessel is about to leave, and Hunter Blair intended the name to represent "a voyage of adventure" on which the programme would set out. Hunter Blair also pointed out that blue was a child's[ who? ] favourite colour, and Peter was the name of a child's[ who? ] friend.

The first two presenters were Christopher Trace , an actor, and Leila Williams , winner of Miss Great Britain in 1957. The initial format mostly involved the two presenters demonstrating different activities, with Trace concentrating on traditional "boys' toys" such as model aeroplanes and trains, and Williams concentrating on dolls and traditional female tasks, such as cookery. They were supported on occasion by Tony Hart ,[2] an artist who later designed the ship logo,[3] who told stories about an elephant called Packi (or Packie). It was broadcast every Monday for fifteen minutes on BBC tv (which later became BBC One).[2] Blue Peter was popular from the outset, and over the first few months, more features were added such as competitions, documentaries, cartoons, and stories. Early programmes were almost entirely studio-based, with very few external films being created. In 1961, Hunter Blair became ill, meaning he was often absent from the show. After he produced his last show on 12 June 1961,[4] he was replaced by Clive Parkhurst the following September.

He did not get along with Leila Williams, who recalled "he couldn't find anything for me to do", and in October Williams did not appear for six editions leaving Christopher Trace on his own or with one-off presenters.[5] Parkhurst was replaced by John Furness ,[4] and Anita West joined Christopher Trace on 7 May 1962.[6] She featured on just 16 editions, making her the shortest serving presenter, and was replaced by Valerie Singleton ,[7] who presented regularly until 1972,[8] and on special assignments until 1981.[8] Following Furness's departure, a new producer who was committed to Blue Peter was required, so Biddy Baxter was appointed.[4] However, at the time, Baxter was contracted to schools' programmes on the radio so was unable to take up her new post until October 1962. It was suggested that Edward Barnes ,[9] a production assistant,[4] would temporarily produce the show until Baxter arrived, at which point he would become her assistant.

This suggestion was turned down, and a more experienced producer, Leonard Chase , was appointed with Barnes as his assistant.[10] Baxter eventually joined Blue Peter at the end of October 1962.[9] During this period, many iconic features of Blue Peter were introduced.

The first appeal took place in December 1962, taking place of the previous practice of reviewing toys that children would ask for themselves.[11] Blue Peter's first pet, a brown and white mongrel dog named Petra was introduced on 17 December 1962.[12] Features such as "makes" (normally involving creating something such as an advent crown out of household junk) and cooking became regular instalments on Blue Peter and continue to be today.[13][14] The Blue Peter badge was introduced in 1963, along with the programme's new logo designed by Tony Hart.[3] Baxter introduced a system that ensured replies sent to viewers' letters were personal ones; as a girl, she had written to Enid Blyton and received a standard reply twice which had upset her.[15] The following year, from 28 September 1964, Blue Peter began to be broadcast twice weekly, with Baxter becoming the editor and Barnes and Rosemary Gill (an assistant producer who had joined as a temporary producer while Baxter was doing jury service) became the programme's producers.[16] The first Blue Peter book, an annual in all but name, was published this year and have

 been nearly every year since.[17][18] A third presenter, John Noakes , was introduced at the end of 1965 and became the longest serving presenter.

A complete contrast to Trace, Noakes set the scene for "daredevil" presenters that has continued through the generations of presenters.[19] Trace left Blue Peter in July 1967,[20] and was replaced by Peter Purves in November. The trio of Valerie Singleton, John Noakes and Peter Purves lasted five years, and according to Richard Marson were "the most famous presenting team in the show's history".[21] In 1965, the first "Summer Expedition" (a filming trip abroad) was held in Norway, and have been every year since all over the world.[22] The first colour edition of Blue Peter aired on 14 September 1970, with the last black and white edition on 24 June 1974.[23] A regular feature of the 1970s were the Special Assignments, which were essentially reports on interesting topics, filmed on location.

Singleton took this role, and in effect became the programme's "roving reporter".[24] Blue Peter also offered breaking news on occasion, such as the 1971 eruption of Mount Etna , as well as unique items such as the first appearance of Uri Geller on British television. In May 1976, presenter Lesley Judd interviewed Otto Frank , father of Anne Frank , after he had agreed to bring his daughter's diaries to Britain.[25] In 1974, the Blue Peter garden was officially opened in a green space outside the television centre restaurant block.[26] By this time, Blue Peter had become an established children's programme, with regular features which have since become traditions. Its theme music was updated by Mike Oldfield in 1979, and at the end of the decade a new presenting team were brought in, consisting of Simon Groom , Tina Heath and Christopher Wenner .

They were, however, overshadowed by the success of the previous two decades, and failed to make an impact.[27] Heath decided to leave after just a year when she discovered she was pregnant, but agreed to have a live scan of her baby, something which had never been done on television. Blue Peter was praised for this by the National Childbirth Trust who told the BBC that in "five minutes, Blue Peter had done more to educate children about birth than they'd achieved in ten years of sending out leaflets".[28] Wenner was unpopular with viewers, so left along with Heath on 23 June 1980.[29] Sarah Greene and Peter Duncan both joined in 1980, and a new producer, Lewis Bronze , joined in 1982.[30] The 1980s saw the Blue Peter studio become more colourful and bright, with the presenters gradually wearing more fashionable outfits, in contrast to the more formal appearance of previous decades.[31] Several videos of Blue Peter were released from 1982, the first being Blue Peter Makes, and an omnibus comprising the two weekly editions of the show appeared in 1986 on Sunday mornings.

On 27 June 1988, Baxter took part in her final show, after nearly 26 years involvement,[32] and Bronze took her place as editor.[33] Around this time, Blue Peter became distinctively environmentally aware and introduced a green badge in November 1988 for achievements related to the environment.[34] In the 1990s, a new version of the theme tune was written, and due to falling ratings, BBC1 controller Alan Yentob suggested airing a third edition of Blue Peter each week. This meant that the third show was pre-recorded; Joe Godwin , the director, suggested that the Friday show should be a lighter version of Blue Peter, which would concentrate on music, celebrities and games.[35] A fourth presenter, Katy Hill , was introduced in 1995,[36] but unlike earlier decades, there was little stability in the lineup, with resignations and new additions made almost every year of the decade. The 1990s also saw many more live broadcasts on location, with many shows shot entirely away from the studio.[35] Blue Peter was also one of the first television shows to launch a website.

There were also two changes of editors: Oliver Macfarlane replaced Bronze in the mid-1990s,[37] and moved on in 1999 soon after Blue Peter celebrated its 40th anniversary.[38] It was at this time Richard Bacon was sacked following reports in News of the World that he had taken cocaine .[39] Steve Hocking was then appointed as editor in what was believed to be a difficult period for the show.[40] However, the 2000s started off successfully, when two time capsules that had been buried on Blue Peter were opened up. The former presenters were invited back to assist, and the rest of the programme looked at life in the 1970s when the first capsule was buried.[41] With Hill's departure and replacement by Liz Barker in 2000, the new team of Konnie Huq , Simon Thomas , Matt Baker and herself made the programme strong and consistent for the next five years, which had been somewhat lacking in the 1990s.

The Friday edition of the show, as in the previous decade, featured games and competitions, but additionally there was a drama series, The Quest, which featured cameos from many former presenters. Basil Brush also made several appearances on Fridays. It was at this time that the new controller of BBC One, Nigel Packard , asked for Blue Peter to be broadcast all year round. This was achieved by having two shows per week instead of three during the summer months, and using pre-recorded material.[42] The early 2000s also introduced Christmas productions, which the presenters took part in.[43] In 2003, Richard Marson became the new editor, and one of his first tasks was changing Blue Peters output on the digital CBBC Channel , which for the first year of the channel's launch consisted of repeated editions, plus spin-off shows Blue Peter Unleashed and Blue Peter Flies the World.[44] This new arrangement involved a complex schedule of live shows and pre-recorded material, being broadcast on BBC One and the CBBC Channel .

Marson also introduced a new set, graphics and music,[45] In February 2008 the BBC One programme was moved from 5:00 pm to 4:35 pm to accommodate The Weakest Link , and as a result of the move, Blue Peters ratings dropped to as low as 100,000 viewers in the age 6–12 bracket but are now steadily improving. Over 4000 shows have been produced since 1958, and almost every episode from 1964 onwards still exists in the BBC archives. This is extremely unusual for programmes of that era, and is a testament to the foresight and initiative of editor Biddy Baxter , as she personally ensured that telerecordings and, from 1970, video copies were kept of the episodes. Blue Peter Presenters in the 90s - Katy Hill, Anthea Turner - Simply Eighties BLUE PETER IN THE 90S Whatever happened to the Blue Peter presenters from the 1990s?

Yvette Fielding still hadn't reached 19 years old when she became a Blue Peter a presenter on 29th June 1987. She left the show on 29th June 1992, but still holds the record for being the youngest Blue Peter presenter. Fielding went on to feature in more adult shows, including the Sunday morning religious programme The Heaven And Earth Show and City Hospital, a live show broadcast from British hospitals. She is now best-known for presenting spooky TV programmes about ghosts, including Most Haunted and Ghosthunting With... Anthea Turner had a relatively short stint on the children's show between 14th Sept 1992 and 27th June 1994 and became the show's 20th presenter. After leaving Blue Peter she hosted the ITV breakfast TV show GMTV for 2 and a half years, and also hosted the new National Lottery draw show for the BBC. In 2000, her career went down the pan after her involvement in the infamous "flakegate" - she wouldn't have earned a Blue Peter badge for that!

For her wedding, Turner and her future husband, Grant Bovey, signed a deal with OK! magazine for £300,000 to take exclusive photos of the ceremony. The controversy was with the photos, which, apparently, showed Turner and Bovey promoting the new Cadbury Snowflake bar, for which she was heavily criticised by the media. The British presenter has since tried to revive her career many times, including appearing in Celebrity Big Brother during 2001. In 2006, Turner took part in the rather patronising BBC3 show Anthea Turner: The Perfect Housewife, in which she taught both men and women how to look after and clean their own homes. She appeared in ITV1's cookery challenge show Hell's Kitchen in 2009, and since 2010 has been starring as an "expert" judge on a TV show on Food Network Canada entitled Dinner Party Wars. Diane-Louise Jordan presented Blue Peter for just over six years between 25th Jan 1990 and 26th Feb 1996. The trained actress became the programme's first black presenter.

She has since presented the BBC's religious show Songs Of Praise and works with several charitable organisations. Tim Vincent has been very active since leaving the show. The welsh actor presented the show between 16th Dec 1993 and 24th Jan 1997, but went on to feature in the drama Dangerfield and also presented The Clothes Show. In 2000 he took on the role of Adam Forrester in the ITV soap, Emmerdale. Vincent lived and worked in the U.S. for several years during the 2000's, hosting several Miss World shows. In 2008 he appeared in ITV's celebrity skating competition Dancing On Ice, and presented radio shows for London-based station Capital FM and Magic FM during 2008. Since 2011 Tim has presented This Morning's interactive hub on Friday's. Stuart Miles presented Blue Peter for four years between 27th June 1994 and 21st June 1999. The openly-gay presenter had a very active role in the show.

Since then he has been a guest presenter on This Morning, Holiday and the ITV2 show Soap Fever, which previewed and reviewed the soaps. During 2007 Miles became a presenter on the Sky Vegas gambling channel and became a presenter on Gaydar radio in 2008. He also has a drag act called Stella Ratner, although I have found very little information about this. Stuart currently is a co-presenter with Katy Hill on Heart Radio. Katy Hill was my all-time favourite presenter, not only because I fancied her, but also because she was just so bubbly and enthusiastic. She was on the show for 4 years between 23rd June 1995 and 19th June 2000. She was involved with countless assignments and had an enthusiasm that was hard to match. After leaving Blue Peter, Hill presented A Song For Europe in 2001 and 2002. She appeared on The Games on Channel 4 in 2004. After 2010 Katy worked as a relief co-presenter on ITV1's breakfast show Daybreak. Katy has also written blogs for the website ivillage.co.uk .

She is currently working as a co-presenter (with Stuart Miles) on Heart Breakfast for Heart Radio. Do you remember Romana D'Annunzio? The Scottish presenter worked on the programme between 1996 and 1998. Sadly, I have found very little info about what she did after leaving the show, but I do know that she played the role of a female clubber in an episode of the Channel 4 drama Young Person's Guide to Becoming a Rock Star. Richard Bacon was a presenter between 1997 and 1998, but was infamously sacked from Blue Peter after 1 year and 240 days when reports appeared in the tabloids that he had once taken cocaine. However, he has never been short of work since leaving the show. He has worked on The Big Breakfast, several radio shows and numerous BBC3 programmes. He hosted Richard Bacon's Beer & Pizza Club on ITV4 during 2010 and 2011, and since 2010 has been an afternoon presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live. Katy Hill

Question: Which presenter was sacked in 1999 following media reports that he had taken cocaine?
Answer: Richard Bacon