Blue Peter presenters... where are they now? | Radio Times Twitter Blue Peter presenters... where are they now? As the Blue Peter badge celebrates its fiftieth birthday this week - we track down some of the most loved presenters of the iconic BBC children's show Comments 4:59 PM, 18 June 2013 Peter Purves On Blue Peter: 16 November 1967- 23 March 1978 The Blue Peter lothario (well, Valerie Singleton admitted to a brief affair with him so that makes him a lothario in our books) is now 74 and lives in Suffolk with his second wife, Kathryn. Unlike his co-presenter John Noakes, Purves managed to carve out a successful post BP career and even the dog he was given – Petra – saw him earn a place presenting Crufts (thus scaling the kind of giddy heights that Noakes and his beloved dog Shep could only have dreamed of). Other work includes presenting shows such as BBC1 motorcycling programme Kick Start and working as a pantomime director (directing more than 30 productions) and appearing as an after dinner speaker.

Describing himself as a “terribly ordinary…. very straightforward and simple sort of person” he has expressed a degree of embarrassment in interviews about his sexually adventurous youth – especially regarding Singleton’s claim that he gave her a BSE – big sexual experience – when they worked on the show. Avert your eyes and ears children. John Noakes On Blue Peter: 30 December 1965 - 26 June 1978 Yorkshireman and pre-Peter Duncan Blue Peter action man, John Noakes is probably the grumpiest BP alumnus, if his many appearances on reminscence shows are anything to go by. Still, he looks back fondly to his work with Purves: "It was a bit like an overgrown schoolboy's job. I was Peter Pan really. I sometimes think I still am... Peter and me worked so well together, like Laurel and Hardy." If the tastes of the BP ladies were anything to go by he was probably more Hardy than Laurel as Purves and not Noakes apparently pulled both Valerie Singleton and Lesley Judd.

Never one to shy away from criticising the show, which he said never paid him enough and should have insured him for all those cer-razy stunts of his, Noakes' career was never quite the same post BP. Yes he remains the longest serving presenter (12 years and 6 months) and made Go With Noakes which he appeared on with his beloved Shep. But who remembers that? He's also written a children's book, The Flight of the Magic Clog, and in 1982 tried (unsuccessfully) to sail around the world. He has more recently appeared on I'm Famous And Frightened and Worst Celebrity Driver and still lives, we believe, in Mallorca. Simon Groom 5 May 1978 to 23 June 1986 This writer’s favouritest ever presenter (I used to watch him walking his gorgeous Golden Retriever dog Goldie near my house in the early 1980’s) Groom was notable for making sexual innuendos; (“what a beautiful pair of knockers”, “as long as you have a good length you can always manage a good lay” etc.).

Apparently the trick was to say them and get out of the studio before a furious Biddy Baxter could come down from the gallery above and berate him. Groom had a cool side – he was spotted by the show when working as a DJ (stage name Neil St John) and enjoyed a stint presenting various TV and radio documentaries and remained the show’s countryside correspondent after he left in 1986. He now lives in Matlock, Derbyshire where he heads his own television production company and has enjoyed his time presenting Groom's Gold - "two hours of great music and nostalgia to brighten your weekend" for BBC Radio Sheffield. Mark Curry 23 June 1986 - 26 June 1989 One of the early 1980’s dream team of Curry, Keating and Fielding, this popular presenter has enjoyed a *ahem * quiet life since leaving the show, appearing in panto, satellite TV travel shows, hosting Catchphrase and having a bit part in Last Of The Summer Wine. He also co-presented Record Breakers for a while, so it is clear that his main interests appear to be outside TV.

A qualified tennis coach, he has commentated at Wimbledon for BBC Radio 5, Radio Wimbledon and for Talk Radio Europe and in 2009 married his long-term partner Jeremy Sandle in a civil ceremony. Peter Duncan On Blue Peter: 11 September 1980 to 18 June 1984 9 September 1985 to 27 November 1986 One of the most popular presenters, famed for running marathons and for his daredevil stunts, he was unusual for enjoying two separate stints on the show – between 1980 and 1984 and 1985 to 1986 sandwiching the unhappy career of the late Michael Sundin who was fired by Biddy Baxter (allegedly for not gelling with the audiences). Daredevilry saw Duncan win many fans and he was given the show Duncan Dares after he left BP for good. Also enjoyed appearances on stage – he was nominated for an Olivier Award for best actor in a musical – and for raising the profile of the Scouts when he worked as Chief Scout between 2004 and 2009.

Tim Vincent 16 December 1993 - 24 January 1997 One of the most successful BP presenters, this son of the Valleys (by which we mean he’s Welsh) was already a successful actor when he joined the show, and combined his presenting work by playing Marty in two series of the BBC1 drama Dangerfield and as a presenter on The Clothes Show. He left the show in 1997 and later presented the Saturday show Fully Booked before returning to play vet Adam Forrester in Emmerdale. Vincent also appeared on stage where roles have incdued the priapic gamekeeper Mellors in a stage production of Lady Chatterley's Lover. He now lives in LA where he presents NBC’s Access Hollywood, one of America’s most watched shows. Katy Hill 23 June 1995 - 19 June 2000 A popular girl next door-style presenter, Hill left the show to become one of the four presenters hired to replace Zoe Ball and Jamie Theakston on Live and Kicking.

Unfortunately, poor ratings saw her quit less than a year later, but she has since managed to land presenting gigs on Top of the Pops, Football Fever and the weekend breakfast show on 95.8 Capital FM. Hill also came second in Channel 4 reality show The Games. Married to fellow TV presenter Trey Farley she has two children and lives in West London. BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Fifty facts about Blue Peter at 50 Fifty facts about Blue Peter at 50 Advertisement Watch some of the most memorable highlights from the past 50 years As Blue Peter celebrates 50 years on air, we look back at some of the show's highlights and institutions. IN THE BEGINNING • Blue Peter, the longest-running children's programme in the world, was first broadcast - for 15 minutes - on 16 October 1958. It was originally supposed to fill a six-week gap in scheduling. • The show is named after the blue-and-white flag flown on a ship's yard arm to show it is ready to go to sea - suggesting a voyage of discovery for viewers.

ADVENT CROWN COMPONENTS Wire coat hangers Four candles (not fork handles) • Although Blue Peter was the brainchild of producer John Hunter Blair in 1958, it was only following the 1962 arrival of Biddy Baxter - together with new director Edward Barnes - that things like appeals, foreign trips, competition, pets and sticky-backed plastic began to appear. • Housewife Margaret Parnell sent in the first idea for the "here's one I made earlier" section in 1963 - and ultimately spent nearly 40 years devising more than 700 "makes". • The Thunderbirds Tracy Island model remains the show's most popular make with more than 100,000 viewers requesting a factsheet. Presenter Anthea Turner still owns the original she crafted on the show in 1993. Another favourite was the Christmas advent crown made from coat hangers and fireproof tinsel. • On 30 July 1968, ITV launched Magpie - a rival show made by Thames Television which launched on the new licensee's first day of broadcast.

The programme, which had a mascot called Murgatroyd the magpie, aimed to be hipper than its BBC counterpart. Blue Peter eventually saw it off in 1980. Blue Peter has won 40 awards in its 50-year history • There have been only six editors in the show's 50-year history. The first was Ms Baxter who stepped up from producer into the newly-created role in 1965. She was followed by Lewis Bronze, Oliver Macfarlane, Steve Hocking, Richard Marson and current editor Tim Levell. • The programme blazed a trail for many subsequent BBC shows by breaking out of the studio and making full use of BBC Television Centre as a location. Initially, this prompted a memo from BBC management warning that "Television Centre is not a place of entertainment". • Blue Peter has won 40 awards, including a special award at the TV Baftas in 1998 for "outstanding contribution to children's television". PRESENTERS • According to Biddy Baxter, Blue Peter creator John Hunter Blair had two passions - 00 gauge railways and attractive women.

The first presenters of the show were 00 gauge railway enthusiast Christopher Trace and 21-year-old Leila Williams, crowned Miss Great Britain the previous year. Daredevil Peter Duncan was a favourite with viewers • Yorkshireman John Noakes presented the programme for 12 and a half years between 1965 and 1978. He left at the age of 45, making him the longest-serving of the 34 Blue Peter presenters. • Anita West had the briefest stint, spending four months on the show - from 7 May to 3 September 1962 - before returning to her acting career. • Yvette Fielding, who was 18 when she joined the show in 1987, was its youngest-ever presenter. • The classic line-up of John Noakes, Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves presented the show for five years from 1967 to 1972. • Peter Duncan, who wore trademark green-and-white checked outfits, is the only presenter to have had two stints on Blue Peter - between 1980 and 1984, and 1985 and 1986.

He was awarded a gold Blue Peter badge in February 2007 in recognition of his work as Chief Scout. Caron Keating presented between November 1986 and January 1990 • Like John Noakes, whose "long fall" earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the longest freefall parachute jump by a civilian, Peter Duncan became associated with daredevil stunts. He went on to host Duncan Dares after quitting Blue Peter. • In January 1990, Diane-Louise Jordan became Blue Peter's first black presenter. Louise-Jordan, who stayed in the show for six years, now hosts Songs of Praise. • Presenters who became more well-known after leaving the show include John Leslie, who had a relationship with Catherine Zeta Jones while he was in Blue Peter, Sarah Greene and the late Caron Keating. BLUE PETER ON iPLAYER Blue Peter: Craziest Moments • Greene, who fronted the show from 1980 to 1983, met her future husband, former TV presenter Mike Smith, while she was being filmed learning to dive at the wreck of sunken ship the Mary Rose.

• Keating, who hosted the show from 1986 to 1990, died tragically at the age of 41. The daughter of TV presenter Gloria Hunniford, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 and died at her mother's home in April 2004. IN ANOTHER LIFE • Prior to working on Blue Peter, Peter Duncan appeared nude in the British film The Lifetaker. He also briefly starred in the cult film, Flash Gordon, in which he was killed by a tree monster. Peter Purves (right) previously starred as Doctor Who's assistant • Singer James Blunt - then James Blount - appeared on the show as a child, as did Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and presenter Konnie Huq. • Household names who applied to become Blue Peter presenters before they found fame include Gail Porter, Morse star Kevin Whately, The Bill's Todd Carty and Tiswas presenter Sally James. • Peter Purves, who appeared between 1967 and 1978, previously starred as the doctor's assistant in early episodes of hit BBC show Doctor Who.

GAFFES AND SCANDALS • Host John Noakes was famously asked to drop his trousers after a bruising adventure on a bobsleigh. At which point, he realised he was wearing his wife's underwear which he had put on by accident in the dark. Richard Bacon, pictured with Tim Henman and a fan, was sacked in 1998 • Simon Groom, who appeared on the show for eight years from 1978 to 1986, along with his dog Goldie, once said on the show: "What a beautiful pair of knockers." He was commenting on replacements for the historical door knocker at Durham Cathedral. • In 1987, it was revealed that Janet Ellis was an unmarried mother. The presenter - who left the show following the birth of her second child, Jack - already had a daughter, the future pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor. • Richard Bacon became the first Blue Peter presenter to be sacked, in October 1998, after he admitted taking cocaine, following reports in a tabloid newspaper. Lorraine Heggessey, then head of BBC Children's programmes, apologised on air.

• In 2007, presenters were forced to apologise after faking the results of a phone-in competition. A technical problem led to a visiting child posing as a competition winner. "We let you down," Konnie Huq told viewers. APPEALS • In the programme's early years, Christopher Trace presented Christmas toy reviews. The first appeal began with the idea of giving, rather than receiving toys - with the audience asked to send in toys for members of the audience who would not be receiving any. Totalisers, to tot up donations, are a mainstay of Blue Peter appeals • It is estimated that, across 46 Blue Peter appeals, the equivalent of more than ï¿½100m in today's money has been raised, while 14 Bring and Buy Sale initiatives have netted the equivalent of about ï¿½57m.

• Blue Peter appeals have raised money to help buy: 8,350 lavatories, 57 lorries, 32 ponies, 25 lifeboats - some of which can still be found at seven lifeboat stations around the UK - 12 Romanian houses, eight flats for homeless people, six bungalows, three caravans, three schools, two guide dogs and two day centres. THE BLUE PETER GARDEN • Following the launch of the garden at BBC Television Centre in 1974, gardener Percy Thrower became a household name alongside the show's presenters. He retired in 1988, and was followed by Chris Crowder, Clare Bradley and Chris Collins. Blue Peter gardener Percy Thrower became a household name • In November 1983, the garden was devastated by vandals, leaving Thrower in tears. • In 2000, footballer Les Ferdinand, who was brought up close to Television Centre, told reporters he had been involved in the raid on the Blue Peter garden. But last year, he told the Guardian newspaper that, under pressure from journalists, he had made the story up as a joke.

• George the tortoise, Blue Peter's longest-surviving pet who died at the age of 81, is the only animal to have been buried in the Blue Peter garden. • Three time capsules have been buried around BBC Television Centre. The first, buried in 1971, had to be moved because of building development. A second was buried in 1984, and another in 2000 - scheduled to be opened in 2029. • Another millennium time capsule was hidden under the building that is now the O2 arena in south-east London, as part of the build up to 2000, and will be opened in 2050. BADGES • Introduced in 1963, the Blue Peter badge was Biddy Baxter's idea. She wanted to generate fresh ideas for the programme and offered the badges as an incentive to eager young viewers to write in. Lesley Judd, brought into the show in 1972, gives a badge to a viewer • The badge allows free admission into 200 venues around the UK.

However, in 2006, the scheme was briefly suspended when the badges were found to have been auctioned on the eBay website. • There are six types of badges now in existence - blue, green, purple, orange, silver and gold. • The Gold Blue Peter Badge is the show's highest honour and is awarded to those who have displayed, among other things, exceptional courage, or have represented their country in an international event. • Famous gold badge winners include the Queen - who visited the studio in 2001 - author JK Rowling and footballer David Beckham. • Olympic bronze medallist Bryony Stokes wore her Blue Peter badge as she windsurfed to victory at the Beijing Olympics 2008. ANIMALS • Among the Blue Peter pets there have been eight dogs, five tortoises, nine cats and two parrots. Presenters Michael Sundin and Simon Groom with tortoise George in 1985 • Fred the tortoise, who first appeared on 21 October 1963, had to be renamed Freda, after it was discovered, four years later, that he was actually a girl.

• Bonnie, a much-loved golden retriever, was given a Gold Blue Peter badge on her retirement in 1991. • John Noakes' catchphrase, "get down Shep", used to control his canine companion, was incorporated into a pop song of the same name by The Barron Knights in 1978, reaching number 44 in the charts. • And finally, in 1969, Lulu the elephant famously defecated, urinated and dragged her keeper through the mess in the studio. During the chaotic scenes, the keeper could be heard shouting for someone to fetch "me stick". Lulu the elephant is one of Blue Peter's most fondly-remembered guests As Peter Purves explains: "During rehearsals, anytime he wanted the elephant to do anything, he had a chain around its neck and he'd pull it, the elephant wouldn't go and he'd bonk it on the head with a stick and Biddy thought it looked cruel. "She said, 'Would you please do it without a stick,' - so he did.

The elephant went wherever it liked - end of story." BBC - Archive - Aerial Journeys - Go With Noakes | The Red Arrows 1976 Synopsis Having made a reputation for himself as a bit of a daredevil, John Noakes continued to risk life and limb in this series. This edition sees him join the famous aerial stunt team the Red Arrows, sitting in on their debriefing and taking part in a simulated flying lesson. He's also a passenger in a practice display before helping the groundcrew prepare for a big show. Did you know? Yorkshireman John Noakes holds the record for longest-serving presenter of the children's magazine programme 'Blue Peter', having racked up 12 years and six months (though Konnie Huq was a presenter for just over 10 years, she holds the record for number of editions she presented - 966). The theme tune to this series is a rendition of 'On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at' ('On Ilkley Moor, without a hat'), a popular Yorkshire song sung to the tune of the hymn 'Cranbrook'.

Contributors Blue Peter's John Noakes was 2 hours from tragic ending | Daily Mail Online comments Blue Peter legend John Noakes was lucky to escape after falling into a storm drain and lying there for more than 10 hours, an official has said. The 81-year-old - who has Alzheimer's - was 'in a bad way' when he was found in the roadside drain near his Majorcan home just two hours before nightfall yesterday. His rescue came after police, his wife and friends spent the day frantically searching countryside near the town of Andratx, where he now lives, in an increasingly desperate bid to find him. Blue Peter legend John Noakes was lucky to escape after falling into a storm drain, an official has said. He was found in a strawberry field a mile from his home around 7pm. Above, a picture of the rescue A civil guard officer confirmed he was found alive around 7pm local time 'but [was] in need of medical attention'. The officer said: 'Fortunately we found him when we did, because another couple of hours and with night closing in the search would have been suspended till tomorrow, and then it could have been a different story.

Mr Noakes was released from the Son Espases Hospital just before midnight and was due to see a specialist this morning. The presenter's wife, Vicky Noakes, said: 'I’m taking him in to see his specialist today. They sent him home last night. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 'There were no injures, just heat exposure and dehydration. They put him on a drip for some time. 'He’s fine really but still very disorientated and his specialist wants to see him immediately having heard what happened.' She added that she was confused about how she missed him when he was so close to the house. The 71-year-old said: 'How on earth we missed him so close to the house I don’t know. Mr Noakes was found at 7pm local time by a Civil Guard helicopter and was described as being 'very weak' The Former Blue Peter presenter, with his wife Vicky, has been found tonight after an extensive search 'I knew he couldn’t have gone very far but when you talk about the countryside here, it’s very difficult to search it. We were very fortunate and I really appreciate all the efforts the search parties made.

'The specialist wants to check him out and check he doesn’t need two or three days in nursing care so he gets levelled off again. 'But they did everything they could at Son Espases, all the blood tests and everything. 'He has no recollection of anything that happened yesterday at this stage which the doctor tells me is normal so we don’t know if he fell or simply got lost or what happened.' A spokesman for the hospital confirmed a British man had been released late last night. The presenter, who is best remembered for his daring stunts and his pet dog Shep, was reported missing around 9am. Officials were initially alerted to the presenter's disappearance when his wife put out an appeal after her husband of 52 years wandered off. She followed him in the car but lost sight of him when she parked the vehicle to catch up with him on foot. The civil guard mountain rescue team was joined on the ground by firemen, local police, civil protection workers and increasing numbers of expat friends of the couple as well as locals.

Former Blue Peter presenter John Noakes (pictured left in 2008 and right in his Blue Peter heyday) has been found in a 'bad way' in a strawberry field near his home in the town of Andratz in Majorca His wife, Vicky, 71, said she was 'very relieved' after her husband of more than 50 years was found alive and was going to calm herself down with a cup of tea, before heading to the hospital to check on his welfare Mr Noakes' dementia was only known to a close circle of friends and family. Speaking earlier in the day, his wife said he had lived with Alzheimer's for a 'number of years'. She added: 'You learn to live and cope with things. But this is a little different this time and I am concerned because it is the hottest day of the year so far here. 'If he is wandering around, he'll get more confused as he gets more dehydrated.' She confirmed he had no water with him and there were fears he might have become dehydrated in the searing 35C (95F) heat. He had also gone out of their country home for a walk without money or ID as well.

As the hunt became increasingly desperate, town hall officials even highlighted his disappearance on the council's website as six police officers and ten members of the civil guard joined the search. Mr Noakes was eventually spotted by a police helicopter lying collapsed 'in the bottom of a storm drain' less than a mile from his house. Mrs Noakes said he had fallen 'among long grass' which had hidden him from search parties. The Yorkshireman may not have been able to shout for help because of the effects of the extreme heat. Although dehydrated from spending hours outside in scorching temperatures, the former children's TV star was uninjured and is expected to make a good recovery. Mr Noakes was finally spotted after a frantic 10 hour search by this police helicopter near his Majorca home Speaking minutes after her husband was found, Mrs Noakes said: 'I've been told he's not injured in any way, but I imagine he's dehydrated after being more than nine hours without water under a scorching sun and I assume they'll keep him in hospital overnight to rehydrate him and check he's okay. 'He was found very near the road in a sort of a storm drain that fills up when it rains.

I imagine he had just lost his bearings and strayed off the path and fallen somewhere. 'I knew it couldn't be far because he wouldn't have been able to walk that far.' She added how she was going to calm herself down with a cup of tea before heading to the hospital. A police officer added: 'He was very weak because he has been outside for many hours in the heat, presumably without eating or drinking anything. 'Bear in mind that this gentleman is 81 and suffers from Alzheimer's, which is assumed to have contributed to him going missing.' John Noakes is pictured meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace to celebrate 50 years of Blue Peter in 2008 Mr Noakes pictured at his house in Andratx, Mallorca in 2008 - he was found in a strawberry field today after going missing which sparked a frantic 10 hour search Long-serving: John Noakes (pictured far right with Peter Purves, Lesley Judd and Valerie Singleton) remains Blue Peter's longest-running presenter.

His stint in the 1960s and 1970s lasted 12 years and six months Star: Noakes with Shep, Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves was a household name in the 1960s, 70s and 80s John Noakes and his former Blue Peter co-host Valerie Singleton arrive at Buckingham Palace in 2008 Peter Purves, Valerie Singleton and John Noakes are seen at the National Television Awards in 2008 The couple's son Mark, 51, a landscape gardener from Bentley, Hampshire, last night said he was 'very relieved' at the news his father had been found. Mr Noakes was a household name in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. He remains Blue Peter's longest serving presenter, fronting the children's show with a variety of co-hosts including Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves from 1965 until 1978. Famed for using the phrase 'Get down Shep' during his attempts to control his excitable border collie, he usually fulfilled the action man role.

Among his many stunts was a record-breaking free-fall parachute jump. He later made several series of Go With Noakes. However, he has distanced himself from his Blue Peter role, describing his time on the show as 'terrible'. In 1982 he and his wife set sail to travel the world, but were shipwrecked in a hurricane. In 1984 they tried again and got no further than Majorca and ended up settling. In 2008 he appeared in a Blue Peter-themed edition of the Weakest Link – and became visibly upset when Anne Robinson mentioned Shep. When did John Noakes leave Blue Peter? When did John Noakes leave Blue Peter? Sponsored by Get down, Shep! John Noakes presented Blue Peter for 13 years Credit: Rex Features 26 June 2016 • 12:00am 26 June 1978 John Noakes leaves Blue Peter On this day in 1978, John Noakes presented his final edition of Blue Peter. Noakes had been with the show since 1965, making him the longest-serving presenter the children’s favourite has ever had.

Not that he got off to a good start. He recalled: “The first few months were quite terrifying. I went through murder.” Yet once the lanky Yorkshireman got into his stride, we all fell in love with him. He climbed Nelson’s Column, jumped out of aeroplanes, whizzed down a bob sleigh – and even created the famous refrain: “Get down, Shep!” Royal London has its roots in the community. Founded in 1861, it began with the aim of helping people avoid the stigma of a pauper's grave. It became a mutual life insurance company in 1908 before growing into the UK’s largest mutual life and pensions company. Its founding principles are self-reliance, community and keeping members at the heart of all decisions. Coming up next Become a Blue Peter presenter | GoThinkBig TV If you’re good at arts and crafts and fancy having the power to dispense those hallowed Blue Peter badges, this is your big chance. This summer the BBC launches a talent show to find the next Matt Baker/Anthea Turner-a-like, but it isn’t your average job interview.

To find the one destined to frolic in the famous Blue Peter garden and take part in the equally famous Blue Peter challenges (remember when Tim Vincent broke the sound barrier in a Tornado jet? That was cool), viewers will vote how best to put hopefuls through their paces to prove they’ve got what it takes. There will also be a test involving unpredictable animals. Which sounds pretty fun. The working title at the mo is So You Want To Be A Blue Peter Presenter? and, if this sounds like the perfect job for you (and you’re OK with physical challenges, dogs and mad creatures), then email here immediately to be in with a chance. In the meantime, check our top ten of the thirty-eight presenters you’ll be sharing the Blue Peter Wall of Fame with. If there was a wall of fame, which we’re sure there must be. Somewhere. Valerie Singleton: 3 September 1962- Eternity Golden Age Member #1. Often referred to as Mrs Blue Peter (this isn’t true, but it should be), Valerie officially left in 1972 but continued to do a Special Assignment series till 1975.

She famously accompanied Princess Anne to Kenya on the royal’s first trip abroad. Basically, she’s a huge Blue Peter Legend and Richard Marson states in his Blue Peter 50th Anniversary book that “Singleton never really left Blue Peter”. John Noakes: 30 December 1965 – 26 June 1978 Golden Age Member #2. The longest serving male presenter with a Yorkshire accent when everyone sounded like the Queen. Was given Patch the dog to look after, who tragically died from a rare disease. John was then given a mad Collie called Shep who would often jump on top of things, hence the catchphrase “Get down, Shep!” Peter Purves: 16 November 1967 – 23 March 1978 Golden Age Member #3. The second longest serving presenter was originally a companion of Doctor Who (when William Hartnell was the Doctor). Was known as “the sensible one” out of Valerie, John and Lesley Judd (below). Who were all bloody mad for it, obviously. Lesley Judd: 5 May 1972 – 12 April 1979 Golden Age Member #4.

Lesley Judd had trouble with the press when her ex husband threatened to do tell-all interviews. The fact she divorced at all was a bit problematic as, in those days, it didn’t set a great example to children (see: Richard Bacon). The scandal blew over, so she stayed, but then married and divorced a Blue Peter film editor which caused more problems. Simon Groom: 15 May 1978 – 23 June 1986 Would say filth that would go over the heads of innocent children. His most famous was “what a lovely pair of knockers” with regards Durham Cathedral. A close second was: “As long as you have a decent length to start with, then you can manage a good lay” when referring to hedge maintenance. Made the show a lot more entertaining for adults. Peter Duncan: 11 September 1980 – 18 June 1984 Almost as soon as he’d got the post, it was revealed that Duncan had appeared nude in a British film. He didn’t leave, though, remaining on the team until 1984, returning again for a year in 1985.

Known for his madcap stunts as opposed to that time he got naked. John Leslie: 20 April 1989 – 20 January 1994 First Scottish Blue Peter presenter, and the tallest (he is 6″4). His final challenge before leaving was to abseil down BBC Television Centre, complete a velcro and wheelbarrow obstacle course, do a spot of trampolining and conduct an orchestra in the studio. He did a pretty good job, tbh. Let’s not mention Abi Titmuss. Anthea Turner: 14 September 1992 – 27 June 1994 Much loved by mums and grans, Anthea went from awkward flop on UP2U – where a motorcycle stunt she took part in went wrong and resulted in her suing the BBC – to Blue Peter presenter for just two years. Her smile could be seen from space but, erm, she wasn’t that interesting. Tim Vincent: 16 December 1993 – 24 January 1997 Travelled to South Africa, broke the sound barrier in a jet and completed the New York Marathon all in the name of Blue Peter.

Went on to be the go-to presenter for most cool kids TV shows (Shortchange, where kids rang up and complained about faulty crisp packets etc, was awesome. If a slightly odd concept). Katy Hill: 23 June 1995 - 19 June 2000 Smiley bouncy Katy lived in Mongolia for a week, joined the Cirque du Soleil and made countless things from yoghurt pots. She got the job reportedly by absolutely bombarding the bosses with showreel after showreel and most guys will admit to her being their first crush. Konnie Huq: 1 December 1997 – 23 January 2008 Wife of Charlie Brooker and pioneer of the creaky voice and crooked mouth, when it became apparent that one of the competitions was faked, Konnie was the one who apologised. And she was so genuine that most of us in the GoThinkBig office really did forgive her. She was the longest serving female presenter and one of the best.

Matt Baker: 25 June 1999 – 26 June 2006 When clocking Blue Peter were looking for presenters, Matt put together a showreel of him reading a story and riding a unicycle. Used to be a gymnast, so would often do the more physical challenges – including training as a stuntman, learning to fly hang gliders and making a tandem world record breaking flight. John Noakes (Actor) - Pics, Videos, Dating, & News John Noakes Male Born Mar 6, 1934 John Noakes is a British television presenter and personality, best known for co-presenting the BBC children's magazine programme Blue Peter in the 1960s and 1970s. He remains the show's longest-serving presenter, with a stint that lasted 12 years and 6 months.… Read More related links News + Updates Browse recent news and stories about John Noakes.

'people Always Confuse Me With John Noakes, And Stop To Ask Me About The Blue Peter Dog Shep!' Says Countryfile Presenter John Craven Daily Mail (UK) - Sep 28, 2012 'We ask a celebrity a set of devilishly probing questions â and only accept THE definitive answer. This week: Countryfile presenter John Craven.' Tribute To Bus Shelter Artist Unveiled Otago Daily Times - Apr 15, 2012 '\n \n \n As well as providing refuge from the weather for bus\n passengers, the Company Bay bus shelter now serves as a\n memorial to the late Broad Bay artist <mark>John Noakes</mark>.\n \n read more ' Noakes Tribute An Honour: Artist Otago Daily Times - Apr 05, 2012 '\n \n \n Being asked to paint a tribute to the late Dunedin artist\n <mark>John Noakes</mark> was a real honour for artist Daniel Mead.\n \n read more ' Profile On...

Yorkshire Post Google News - Aug 22, 2011 'Four famous sons of Halifax are <mark>John Noakes</mark>, Frank Worthington, Percy Shaw and John Mackintosh (of toffee fame) John and his wife Violet, who concocted the toffee recipe opened a shop in King Cross Lane in 1890. John became known as the âToffee Kingâ' Learn about the memorable moments in the evolution of John Noakes. CHILDHOOD 1934 Birth Born on March 6, 1934. THIRTIES 1965 31 Years Old Noakes joined Blue Peter as a presenter on 30 December 1965; his colleagues at the time were Christopher Trace and Valerie Singleton. … Read More Trace left the programme in 1967, and was replaced by Peter Purves, creating the 'Val, John and Pete' line-up which lasted until 1972. When Singleton began to diversify her television career, former Young Generation dancer Lesley Judd joined the team.

At a time when most BBC presenters spoke with received pronunciation (RP), Noakes's broad Yorkshire accent was a novelty.<br /><br /> Noakes usually fulfilled the role of action man in the series. Highlights included free-fall parachuting with the RAF's Flying Falcons display team and bobsleighing (his sled hit a hole in the ice and turned over, injuring him). After his five-mile-high free-fall with the RAF in 1973, he held the record for the longest free-fall parachute jump by a British civilian for a few years, although it has since been broken. Read Less 1971 37 Years Old Like most presenters, Noakes was encouraged to take special responsibility for one of the show's pets. His original dog was Patch, the son of Petra, the first Blue Peter dog. After Patch's sudden death in 1971 (from a rare disease) he was given another pet dog, a Border Collie puppy, christened Shep by viewers.

… Read More Noakes's attempts to control the excitable Shep led to his memorable catchphrase "Get down, Shep!".<br /><br /> Overlapping with his period on Blue Peter, Noakes and Shep appeared in another factual series, Go With Noakes, in which they travelled around the country getting involved in diverse activities like motor racing, rowing, aerobatics and painting. In each series Noakes was featured travelling around Britain in a particular mode, e.g. sailing, narrow boat, walking, open top car. Read Less FORTIES 1976 42 Years Old Go With Noakes began on 28 March 1976, and would run for six series and 31 episodes, finishing its original run on 21 December 1980. Show Less Noakes left Blue Peter on 26 June 1978. … Read More It is generally thought that Noakes was not allowed to keep Shep. Although the dog was legally owned by the BBC, Noakes was offered the option of keeping him.

According to the behind-the-scenes book Blue Peter The Inside Story by Biddy Baxter, the show's longest-serving editor, this was conditional on Noakes' not using Shep for advertising or commercial purposes. Noakes appeared in a series of television advertisements for Spillers "Choice Cuts" dog food, using a dog that was indistinguishable from Shep but named Skip. The subterfuge led to a deeper rift between him and Baxter. Noakes called her a "stupid woman" in a televised 2008 documentary celebrating the show's 50th anniversary. Read Less Because of his poor relationship with Baxter, Noakes refused to appear on an edition of Blue Peter to celebrate its twentieth birthday in October 1978 and had to be persuaded to pre-film a message for the programme by Lewis Bronze. … Read More The filmed message was taped whilst Noakes was on location filming the Go With Noakes episode Around The Cheshire Ring. This minor subterfuge also allowed the show to explain his absence in a positive manner for the viewers. He did not appear at all for the silver anniversary programme in 1983.

Read Less 1979 45 Years Old In 1979, Noakes wrote a children's book, The Flight of the Magic Clog, published by Lion with illustrations by Toni Goffe. … Read More In the book, Mr. Brooks takes John, Mickey the brainy one, June the talkative one, Barbara the pretty one and Eric the clumsy one on an adventure against the international villain Baron Wilhelm Doppleganger and his secret arms factory, using a giant magic flying clog. Read Less 1982 48 Years Old In 1982, Noakes and his wife made an unsuccessful attempt to sail around the world. … Read More A second attempt in 1984 got no further than Majorca, Spain, where they settled down to run a boat rental business. Read Less 1983 49 Years Old In 1983 Noakes presented The Dinosaur Trail, a 7-part documentary for Children's ITV. … Read More Between 1986 and 1988 the BBC's programme Fax! answered questions posed by viewers.

Read Less FIFTIES 1987 53 Years Old On 20 January 1987 the question "Whatever happened to John Noakes and Shep?" was posed. … Read More Noakes appeared on the show with his wife and revealed what he had been doing since retiring from television, During the course of the interview, Noakes tearfully revealed that Shep had died just three days before.<br /><br /> Notwithstanding his status as an icon for a whole generation, Noakes has become publicly bitter about his Blue Peter experiences. Despite having come across as a natural presenter, he claimed his television personality was a fake, and he was merely acting a role. He also complained about his perceived low salary during his time on Blue Peter, and expressed disgust that he had apparently never been insured for any of the stunts he had undertaken, claiming that he would never have gone through with them had he been aware of this at the time. Programme editor "Biddy Baxter was an awful woman," he said in 1999. "I don't want to talk about her." Baxter, for her part, has denied Noakes's claims about the lack of insurance for his stunts.

Read Less LATE ADULTHOOD 1998 - 2003 2 More Events 1998 64 Years Old The Singleton/Noakes/Purves team was reunited in October 1998 for a programme celebrating 40 years of Blue Peter and again in January 2000 for the disinterment of the time capsule that they had buried in 1971. … Read More In 2000s, Noakes trained in the Michel Thomas method of language tuition, and then became a language tutor, specialising in Romance languages. Read Less 2003 69 Years Old In 2003, Noakes co-hosted an ITV series entitled Mad About Pets and in 2004, he took part in the Living TV reality TV show I'm Famous and Frightened! … Read More A year later, he appeared in the Channel 5 programme Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver. Read Less 2008 74 Years Old On 14 June 2008, he appeared in a Blue Peter-themed edition of the Weakest Link, being voted off second.

… Read More It was noted that when the presenter Anne Robinson spoke about Shep he became visibly upset and could not hold back the tears trying to answer the question. Read Less 2013 79 Years Old On 7 September 2013, he appeared with Peter Purves in Pointless Celebrities (episode 6 of series 4). 2015 81 Years Old On 30 June 2015 Noakes was reported missing from his home in Andratx, Majorca. … Read More His wife alerted local police, who confirmed that Noakes had a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and had been living with the condition for some years. He was found the same day, close to his home, and taken to hospital, having fallen into some long grass "in the bottom of a storm drain". Read Less Original Authors of this text are noted on . Blue Peter pets | Blue Peter Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit Petra(Blue Peter Dog) Petra was a female mongrel that appeared on Blue Peter between 1962 and 1977. Petra was the first Blue Peter pet, and remains one of the best known.

To date (May 2011) Petra is the longest serving Blue Peter pet.[1] She was weighed on one of the episodes and found to weigh about 2 stone. She had several puppies, including Patch, who also became a Blue Peter pet, and who predeceased her. Petra lost her teeth at an early age, but this was not necessarily a bad thing; Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves once said that she was often bad-tempered and would "gum you to death" if she had the chance. When Peter Purves started working on the Blue Peter show and became Petra's handler on the set, Petra had already been on the show for approximately seven years. Petra was an irritable nervous dog on the set, therefore, Biddy Baxter had the idea that Purves should be Petra's permanent keeper, and so he looked after her at his home too. He became fond of Petra and was sad when she died, having been her owner for more than six years.[2] There is a bust of Petra in the Blue Peter garden. It originally stood in front of BBC Television Centre but was moved to the garden in 1984 due to redevelopment works.

It was later revealed that the original (unnamed) puppy had died of distemper a few days after her first appearance on Blue Peter, broadcast just before Christmas 1962.[3] Instead of informing viewers, and feeling there was no need to upset children needlessly, the programme's director and producer Edward Barnes and Biddy Baxter bought a similar-looking replacement puppy, which was subsequently named Petra by the viewers.[4][5] Patch Patch (9 September 1965 - 1971) was looked after by presenter John Noakes after Noakes joined the programme in December 1965. Patch had a distinctive marking around one of his eyes, giving him his name. Patch died in 1971. Shep Shep (1971–1987), a border collie, is widely considered to be the most famous Blue Peter pet. Shep was bought by the BBC to replace Patch, one of Petra's puppies, born in 1965. He became the main Blue Peter dog when Petra died in 1977.

Shep was bred by Audrey Wickham (née Hart), breeder of a number of notable pedigree border collies in the Sadghyl line. He was always considered very small until immortalised in television. Shep is remembered by viewers as being inseparable from Blue Peter presenter John Noakes. Shep was excitable, and Noakes would often have to restrain him. Noakes's common refrain, "Get down Shep!", became a catchphrase, and The Barron Knights released a song with that title. Shep left Blue Peter when Noakes departed in June 1978. Shep also appeared with Noakes in five series of Go with Noakes, from 1976 to 1980. Contrary to popular legend, while Shep belonged to the BBC, Noakes was not required to return Shep to the BBC when he left and was given him as a gift. However, Noakes was forbidden to use Shep for advertising or commercial purposes. Noakes did not agree to this, and therefore Shep went to live with Edith Menezes, a friend of the programme.

Not long after leaving Blue Peter, Noakes appeared in a series of TV ads for dog food, with a similar looking dog named 'Skip'. Shep died on 17 January 1987.[6] Goldie Goldie was a female golden retriever dog who appeared on Blue Peter from 1978 to 1986. She was owned by presenter Simon Groom. She made her first appearance on the show as a puppy and was named by viewers of Blue Peter. She went on to appear with 8 other presenters and began the long list of golden retrievers to appear on the show. In early 1986, Goldie went on to have puppies and one of them, Bonnie, went on to become a Blue Peter dog after Goldie left. She left along with Simon Groom later that year and lived to 14.[7] Bonnie Bonnie (3 February 1986 – 17 April 2001) was a female golden retriever dog who appeared on Blue Peter in the late 1980s and 1990s. She was the daughter of Goldie, and succeeded her mother as the Blue Peter dog.

Bonnie appeared in 1,150 editions of the programme, alongside 16 different presenters, until she retired in 1999 to live with Leonie Pocock, her off screen owner. Bonnie died at the age of 15 in 2001.[8] Mabel Mabel (born c. 1996 - 4 May 2011) was a Blue Merle Border Collie and was Blue Peter's second longest serving dog after Petra being on the show for more than 14 years.[1] Mabel was rescued by the RSPCA who found her in South East London in 1996. She was about six months old when she joined Blue Peter. Her name was derived from the label on her RSPCA kennel, MAB1.[9] Mabel was noticeable for having heterochromia eyes (one blue and one brown) and distinctive ears.

As Mabel's exact date of birth is unknown, her birthday was celebrated on 3 February, the same day as former Blue Peter dog Bonnie.[10] On 10 March 2010 it was announced that Mabel would be retiring from the show after 14 years. Mabel retired on 30 March 2010, and died on 4 May 2011.[9] Lucy Lucy (22 February 1998 - April 2011) was a Blue Peter pet for 12 years. A pedigree Golden Retriever she was born to Laytoncroft India of Highbrae (mother) and Lilling Dessie (father). She famously once wandered into Paul O'Grady's dressing room and was scared off by his dog. On 4 April 2011, it was announced that Lucy had died, aged 13, following a struggle with cancer. Meg Meg (born c. 2000 - 15 June 2011) was a Border Collie who belonged to presenter Matt Baker.

Whilst not considered an official Blue Peter pet, as she lived with Baker's family in County Durham and was trained as a sheepdog, she frequently appeared on the show alongside Baker during his tenure as a Blue Peter presenter. Her highlights whilst on the show included demonstrating her sheepdog skills and giving birth to a litter of puppies. Meg left with Matt Baker in 2006, but has also appeared in other television programmes he has been involved in, including the BBC's 2007 coverage of Crufts, Countryfile and even a barking part in The Archers. There is also a model of Meg at the Jorvic Centre in York, made from a cast of the pet. Meg died on 15 June 2011 aged 11, though was the first Blue Peter dog whose death was not mentioned on the programme. Barney Barney is believed to be an Irish Setter/Dachshund cross[11] and officially joined the Blue Peter team on 22 September 2009.

He is the show's ninth dog.[12] Barney is a former stray and was given to presenter Helen Skelton by the Dogs Trust.[13] Barney left the show along with his owner Helen in September 26, 2013, a replacement has not been announced. Guide dogs The programme has had a long association with guide dogs, which stretches back to 1964 – captivating millions of viewers and helping to transform the lives of thousands of visually impaired people. The first Blue Peter guide dog puppy was Honey, whose training was charted by Valerie Singleton on the programme in 1964. Since then there has been Cindy who was puppy walked by Peter Purves in 1968; Buttons, who was featured in the mid-1970s, Prince, whose training was followed by Peter Duncan in 1981 and most recently a second pup called Honey – named in honour of her predecessor – who was trained by presenter John Leslie during 1991.

In 2006 Andy Akinwolere began puppy walking a new Blue Peter guide dog puppy, named by viewers as Magic.Magic had epilepsy, so he went to an owner, but sadly he had to be put down.[14] Cats Edit Jason Jason (3 May 1964 - January 1976) was the first Blue Peter cat. He was a Seal Point Siamese who joined after appearing on an episode with his mother, brother and sister at just three weeks old. Possibly Jason's finest hour came in December 1975 when he played the part of the Cheshire Cat in the show's Christmas production, Alice in Blue Peter Land. With a voice remarkably similar to that of John Noakes, Jason snootily pointed out he was a Siamese cat before disappearing. Jason lived until January 1976.[15] Jack Jack (29 January 1976 – 20 April 1986) was a silver striped tabby and the brother of Jill who made his television debut with his sister just three weeks after they were born.

Jack and Jill became known as Blue Peter's disappearing cats, for whenever they appeared on screen they tended to leap out of a presenter's lap. A sequence of clips demonstrating the fact was put together by the production team, featuring various moments when the cats leapt out of sight. It was set to the theme of the cartoon Top Cat, and was often requested by viewers as the clip they most wanted to see again. Jack died suddenly in 1986.[16] Jill Jill (29 January 1976 – 30 May 1983) was a silver spotted tabbie and the sister of Jack. She often appeared with her brother, famously leaping out of presenter's laps whenever on screen. On 15 May 1980 Jill gave birth to two kittens who appeared with their mother on the show on 23 June. Jill died of heart failure in 1983.[17] Willow Willow first appeared on Blue Peter in September 1986 as a replacement to Jack who had died a few months earlier. Viewers were asked to send in their suggestions for a name, and the name Willow was chosen, probably because of the kitten's oriental looks.

Rather than follow Willow's progress as a mother, it was decided that she should be the first pet to be spayed. This decision was taken because of the vast numbers of unwanted pets destroyed by the RSPCA every year. Willow retired from the programme in 1991 to live in Sussex.[18] Kari and Oke Kari and Oke were rescued as kittens and placed in the care of Wood Green Animal Shelters in Heydon, Cambridgeshire. Oke was found abandoned in a bush and the staff of the centre set about the tricky task of trying to encourage Kari's mother to adopt Oke. The plan worked and the pair became brother and sister. Six weeks after being rescued, they made their Blue Peter debut. They were named after John Leslie and Diane-Louise Jordan's Summer Expedition to Japan in 1991, where they performed karaoke. Kari and Oke retired from the programme in 2004, shortly after their 13th birthday.[19] Kari died in 2006 at the age of 15; Oke died in mid-2011, aged 20.

Smudge Smudge was one of the shortest serving Blue Peter pets. Smudge was named as a kitten by the viewers and was one of the most popular kittens on the show, but died in 2005 from the injuries sustained after being hit by a car. Socks(Blue Peter Cat) Socks (born 29 November 2005, Hertfordshire) is a ragdoll and the current Blue Peter cat who first appeared on 9 January 2006 as Smudge's replacement.[20] Socks is known for causing a scandal on the show after the programme's producers falsified the result of a viewer vote to choose the cat's name. Viewers had selected the name Cookie, but producers changed the result to Socks. Both Socks and Cookie left in October 2013 when it was decided that they were no longer part of the team due to them living in London with their owner. The journey is too long for the cats, who, since September 2011, had not appeared regularly. [21] Cookie Cookie was introduced to the show on 25 September 2007 following the scandal caused by the change of Socks' name.

Cookie left in October 2013 along with Socks,replacements have not been found yet. Tortoises Edit Freda Freda was the first Blue Peter tortoise. She made her debut on 21 October 1963 and lived to April 1979. She was originally thought to be a male and was called Fred, but renamed when it was realised she was female. Freda is best remembered for her appearances each year when she was brought onto the show and placed into a cardboard box to hibernate over the harsh British winter.[22] Maggie and Jim Maggie and Jim (27 August 1974 - January 1982) were brother and sister who made their first appearance in 1974 and joined the show on a regular basis in 1979, after the death of Freda. They were named after Margaret Thatcher and James Callaghan, both prime ministers of that year. The two did not survive the cold winter of January 1982.[23] George "George the tortoise" redirects here. For last known individual of the Pinta Island Tortoise, see Lonesome George.

George (circa 1920 - 10 May 2004) was a Mediterranean Spur-thighed Tortoise who first appeared on the programme in 1982 and holds the title of longest serving Blue Peter pet. Originally named Pork Pie, viewers renamed him George. In 1988 George caused a scare when the home where he was kept had a break-in and he went missing. Thinking he had been killed, the production team broadcast a special tribute film about him, but George was found by a neighbour walking her dog some days later.[24] George made his last appearance on the show on 14 April 2004, and his death was announced on 10 May 2004. Shelley Shelley (hatched c.

1985, Morocco) is a female Mediterranean Spur-thighed tortoise who first appeared on the programme in 2004 as a friend to George and then became the only tortoise on the show after his death.[25] Parrots Edit Joey Joey, a Blue-fronted Amazon, was the first of two parrots that appeared on Blue Peter during the 1960s with Petra, Patch, and Jason.[26] In a 1986 documentary shown on BBC2 as part of the Did You See...? series, former presenter Peter Purves recalled that Biddy Baxter, the show's editor, had called him in floods of tears the day Joey had died. Amazon parrots have the potential to live for about 60 years; nevertheless, having a parrot as one of the pets on the programme was discontinued in the 1960s. Barney Barney was the second and final Blue Peter parrot, brought into the programme in the 1960s after the death of the previous parrot, Joey. When Barney died, he was not replaced. There has not been a Parrot since.

Missing John Noakes is found 'in a bad way' in a strawberry field and taken to hospital | Daily Mail Online comments Blue Peter legend John Noakes was airlifted to hospital last night after apparently falling into a roadside storm drain while out walking near his Majorcan home. The 81-year-old – who has Alzheimer's – sparked a huge search after vanishing on the hottest day of the year so far in Spain. The presenter – best remembered for his daring stunts and his pet dog Shep – was missing for almost ten hours as police, his wife and friends searched countryside near the town of Andratx, where he now lives. The former Blue Peter presenter was found in a strawberry field a mile from his home after going missing Mr Noakes was found at 7pm local time by a Civil Guard helicopter and was described as being 'very weak' The Former Blue Peter presenter, with his wife Vicky, has been found tonight after an extensive search He had no water with him and there were fears he might have become dehydrated in the searing 35C (95F) heat. He had gone out of their country home for a walk without money or ID as well.

As the hunt became increasingly desperate, town hall officials even highlighted his disappearance on the council's website as six police officers and ten members of the civil guard joined the search. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share But at 7pm local time last night, Mr Noakes was eventually spotted by a police helicopter lying collapsed 'in the bottom of a storm drain' less than a mile from his house. His wife Vicky, 71, said he had fallen 'among long grass' which had hidden him from search parties. The Yorkshireman may not have been able to shout for help because of the effects of the extreme heat.

Former Blue Peter presenter John Noakes (pictured left in 2008 and right in his Blue Peter heyday) has been found in a 'bad way' in a strawberry field near his home in the town of Andratz in Majorca His wife, Vicky, 71, said she was 'very relieved' after her husband of more than 50 years was found alive and was going to calm herself down with a cup of tea, before heading to the hospital to check on his welfare Last night, Mr Noakes was airlifted to hospital in the island's capital Palma and was said to be 'in a bad way' but stable. Although dehydrated from spending hours outside in scorching temperatures, the former children's TV star was uninjured and is expected to make a good recovery. Speaking minutes after her husband was found, Mrs Noakes said: 'I've been told he's not injured in any way, but I imagine he's dehydrated after being more than nine hours without water under a scorching sun and I assume they'll keep him in hospital overnight to rehydrate him and check he's okay.

'He was found very near the road in a sort of a storm drain that fills up when it rains. I imagine he had just lost his bearings and strayed off the path and fallen somewhere. 'I knew it couldn't be far because he wouldn't have been able to walk that far.' She added how she was going to calm herself down with a cup of tea before heading to the hospital. Mr Noakes was finally spotted after a frantic 10 hour search by this police helicopter near his Majorca home A police officer added: 'He was very weak because he has been outside for many hours in the heat, presumably without eating or drinking anything. 'Bear in mind that this gentleman is 81 and suffers from Alzheimer's, which is assumed to have contributed to him going missing.' Mrs Noakes had put out an appeal to help find her husband of 52 years after he wandered off and was last seen at 9am local time yesterday. She followed him in the car but lost sight of him when she parked the vehicle to catch up with him on foot. The civil guard mountain rescue team was joined on the ground by firemen, local police, civil protection workers and increasing numbers of expat friends of the couple as well as locals.

The civil guard confirmed its helicopter had found Mr Noakes alive 'but in need of medical attention'. An officer said: 'Fortunately we found him when we did, because another couple of hours and with night closing in the search would have been suspended till tomorrow, and then it could have been a different story.' John Noakes is pictured meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace to celebrate 50 years of Blue Peter in 2008 Mr Noakes pictured at his house in Andratx, Mallorca in 2008 - he was found in a strawberry field today after going missing which sparked a frantic 10 hour search Mr Noakes' dementia was only known to a close circle of friends and family. Speaking earlier in the day, his wife said he had lived with Alzheimer's for a 'number of years'. She added: 'You learn to live and cope with things. But this is a little different this time and I am concerned because it is the hottest day of the year so far here.

'If he is wandering around, he'll get more confused as he gets more dehydrated.' The couple's son Mark, 51, a landscape gardener from Bentley, Hampshire, last night said he was 'very relieved' at the news his father had been found. Mr Noakes was a household name in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. He remains Blue Peter's longest serving presenter, fronting the children's show with a variety of co-hosts including Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves from 1965 until 1978. Famed for using the phrase 'Get down Shep' during his attempts to control his excitable border collie, he usually fulfilled the action man role. Among his many stunts was a record-breaking free-fall parachute jump. He later made several series of Go With Noakes. However, he has distanced himself from his Blue Peter role, describing his time on the show as 'terrible'. In 1982 he and his wife set sail to travel the world, but were shipwrecked in a hurricane. In 1984 they tried again and got no further than Majorca and ended up settling.

In 2008 he appeared in a Blue Peter-themed edition of the Weakest Link – and became visibly upset when Anne Robinson mentioned Shep. Long-serving: John Noakes (pictured far right with Peter Purves, Lesley Judd and Valerie Singleton) remains Blue Peter's longest-running presenter. His stint in the 1960s and 1970s lasted 12 years and six months Star: Noakes with Shep, Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves was a household name in the 1960s, 70s and 80s John Noakes and his former Blue Peter co-host Valerie Singleton arrive at Buckingham Palace in 2008 Peter Purves, Valerie Singleton and John Noakes are seen at the National Television Awards in 2008

Question: Which Yorkshireman is the longest serving male 'Blue Peter' presenter with over 12 years?
Answer: JOHN NOAKES