Blue Peter

Blue Peter
GenreEntertainment
Created byJohn Hunter Blair
Presented by(See full list)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons51
No. of episodes533 (list of episodes)
Production
Production locationsBBC Lime Grove Studios (1958–1960)
BBC Television Centre (1960–2011)
dock10 studios (2011–2025)[1]
Running time15 minutes (1958–1967)
25 minutes (1967-2008)
35 minutes (2005–2006; CBBC Channel Extension)
24 minutes (2008–2011)
28 minutes (2007,2012–Present)
60 minutes (birthday specials and documentaries)
Production companiesBBC Children's Productions (2018–2022)[2]
BBC Studios Kids & Family (2022–present)[3]
Original release
NetworkBBC1 (1958–2012)
BBC2 (1980–present)
CBBC (2012–present)
Release16 October 1958 (1958-10-16) –
present

Blue Peter is a British children's television show created by John Hunter Blair. It is the longest-running children's TV show in the world,[4] having been broadcast since October 1958.[5] It was originally shown live on BBC One until 2012 and then it would move full-time to the CBBC television channel, since March 2025, all editions are now pre-recorded.

Creator

  • Director: Tim Fransham (Series 50: Who Peter Special),Ally Beasant (Series 50: Who Peter Special)
  • Producer: Leo Sen (Series 50),Dan Tucker (Series 51)
  • Executive Producer: Kez Margrie (CBBC),Audrey Neil (Series 50-51)
  • Assistant Producer: Lucie Abson (Series 49-50),Susan Wills (Series 50: Who Peter Special),Becky Asprey (Series 50-54)
  • Production Executive: Jamie Mcleish (Series 50)
  • Stage Manager: Julian Steel (Series 50: Who Peter Special)

Full Episodes

Series 50

Episodes Number Series Number Title Original Air Date Running Time
500 111 30:5:2007 30 May 2007 24:36
503 114 Who Peter: A Blue Peter Special 7 June 2007 27:53
504 115 13:6:2007 13 June 2007 24:36
505 116 14:6:2007 14 June 2007 24:34
509 120 Series 50 Finale 28 June 2007 24:29

Series 51

Episodes Number Series Number Title Original Air Date Running Time
510 1 5:9:2007 5 September 2007 24:30
511 2 6:9:2007 6 September 2007 24:32
512 3 Episode 3 12 September 2007 24:30
513 4 13:9:2007 13 September 2007 24:29
514 5 Episode 5 19 September 2007 24:34
515 6 20:9:2007 20 September 2007 24:32
516 7 26:9:2007 26 September 2007 24:34
517 8 Episode 8 27 September 2007 24:30
518 9 Episode 9 3 October 2007 24:32
519 10 4:10:2007 4 October 2007 24:36
520 11 10:10:2007 10 October 2007 24:31
521 12 11:10:2007 11 October 2007 24:29
522 13 17:10:2007 17 October 2007 24:31
523 14 18:10:2007 18 October 2007 24:34
526 17 Halloween Special 2007 31 October 2007 24:31
527 18 7:11:2007 7 November 2007 24:29
529 20 8:11:2007 8 November 2007 24:33
531 21 Episode 21 14 November 2007

Background

Blue Peter uses a magazine format which includes viewer and presenter challenges, competitions, interviews, and an arts and crafts making feature, which has the famous catchphrase "Here's one I made earlier".[6]

The show has had 43 presenters in its history, some of the best known ones include Valerie Singleton, John Noakes, Peter Purves, Janet Ellis, Caron Keating, Anthea Turner, Konnie Huq, Matt Baker, Helen Skelton, and Adam Beales. The current presenters are Joel Mawhinney, Abby Cook, and Shini Muthukrishnan.[7]

Another well known feature is the resident pets, of which there have been many over the years, the first was a dog named Petra who was introduced in 1962, as well as another dog named Shep, who was known for being excitable and presenter John Noakes often said "Get down, Shep!", which also became a catchphrase. There were also cats, tortoises, and parrots as well, the current pet is a dog named Henry who has been on the show since 2019.

A popular feature on the show is the iconic Blue Peter badges, which are awarded to viewers and celebrities, there are different types of badges depending on what they have achieved, from the standard blue and white badge to the gold badge for exceptional achievements. Badge holders get free entry to various attractions across the United Kingdom.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "BBC's Blue Peter is filmed at dock10 studios, MediaCityUK". Dock10.co.uk. 9 February 2015. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "BBC Studios to take on BBC Children's Productions". Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "BBC Studios Kids & Family division opens for business". www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. ↑ Marson, Richard (2008). Blue Peter 50th Anniversary Book: The Story of Television's Longest-running Children's Programme. Hamlyn. ISBN 978-0-600-61793-8.
  5. ↑ Sheridan, Simon (2004). The A-Z of Classic Children's Television: From Alberto Frog to Zebedee. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. pp. 61–66. ISBN 1903111277.
  6. ↑ Asa Briggs The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom: Volume V: Competition Archived 24 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995, p.178
  7. ↑ McGown, Alistair. "Blue Peter (1958- )". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 1 July 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
  8. ↑ "Blue Peter - The Blue Peter Doctor Who Competition Rules". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-11.
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