I caught up with the third member of the current Blue Peter team, after a live episode of the show
went out from The Piazza at Media City UK.
Radzi Chinyanganya joined the team in October 2013 and he is the 37th presenter of the programme.
Prior to joining the team Radzi was a contestant on Sky One's revamped Gladiators and he reached the semi final stage. He was the official presenter of the weightlifting at the London 2012 Olympic games. In 2013 he co presented another CBBC show, Wild, and has also been a presenter on Match of the day kickabout.
Some of Radzi's many Blue Peter Highlights include performing at the 2015 FIG World Gymnastics Championships, performing with Disney on ice, track cycling, wing walking, synchronised swimming and climbing the worlds largest man made climbing wall.
In a special edition of the programme in 2016, Radzi retraced the steps of the 50 mile walk, and met survivors of the 1965 march between Selma and Montgomery in Alabama that was led by Rev Martin Luther King Jnr.
Radzi also loves wresting and recently reported from this years Wrestle Mania in Orlando Florida.
Mark Curry was the 3rd former Blue Peter presenter I met on a recent trip to London.
Mark presented the programme from September 1986 until June 1989. He was no stranger to Children's television when he joined the Blue Peter team, having presented Saturday morning tv during the Summer months for several years (Get Set for Summer, Get Set, The Get Set Picture Show) The format eventually became The Saturday Picture show, which Mark firstly presented with Maggie Philbin from Swap Shop and then with Cheryl Baker from Bucks Fizz.
Prior to Saturday morning TV Mark was a regular performer, on Yorkshire TV's Junior Showtime
during the early 1970's. He also played the lead role in ATV's comedy drama Sounding Brass and the part of Oscar the producer in the film version of Bugsy Malone.
Mark was also the presenter of the successful Children's history programme Treasure Houses.
When the time came to find a replacement for Simon Groom, who was leaving Blue Peter after eight years. Biddy Baxter the editor of Blue Peter wanted someone who was already well known to the programmes viewers and Mark was the perfect choice. At first he turned the job down, thinking that Blue Peter was not really him. After several discussions with Biddy and a chance meeting with former presenter Sarah Greene he did eventually accept.
Mark was not known for action films on Blue Peter, co presenter Caron Keating took on most of those challenges. Mark did however agree to be tied to the sails of a revolving windmill. He also swam the icy waters of the Serpentine in Hyde Park and faced his fear of heights in film about climbing telegraph poles. Mark was in his element with anything that involved historical stories or song and dance routines. A particular highlight was the Christmas entertainment on the show before Christmas each year. Even after Mark had left Blue Peter, he often appeared on the Christmas programme.
Mark's co presenters included Janet Ellis and Peter Duncan, however the team of Mark along with Caron Keating and Yvette Fielding was a hugely popular one.
Mark features in Blue Peter Books 23, 24 and 25.
Since leaving the programme Mark's television work has include the quiz show Catchphrase, and a daily DIY show Change That. Mark also returned to acting with a role in Last of the Summer wine on TV, theatre roles have included parts in The woman in black, Victor/ Victoria and a stage adaptation of All creatures great and small.
Mark is currently starring in the role of The Wizard in the West End production of Wicked.
Matt Baker is the next former Blue Peter presenter I have met. I caught up with Matt during a break in rehearsals for The One Show. Matt presented Blue Peter from 1999 until 2006.
Matt had loved Blue Peter as a child and his hero was Peter Duncan, who presented the programme in the 1980's. Matt was at drama school when he sent in a showreel to the editor of Blue Peter, after trying unsuccessfully to speak to him on the phone. He was eventually given an audition and became Blue Peter's 28th presenter in June 1999.
Matt had an amazing 7 years on Blue Peter and his highlights include passing the Royal Marines potential recruits course, achiving a world record in tandem hand gliding, trips including Cambodia, Russia, Australia, Brazil and Iceland, and of course looking after his Border Collie Meg.
At School Matt had been a keen gymnast and was part of The British Junior Gymnastics team, he also enjoyed dancing, so was always part of any item that included this on the show.
Four years after Matt left Blue Peter, he took part in the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing. He was partnered with Aliona Vilani and the couple came second.
Matt features in Blue Peter books 29 -35.
During Matt's time on the progarmme he won the BAFTA for best children's presenter 2 years in a row.
Since leaving Blue Peter Matt has had a very successful TV career, working on Crufts, City Hospital, Animal Rescue Live, as well as commentating on the BBC's Olympic coverage. In 2009 Matt became one of the main presenters on the new look Countryfile on Sunday nights on BBC1. In 2010 he became the new co host of The One Show, the BBC'S nightly magazine show, with Alex Jones.
