A Blue Peter Christmas

A Blue Peter Christmas is full of traditions, from the lighting of the advent crown, which no a days has battery powered candles to The Salvation Army Band playing a Christmas Carol around the Christmas Tree.

The 2017 huge Advent Crown with battery powered candles.

The Blue Peter Christmas special is one of the highlights of the Blue Peter calendar and has mainly followed the same format for the past 60 years.

A clip from The Funny Side of Christmas broadcast in 2010

In the run up to Christmas, the Christmas appeal would feature heavily in the programme, which over the past few years has tied in with BBC Children in Need. Various Christmas makes would be demonstrated. Then with four programmes to go, the first candle on the advent crown would be lit, with one candle being lit on each of the four programmes leading up to Christmas.

The Christmas special normally starts by showing a selection of cards sent in by the programmes viewers. Then another long running tradition The Nativity scene would be set up.

The famous Blue Peter Nativity Scene, shown here at The 50th Anniversary Exhibition in Bradford in 2008

Christmas entertainment by the presenters would also often feature and this would take the form of a short Pantomime or a spectacular song and dance number. Occasionally the Christmas entertainment has been a stand alone programme prior to the Christmas special (Christmas at the Club Blue Peter and Totally Blue Peter)

Simon Thomas, Konnie Huq, Matt Baker and Liz Barker
star in Christmas at The Club Blue Peter 2002

The Christmas special always comes to a close with a carol around the Christmas Tree lead in by a band from The Salvation Army and a huge choir of School Children. A special moment as former presenter Valerie Singleton Says.

Merry Christmas to all.

The Full Blue Peter Christmas Special from 1987