Valerie Singleton OBE

During the early May Bank Holiday Weekend I attended a session at The Pilot Light TV Festival in Manchester. The Session was called Blue Peter's History of Everything. Also in attendance were former presenters Valerie Singleton, Peter Duncan and Tim Vincent along with Blue Peter's current editor Ewan Vinnicombe. I arrived quite early and so it was lovely to be able to to chat to Val, Tim and Ewan prior to the event. Peter arrived a little later. I was first introduced to Val and she was really interested in Project 161018 and Tim recognised me from my Twitter and Instagram posts.

With Ewan Vinnicombe, Valerie Singleton, Tim Vincent and Peter Duncan
at The Pilot Light TV Festival.

Valerie Singleton presented Blue Peter from September 1962 until July 1972, however she continued to make regular appearances until 1975 and presented the spin off series Blue Peter Special Assignments.

Before joining Blue Peter Val had trained at RADA, then in early 1962 she joined the BBC as an announcer. She auditioned for Blue Peter later the same year upon the suggestion of presenter Christopher Trace, however she was not offered the job at first. Then four months later when the position came up again Valerie was first choice. For the next two years Val continued with her continuity role and presented Blue Peter. When Blue Peter went to two programmes per week Val gave  up her announcers job. Her Parents were very worried at the time, but Blue Peter made Val a household name.

Val in her early Blue Peter Days

During her time on the programme Val demonstrated hundreds of Blue Peter Makes and told many historical stories, but she also had exciting adventures, taking a lion for a walk (which was on of the films shown at Blue Peter's History of Everything) she went water skiing and also had a lucky escape  when she was involved in a powerboat accident on The River Thames.

One of Valerie's most famous films was when she accompanied HRH Princes Anne on a Royal Safari to Kenya. It was the success of this film that led to the spin off series Blue Peter Special Assignments. While filming in Rome for the first series Val met His Holiness Pope Paul VI and he gave a direct address to the children of Britain.

With HRH Princess Anne in Kenya

Val features in Blue Peter Books 1 - 12 and she kindly signed my copy of book 1 with a congratulations on Project 161018.

After leaving Blue Peter Val continued to work for the BBC on the early evening programme Nationwide, The Money Programme and The PM Programme on BBC Radio Four. She also became a travel writer for several national publications.

Val was awarded the OBE in 1994 for her services to television and soon after appeared on Blue Peter when she was awarded a Gold Blue Peter badge.