As the long hot Summer drew to a close and the day of Blue Peter's 60th birthday was fast approaching would I get to meet anymore presenters for my charity challenge. When I began Project 161018 back in April 2017, I really didn't know how successful the project would be. I had so far met 19 presenters from a possible 33 which was really good going, but with just a month to go I started to think that was probably going to be the best I could do.
Towards the end of September I then received some brilliant news, I was invited to be part of the audience of the birthday show. To be honest I had always intended to head over to Media City on the day of the birthday show with the hope of seeing some of the presenters that I hadn't previously managed to catch, but to now be officially invited was just amazing, but more was to come. With just days to go and travel and accommodation plans already in place I was then asked to be part of the audience of The One Show Blue Peter Special down in London the night before The Big Birthday. With a little bit of rearranging and a cheap train ticket plans were now in place to attend both shows.
The One Show
Alongside regular The One Show host and former Blue Peter presenter Matt Baker would be Blue Peter colleagues Sarah Greene, Mark Curry, Konnie Huq and Simon Thomas. It was a feel good show with plenty of old clips and stories from the presenters and it was lovely to join a group of fellow Blue Peter fans in the studio. Afterwards it was brilliant to meet both Konnie and Simon for the first time and chat again to Sarah, Mark and Matt.
With Konnie Huq
Konnie Huq presented Blue Peter from December 1997 until January 2008 and broke Valerie Singletons record and became the longest serving female presenter. Highlights of Konnie's time on Blue Peter include Walking on hot coals, Bollywood dancing, being production assistant on a live Top of the pops and interviewing Prime Minister Tony Blair.
with Simon Thomas
Simon Thomas presented Blue Peter from January 1999 until April 2005.
Simon's adventures on the show include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Blanc, running the London Marathon, free fall parachuting and submarine escape training.
After saying my goodbyes it was back on the train to Manchester ready for the following days celebrations.
On the blue carpet at the 60th Birthday Celebrations
On the morning of 16th October 2018 Blue Peter's 60th Birthday, there was a real buzz around Media City. As well as the Blue Peter celebrations auditions were going on for The Voice UK. I met up with fellow Blue Peter fans Lydia (a gold Blue Peter Badge holder) who had been invited to interview presenters on the blue carpet and Sam and his Mum, Sam is the proud owner of eight Blue Peter badges. As we waited to go into the studio. I spoke to former presenter Barney Harwood and Ewan Vinnicombe the Blue Peter editor and as we took our seats The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra were tuning up.
As the special mash up of the familiar theme tune played out the celebrations began, musical performances from Jonas Blue, Harvy and Sophie Ellis Bextor accompanied by The BBC Philharmonic, watched on by a host of former Blue Peter presenters from across the decades. Film treats of the final part of Lindsey's wonderful chair in the air challenge and Radzi on board HMS Queen Elizabeth. A nostalgic make featuring many of the presenters and a Gold Blue Peter Badge awarded to Ed Sheeran, a Diamond Birthday cake and a rousing performance from The Vamps and The BBC Philharmonic brought the show to a close.
Pictures taken at the 60th Birthday Show
As we left the studio it was a pleasure to meet and chat to former Blue Peter Editor Richard Marson who kindly signed my 50th Birthday Book which he had written 10 years previously. Then outside is was great to see presenters I had previously met on the challenge Peter Duncan, Stuart Miles and a chance to update my picture with Helen Skelton who I had met prior to the Challenge.
with Helen Skelton
It was also wonderful to met legendary Blue Peter Editor Biddy Baxter. Biddy kept Blue Peter ship shape from 1965 until 1988 and it was Biddy that first introduced the famous Blue Peter badge.
Then along comes Leila Williams the lady who presented the first ever Blue Peter on 16th October 1968 along with Christopher Trace. Leila presented Blue Peter until 1962.
with Leila Williams
During the next hour I would meet six more past presenters.
Romana D'Annunzio presented Blue peter for two years 1996 -1998 and memorable moments include rock climbing and wing walking and trips to Hong Kong China and Canada.
with Romana D'Annunzio
Liz Barker was on the show for almost six years from June 2000 - April 2006 and her many highlights include Tightrope walking, brake woman in The British Bobsleigh Championships, cleaning windows at Canary Wharf along with Summer trips to Brazil, India, USA and Morocco.
with Liz Barker
Richard Bacon was a presenter on Blue Peter from February 1997 until October 1998. Richard was famously sacked from the show days after the programmes 40th Birthday after the revelation that he was seen taking cocaine on a night out hit the newspapers. However during his short time on the show Richard's many highlights include Officer Cadet training at Sandhusrt, Dragon boat racing and Summer trips to Canada and Mexico. Richard hit the headlines again in 2018 when he became ill on a flight to the UK from the USA and almost died. Thankfully Richard recovered and was welcomed back to the Blue Peter family for the 60th Birthday and Peter Purves gave him back his Blue Peter badge.
with Richard Bacon
Diane Louise Jordan presented Blue Peter for six years 1990 -1996 and her memorable moments include Rally driving, Norway ice dip, Summer trips to The Caribbean, Japan, Argentina, USA and South Africa.
with Diane Louise Jordan
Anita West presented Blue Peter for just four months in 1962 but returned for Christmas 1998 to take part in the 40th Birthday pantomime.
with Anita West
Lesley Judd was a Blue Peter presenter when I first started to watch the programme along with Peter Purves and John Noakes. Lesley stayed for seven years 1972 -1979. During her time with Blue Peter she was hoisted up and down Bishop Rock Lighthouse, Danced with Pan's People, reported live from the USA after flying there on Concorde and visited Brazil, Thailand, Bruneli, Fiji and Tonga on Summer Expeditions.
with Lesley Judd, Thank you to former editor Richard Marson for taking this picture.
It was then time to leave, but just before I did I spoke to Peter Purves, his parting word to me were
You've been a bloody star.
As I headed back to my hotel room I dont mind admitting I shed a little tear. It had been a long but fabulous journey, I had successfully met 28 former presenters of a show I had loved since childhood and in doing so raised £900.00 for Guide Dogs and RNLI.
21st February 2019.
Ewan Vinnicombe with Valerie Singleton
As I write this Ewan Vinnicombe the present Editor of Blue Peter is preparing to step down after 6 years at the helm of the ship. Last Thursday I headed back to Media City to wish Ewan well. It was a privilege to visit the Blue Peter Studio to watch rehearsals for the show later that day and to sit on the Blue Peter Sofa.
I would like to wish Ewan all the best in his new ventures and to thank him once again for his help with Project 161018.
Ewan you leave Blue Peter looking ship shape and heading off on many adventures to come.
During June I caught up with Gethin Jones on two occasions for Project 161018. The first was quite by chance in a coffee shop. The second was more planned at the studios of Gethin's new breakfast show on Hits Radio. Here Gethin signed some of my Blue Peter books and introduced me to his radio show colleagues.
Gethin presented Blue Peter from April 2005 until June 2006, however he made his first appearance on the show at Christmas 2004 as he walked through the appeal totaliser doors dressed as Father Christmas.
During his time on the programme Gethin completed The Royal Marines Commando Yomp, trained to be a butler, played the part of both a Cyberman and a Dalek in Dr Who and completed submarine escape training with The Royal Navy.
During The Royal Marines Commando Yomp
Gethin is both a keen sportsman and talented musician. He loves rugby and played for his school and University teams. He sported a rugby kit on many Blue Peter films about the sport. Gethin also plays the violin and played at The Proms with The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. He also once played the Blue Peter closing theme on the electric violin, along with string quartet String Fever.
During a filming trip to Edinburgh as well as learning to play the bagpipes, reporting from Edinburgh Zoo and Murryfield the home of The Edinburgh Gunners Rugby team he also famously modelled a variety of kilts around the city's streets.
In 2007 Gethin took part in the fifth series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, he was partnered with professional Dancer Camilla Dallerup and the couple came 3rd.
Gethin features in Blue Peter books 35 -38.
Since leaving Blue Peter Gethin has kept busy working on various television and radio shows including Daybreak and 71 degrees North both for ITV. He has also worked on This Morning and The One Show. During the 2016 and 2017 series of Strictly Come Dancing Gethin became a reporter for the spin off show It takes two. He stood in for regular host Zoe Ball for two shows during the 2017 series. Gethin took part in Soccer Aid both in 2008 and 2010 playing for The Rest of the World. Radio work includes The Sunday Morning Breakfast show on the Heart Network and in June 2018 Gethin began presenting the weekday breakfast show on the new Hits Radio along with Gemma Atkinson and Dave Vitty.
Blue Peter has been using variations of the famous hornpipe Barnacle Bill as its theme tune since the programme began in 1958. Barnacle Bill was composed by Ashworth Hope (1880 - 1962) The first version was performed by Sydney Torch and the New Century Orchestra.
By 1979 it had been thought for some tine that the theme was rather old fashioned sounding and so
after an appearance on the programme Mike Oldfield, famous for Tubular Bells was asked to rearrange the theme. Presenter Simon Groom visited Oldfield's recording studio and a film was made of the recording process to be shown on the programme. Simon even played the famous drum roll that heralded the start of the tune.
A longer version of Mike Oldfield's arrangement was released as a single. The record reached No 19 in the charts and proceeds from the sale of the record went to that years Christmas appeal to aid the famine in Cambodia.
The Mike Oldfield version of Barnacle Bill was used as the Blue Peter Theme tune for the following 10 years, since then there has been several versions of the famous theme.
Simon Brint 1989 -1992
Simon Brint 1992 - 1994
The Yes No People 1994 -1999
David Arnold and The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra 1999 -2004
Nial Brown 2004 - 2006
Dave Cooke 2007
Dave Cooke and The Blue Peter music makers 2007 -2008
Dobs Vye - 2008 -2011
Banks and Wag 2011 - present
Today is BBC Music Day, an annual celebration of music that aims to unite communities and
generations through their love of music. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra have put together a special piece celebrating CBBC theme tunes, starting off with you've guest it - Barnacle Bill - Enjoy.
