Stuart Miles

I ended February and began March with a snowy trip down to London. I had arranged to meet with two former presenters and first up was Stuart Miles.

Stuart presented Blue Peter for five years from June 1995 until June 1999. Prior to boarding the good ship Stuart took a keen interest in hospital radio and after he left university took a job as a journalist for a cable tv company in South London. In 1993 he became a presenter on Saturday Disney for GMTV.

During his time on Blue Peter he became the latest presenter to take up the challenge of training with The RAF Falcons. Stuart says that his proudest moment on  Blue Peter was being the first civilian to take part in a full public display with The Falcons at the Biggin Hill Airshow.

Other memorable moments include being the top man on the human pyramid with the Flying Gunners, speed hand gliding, and hurtling down the Cresta Run. Stuart also made some wonderful wildlife films. He helped to relocate an Elephant in Kenya with the Born Free Foundation, and came face to face with one of the world's most threatened creatures. The Mountain Gorillas of Uganda.

One of Stuart's more unusual challenges on Blue Peter was to be turned into a living statue for a day.

Summer trips included New England, South Africa, Hong Kong, Canada and Mexico. On the trip to Canada Stuart once again got up close to some wildlife. He took part in a scientific survey to track animals form a helicopter and got to see a grizzly bear with her cubs. In Mexico he stood on and made wobble The balancing rock above Copper Canyon.

Stuart features in Blue Peter Books 28 and 29.

Since leaving Blue Peter Stuart has worked on ITV's This Morning and various travel shows.
For a time he did stand up comedy dressed as a woman ! and appeared at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. For the most time Stuart has been a radio presenter and ended two year stint presenting
the breakfast show on Heart Home Counties with his former Blue Peter Colleague Katy Hill in July 2017.

Most recently Stuart has become known as one of the UK's leading anti ageing experts, launching his own website - Miles Younger.

Barney leaves Blue Peter with an inspirational message for its young viewers.

After almost 7 fun packed years Barney Harwood presented his 368th and final Blue Peter on Thursday 14th September 2017. The programme was full of Barney highlights, a thrilling final challenge, a fabulous cake and a colourful experiment.

I have met Barney a few times over the past 12 months. Firstly in Stanley Park Blackpool last Summer at the launch day of The Grand Theatre Blackpool's 2016 Christmas Pantomime in which Barney would be starring as Aladdin. On this occasion Barney recognised me from an Instagram post about my Blue Peter books. He signed my copy of Alex Leger's book Behind the badge, and he fell in love with my Border Terrier Loch.

The next time we met was in April at Media City UK, on this occasion Barney was with one of his

co presenters Lindsey Russell and I told them all about Project 161018.

I headed over to Media City again last Thursday with the hope of giving my good wishes to Barney

for his last Blue Peter. I managed to see him both before and after the programme.

After being presented with a Gold Blue Peter badge from co presenter Radzi Chinyanganya, Barney ended the programme with an inspirational speech to his young fans.

Here's wishing Barney every success in whatever you choose to do next and hope to see you very soon.

Peter Duncan

For my latest Project 161018 adventure, I headed up to Edinburgh. However the day ended not quite how I expected. I had booked to go and see Peter Duncan in his one man show The Dame, at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The piece is written by Peter's daughter Katie. It is both moving and funny and Peter gives a powerful performance. After the show it was lovely to meet both Peter and his daughter. Peter signed a couple of my Blue Peter Books. including book 19, which has an article about his showbiz family and for which Katie used as references for the play.

I wasn't due to catch the train back home until later in the evening, so after lunch I had a walk around the city and watched some of the street performers. Little did I know that Peter Duncan was not the only former Blue Peter presenter I was to meet that day, but more on that later.

Peter Duncan joined the Blue Peter team in September 1980, he is the only presenter to do two stints on the programme. September 1980 - June 1984 and September 1985 to November 1986.
Prior to joining Blue Peter, he had attended The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre and Arts. His early career included roles on stage, appearing as Jim Hawkins in Treasure Island and 2 years at Sir Laurence Olivier's National Theatre. TV work includes roles on Space 1999, The Tomorrow People and King Cinder. Peter also had a famously brief role in the 1980 film version of Flash Gordon.

Upon joining Blue Peter, he soon became known as the new daredevil, with films for the programme including cleaning the face of Big Ben, Flying Trapeze and taking part in The Royal Marines Endurance Course. He also ran in the first ever London Marathon in a time of 3 hours, 11 minutes and 42 seconds. A time of which is still to be beaten by any Blue Peter presenter to run the race since. Peter was also the puppy walker for Guide Dog Prince.

Peter was a bit of a scruffy dresser and this led to a competition for viewers to design him an outfit. The winning design chosen by Peter was a very loud green and white checked suit, and he wore it on may occasions thereafter.

When Peter left Blue Peter for the first time, he went on to film his own series called Duncan Dares. Each programme focused on training for and then performing a daring act, including becoming a stuntman and tightrope walking.

Peter returned to Blue Peter in September 1985 and stayed for a further 15 months. He also filmed a further six Duncan Dares. He has often made guest appearances on the programme including in 2007 when he was awarded a Gold Blue Peter Badge. At this time he was Chef Scout and the award was given for inspiring young people for so long.

Peter returned to the stage in 1986, with roles in Barnum, Me and my girl and The Card. He is also a regular on the pantomime circuit . During 2015 and 2016 he played Wilbur Turnblad in the touting production of Hairspray. I went to see Peter in this production during its time in Manchester.

Peter has also taken part in Chanel Four's The Games and The BBC's Tumble, reaching the semi final.

Peter features in Blue Peter Books 18.19,20,21 and 23.

And who was the other former presenter I met in Edinburgh ? well I will tell you in the next blog post ............

Mark Curry

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

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.

40 Blue Peter Books.

Blue Peter books 1 -40.

I am the proud owner of a full set of Blue Peter books (Annuals) although they were not officially called annuals until 2004.

The first Blue Peter book was published by Lutterworth, in time for Christmas 1964, and had a price tag of nine shillings and six pence. It was the book that 5 million young viewers had been waiting for, and was a sell out.

A new Blue Peter book, published by BBC followed every year until 1985. Each book was packed with highlights of the previous years adventures, makes and Blue Peter traditions.

In 1986 BBC enterprises withdrew from its 20 year partnership, and so no book was published that year.

In 1987 book 23 was published by Macmillan books. Books 24 (1988) and 25 (1989) were published by Ringpress. A further gap year followed in 1990. Books 26 (1991) and 27 (1992) were published by World books.

A longer gap followed between 1993 and 1997. Then for the programmes 40th Anniversary the book returned, books 28 to 31 were published by Egmont World.

BBC Worldwide took over for books 32 and 33 (2002 and 2003) but in 2004 BBC Worldwide pulled out once again.

It was getting late in the year to find a replacement, however the then Editor of Blue Peter Richard Marson spotted a range of Annuals produced by a company called Pedigree. He arranged a meeting, they turned out to be annual specialists and more than happy to take on the title. So Book 34 or the 2005 Annual was published in time for Christmas 2004. The Pedigree published books, now state that they are Annuals on the cover. However in a nod to collectors like myself the spine still says book.

Book 40 (2011 Annual)

Pedigree increased the content of each annual and produced a much glossier product, and as a result sales increased. Pedigree published the Blue Peter annual for 7 years, with book 40 (2011 Annual) being the last one published to date.

Book 16

I started my personal collection back in 1979, with book 16, and the tradition started of getting the Blue Peter Book each year for Christmas or my Birthday, which is also in December. I then started looking for back issues in second hand bookshops. A family holiday highlight was going to the second hand bookshop on Padstow harbour in Cornwall, looking for old Blue Peter books.

With books 1 & 2 Christmas 2011

Books 1 and 2 were really hard to find,but as a total surprise, for Christmas 2011 my Brother found copies of these on Ebay and bought them for me. My collection was complete.

However I am hoping that the BBC will decide to produce a special annual for the programmes 60th Anniversary in 2018.