Ten Classic Blue Peter Moments
Blue Peter was first broadcast on 16 October 1958 and is the longest running children’s programme in the world.
Following the appointment of Editor Biddy Baxter in 1962, Blue Peter adopted the format that viewers came to love and that remains in place today.
Here are 10 classic clips that will remind you why Blue Peter has been so beloved by many generations.
1. Petra gets weighed
In the earliest known surviving episode of Blue Peter, Christopher Trace weighs Petra, Blue Peter’s first pet, with a bit of help from co-presenter Valerie Singleton.
2. The elephant in the room
Lulu the elephant enters the Blue Peter studio and leaves a most memorable mark on BBC Television Centre.
Television history is created in the process, quite possibly along with the phrase, 'Never work with animals'.
There are strict guidelines on the way the BBC features animals in its present-day coverage and this clip is representative of its time.
3. Get to the Chopper
"They look extremely sporting!"
The cult classic Raleigh Chopper bike is featured on Blue Peter in 1970. Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves showed off their super modern chopper bike, doubtless to the envy of every child watching at home.
4. Campfire catastrophe
What could possibly go wrong? Girl Guides gather around a campfire for a singalong. The only trouble is that the campfire is indoors, in the Blue Peter studio...
5. The wobbly stairway to heaven
Blue Peter presenter John Noakes scales the iconic statue in Trafalgar Square, on a wobbly ladder... with no safety harness...and no helmet...wearing flares... to clean some pigeon poo.
Don't try this. Anywhere. Ever.
6. Star Wars takeover
A long time ago (1980, actually), in a BBC Television studio far far away... R2-D2 runs over Goldie the Blue Peter dog, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill play with pets and everybody eats lashings of Star Wars stew.
7. Morph gets made
In 1981, everyone's favourite bit of clay receives his coveted Blue Peter badge from Sarah Greene.
The squeaky-voiced animated clay character was created by Peter Lord and David Sproxton of Aardman Animations.
8. A computer Christmas card
Simon Groom demonstrates the technological marvel that is the computer Christmas card.
This clip is from Blue Peter.
9. Tracy Island
Anthea Turner with the most famous 'make' of all - Blue Peter's take on the most coveted Christmas toy of 1992, Thunderbirds' Tracy Island.
This is a big one - so you might want to consult this handy Blue Peter ↗ factsheet
10. Blue Peter discovers the internet
Diane-Louise Jordan takes a trip on the information superhighway to explore some of the delights of the internet circa 1995. This means updating the Blue Peter website and emailing the then US President, Bill Clinton.
This clip is from Blue Peter.
