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This week, the BBC announced the latest Blue Peter presenter – wheelchair racer Abby Cook – making her the 42nd presenter in the 65-year history of this wholesome children’s entertainment show.

Blue Peter is famous for being the longest-running children’s TV programme in the world, as well as for its iconic badge, and its notoriously disastrous time capsules.

But in amongst the strange craft projects, ‘fun’ facts and sometimes controversial competitions, Blue Peter had some real geek gems:

Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill Met a Tortoise and Ate Star Wars Stew (1980)

Through a 2023 lens, this seems like a fever dream, but against the odds it all actually happened. To celebrate the release of The Empire Strikes Back, the Blue Peter team treated us to an appearance from R2D2, a strangely silent C3P0, ‘hairy old Chewbacca’ and Darth Vader.

Then the real fun happens: Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill...

Hanks plays the cherished Us children’s TV star Fred Rogers in this surprisingly moving drama about his transformative encounter with a hardbitten reporter

Has anyone in Britain ever heard of Fred Rogers? He was an American children’s TV presenter whose folksy show for toddlers, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, ran from 1968 to 2001 and made him a national treasure in the Us, much admired for the way he encouraged children (and adults) to talk and think about their feelings. But unlike Sesame Street, it was not shown in the UK and so Rogers, played here with extraordinary Zen self-possession and force by Tom Hanks, may be unfamiliar. The equivalent would be showing Americans a biopic of Blue Peter’s John Noakes. (To cast this imaginary Bafta-winner, I suggest Jamie Bell as Noakes, Erin Doherty as Valerie Singleton, Daniel Radcliffe as Peter Purves and Meryl Streep as Biddy Baxter.

Louisa Mellor May 30, 2017

Sad news: former Blue Peter presenter John Noakes has passed away at the age of 83...

Some sad news: television presenter John Noakes, a familiar face to children of the sixties and seventies, has passed away.

Noakes was well-loved for his work presenting BBC children's programme Blue Peter, on which he regularly performed exciting stunts to the delight of the young audience.

Noakes' name is indivisible from a generation of kids' childhood memories, and he will be remembered for his energetic, fun and warm-hearted approach. 

A family statement announcing his passing confirmed that Noakes had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease in his later years and continued to say: 

"Whilst he will be greatly missed by his wife, family and many friends his release from continuing ill health must be counted as a blessing".

"His many escapades with his faithful companion Shep, during his time with Blue Peter, will...

The BBC has denied claims that it is planning to axe the Blue Peter garden after 34 years. Yesterday, a tabloid newspaper reported that the famous plot would be scrapped when the long-running children's show moves from London to Manchester in 2011. It was also claimed that producers wanted to introduce an online replacement for the existing garden, which was first unveiled by hosts Peter Purves, John Noakes and Lesley Judd in 1974. However, a Blue Peter spokeswoman told Digital Spy last night that plans are being made (more)...

The BBC has reportedly announced that it is scrapping the Blue Peter garden after 35 years. The famous plot is expected to be axed in favour of an online replacement after the long-running children's show makes its move from London to Manchester in 2011. Keith Beal, who is overseeing the move up north, told the News Of The World: "We think it's time the garden moved into the future and became a virtual garden." The existing Blue Peter garden was first unveiled by hosts Peter Purves, John Noakes and Lesley Judd in 1974. It has since been used regularly for features on the programme. It is believed that the new internet garden will feature (more)...

Anne Robinson made Blue Peter legend John Noakes cry during filming for The Weakest Link. The acid-tongued host taunted Noakes about his beloved dog Shep at a recording of a special Blue Peter edition of the quiz show on Thursday night. John presented the children's magazine show in the 1960s and 70s. He grew so attached to the programme's pet Border collie that he was later allowed to keep the pooch as his own. Speaking to Noakes in between rounds on the programme, (more)...