Goodbye Richie Driss

Today is one of those days where someone you've watched  from their start leaves a show you've spent nearly all your life watching on tv from fuzzy 405 line black and white to modern high defination digital colour.

Richie Driss became the 38th Blue Peter presenter on May 16 2019, soon becoming well known for his sporting prowness - he is seriously good at soccer amongst other things - and developed a open, friendly highly authoritive form of presenting that children could easily relate to.

In a groundbreaking emotional program where presenters discussed racism and how to handle it he memorably shared his experiences as a mixed heritage person grown up to the audience dealing with it.

He also showed a lot of guts in dealing with the many challenges presenters undertake - this isn't a desk based role - not just to build their own experiences but also to inspire viewers to give things a go, get involved in things and have adventures.

Here we have Richie learning LandSkating from July 2019, an eposide I remember well from learning about this sport that I never heard of before and his prepared to put his all into undertaking that challenge.

Another was on June 24 2021 where Mwaksy joined him for a basic army training challenge which he did very well on showing his fitness and quick thinking.

For many of us Blue Peter could never be the same without the pets and there can be no arguing that Henry has became very much a part of the show in the same way today as Shep did to those of us who watched in the 1970's who was linked famously to the presenter John Noakes.

Actually Richie in some ways had some of that action adventure side he had although modern day health and safety would never of allowed some the escapades John did to ever be attempted today.

It is that today, his last day presenting on Blue Peter, I am remembering as sad as it is, his leaving as we watch the send off as he was great presenter up with the best.

Bye and Thank You.