65 Years of Blue Peter

Somethings are just constants in your life such as having a daily newspaper, listening to the news bulletin but how many tv shows have you watched for decades which included the period this massive Bush TV125 "dual standard" 405 and 625 line black and white tv was in the lounge?

Well actually it wasn't quite black and white more a bluey white for those of us who remember that era well.

In October 1958 the children's tv magazine show Blue Peter started originally for 15 minutes going up to a half hour not that I was around in 1958 but as soon as was able to take in what was going on, I started watching it with my siblings and it's continued ever since.

Of course over the years things have changed such as presenting styles, adventures and makes are more subject to "health and safety" than they were when I was younger and BBC programming cuts have cut the episodes per week down to one although there is internet content on the CBBC website that tops up the show.

Last Friday the sixty-fifth anniversary was marked - you might recall the entry on here for the sixtieth - so former presenters Matt Baker, Lindsey Russell and Radzi returned as the show took a look at past episodes and presenters although ideally a little more time was needed for that bit.

Abby and Joel, the current presenters, took part in a white water rafting challenge and Radzi had one to do as well.

There was a pancake make Matt, Radzi and Lindsey did that involved tossing them that had a few hair raising moments.

Henry the dog was discretely ushured out the way for the presentation and cutting of the birthday cake with candles on.

His Royal Highness Prince William was interviewed in the Blue Peter garden about his work for the environment and climate change encouraging projects using technology to reduce our impact in practical ways on the planet.

He also co-presented the post wall, a long standing feature of the show where viewers draw, write and make things that are posted the pick of which which are displayed and can gain you a iconic "regular" Blue Peter Badge whose theme this week was the environment.

All in all I felt the edition was enough to make marking this event memorable which it deserved.