EXCLUSIVE: Blue Peter’s Anthea Turner still has the version of Tracy Island she made on the show
The former presenter said the Thunderbirds HQ is kept in her loft – but she often gets it out to show off
Blue Peter’s Anthea Turner still has the version of Tracy Island she made on the children’s show.
The former presenter said the Thunderbirds HQ is kept in her loft – but she often gets it out to show off.
Anthea, 62, is well known for constructing the mini version of the telly landmark on kids’ show Blue Peter in 1992.
She told the Daily Mirror: “I still have it… it’s in my loft.
“Every so often at parties, I do bring it out and people get their picture taken with it.”
Three decades have passed since the famous Blue Peter episode was broadcast – which Anthea admitted she had not realised until someone pointed it out.
At the time, the BBC was rerunning puppet show Thunderbirds.
Due to its popularity, there was a shortage of Tracy Island play sets in shops in the run-up to Christmas, so Anthea showed children how to make their own versions at home.
Her crafting skills were such a hit that the BBC received thousands of requests for an instruction booklet to be released, so fans did not have to miss out.
Anthea, who went on to work on shows such as GMTV and her own series, Perfect Housewife, also told how she still spends time with the Blue Peter presenters she worked with during her stint on the popular programme, from 1992 to 1994.
Reminiscing, Anthea said: “It is actually the old crew, so to speak.
“We did something which was really special at a time when everybody watched [Blue Peter].”
Speaking at the Cirque du Soleil premiere of KURIOS in London, she added: “Last year we all went to open the Blue Peter garden at the Chelsea Flower show… all together!”
Anthea is hoping to release a sequel to her recent book, How to Age Well: The Secret, later this year.
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