EXCLUSIVE: Anthea Turner vows to save Blue Peter as BBC put children's show out to tender
Anthea Turner and Janet Ellis have put up their hands to “save” Blue Peter as the BBC has put its production out to tender.
A new setup could include pre-recording the show, which has always been live, and rotating presenters. Former hosts Anthea, 63, who was on the show from 1992 to 1994, and Janet, 68, who was at the helm from 1983 until 1987, are offering to bring the kids’ TV classic back to its former glory.
Anthea declared: “We’re here! We’ve got all the credentials, we’ve got our badges – of course we’d go back.” The pair teamed up this week at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where Andrea laughed to Janet: “We could save Blue Peter.”
Chatting to the Mirror, Anthea added: “It will be a shame if it’s not live. Blue Peter needs presenters who can work live. It needs that edge – live will always give you that edge.” On making a return, Janet added: “Of course I would.”
She revealed some of her five grandchildren refuse to accept she could have fronted children’s TV. “My grandsons don’t believe I was on it,” laughs Janet. “They can’t believe I ever did it, because they think, ‘Why would they let old people on?’”
Blue Peter is currently produced by BBC Studios, and is shown live every Friday at 5pm on CBBC. But the invitation to tender states: “There is no requirement to retain this model.” It would mean an end to classic bloopers such as Lulu the elephant having a toilet break during a 1969 broadcast, fronted by Valerie Singleton, John Noakes and Peter Purves.
The format launched in 1958, and it was estimated to draw 7.9 million viewers during its three weekly slots on BBC1. However, a recent episode attracted just 37,300 viewers. In 2017, a repeat of an episode received zero viewers.
The show has long been famous for its award badges, which offer children free entry to events and attractions. And it is also known for its “makes”, including Anthea’s famous recreation of the Thunderbirds toy Tracy Island.
The BBC even cite the “famous Tracy Island model” in its invitation, adding that these sticky-backed plastic DIY creations “register very highly with the audience”. The CBBC programme is fronted by Shini Muthukrishnan, 22, Joel Mawhinney, 25, and Abby Cook, 21, who are accompanied by the resident dog, Henry.
However, the BBC’s invitation to tender states: “We are open to suggestions for refreshing presenters on a regular basis.” And the invitation also reminds potential tenderers: “Blue Peter presenters are particularly iconic and we all have our own favourites.” Submissions are being pitched now, and the producers will be revealed later this year.
- Anthea and Janet were launching the new Peter Beales With Courage rose, and marking Blue Peter’s long history with the RNLI’s Lifeboat Appeal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.