Blue Peter will never be the same – here’s when it was ‘at its best’
The announcement has sparked a huge debate among diehard fans.
Blue Peter fans have shared when they think the iconic BBC show was at its best after it was revealed that a major change is happening after 66 years.
In a new update, it was announced that the children’s programme is no longer going to air live, and instead is going to move to pre-recorded broadcasts available on CBBC, Sign Zone, BBC Two, and iPlayer.
While viewers were relieved to learn that this isn’t going to mark the end of Blue Peter completely, the move has still been labelled the ‘end of an era’ and left plenty of people gutted, including former presenters who made their names on the show.
On Facebook, Metro readers have been discussing the legacy of the show in response to the news, with several voicing their opinion that Blue Peter was at its peak several decades ago, in the 1960s and 1970s.
At that point, the series hadn’t been around for that long, having made its debut in 1958.
Now more than six decades later, it’s the longest-running children’s TV programme in the world. Quite the incredible feat in the world of TV and children’s entertainment, to put it lightly.
Valerie Singleton, John Noakes and Peter Purves seen on Blue Peter in 1971 holding three of the show’s beloved pets – Jason the cat, Shep the dog and Petra the dog (Picture: BBC Picture Archives)One Facebook user called Paul remarked that Blue Peter was his ‘favourite TV programme after school in the 60s and 70s’, as viewers could ‘learn so much interesting stuff [about] how things worked and make things’
Joanne said that the show ‘was her childhood’, adding: ‘60s/70s & 80s were the best years! You could learn so much from this programme! Yes, [the] end of an era, sad.’
‘I used to watch this everyday after school . Was a brilliant programme and will always be a fond memory of mine when I was a child,’ Jasmin shared.
‘They formed a generation – simply the best children’s television ever,’ Peter added.
The news also sparked up a debate in the comment section among Metro readers, as some argued for – and others against – Blue Peter no longer being broadcast live.
Will Blue Peter ever be the same again?In today’s TV sphere, we have to accept that change can happen often, and at an alarmingly fast rate.
Nonetheless, it is a shock that an institution as cherished as Blue Peter is changing so drastically after almost seven decades on the air.
Of course it’s understandable that the show needs to cater to its current audience, when streaming platforms are continuing to put out a seemingly unlimited supply of content.
However, it is very sad that linear TV is taking an even greater backseat, particularly for a young audience who might not know any different.
Perhaps this will turn out to be a hugely positive move, ensuring that no child needs to worry about not getting home in time after school to catch the latest episode of Blue Peter, making sure that the TV show can carry on in a new way.
Nonetheless, kids who tune in are undoubtedly going to miss out on the magic of live TV – feeling as though the presenters on their screens are talking directly to them, in that moment, and making them feel seen.
So will Blue Peter ever be the same again? At this point, I think it’s safe to say that answer is a resounding no. But can it retain its legacy for the sake of its young audience? We hope so.
‘I hadn’t even realised they were all broadcast previously live,’ Emma admitted, while Antony quipped: ‘Something strange that this show has to be pre-recorded before being put out to view.’
‘Thought it was cancelled at first. Not that bad as a pre-recorded idea,’ Alison admitted.
Several former Blue Peter stars admitted that the announcement of the huge change to the programme was news to them.
Presenter Simon Thomas wrote on Instagram: ‘Apparently (I had no idea) today is the last ever LIVE Blue Peter on television.
‘The show isn’t finishing, there is apparently going to be a show online; just not live on the TV anymore.’
Blue Peter stars Konnie Huq, Richard Bacon, Katy Hill and Stuart Miles seen celebrating the show’s 40th anniversary (Picture: BBC)Katy Hill commented underneath: ‘Wow! No idea here either! And I totally agree … live TV was magical as a kid! That social connection & shared experience is missing now x.’
Presenter Ricky Boleto also shared: ‘I didn’t know either! Can’t believe it. The live element of any children’s TV show is what makes it so entertaining, because anything can happen and usually does!! Perhaps they’ll still film it “as live”.’
One fan called Pete commented underneath Simon’s post saying that in his opinion, it was ‘really poor’ that a number of former presenters from the show didn’t know that the change was happening.
‘How can so many former presenters not know this was the last ever live show. That’s really poor, there should have been a reunion or something to celebrate the great times,’ he said.
‘A show that brought so much joy to so many across the decades and it goes out on a whimper. Very sad indeed.’
Blue Peter is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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