Blue Peter

[Fiona1986]

The classic episode was one where they had a baby elephant on the program, and it pooped all across the set

Is THIS the one?

Yes, good old Lulu!

[Yak]

I've seen the baby elephant one but I think only on TV outtake programmes .. I don't recall watching it live and might have been too young (or even not born)

[Stephen]

I very vaguely remember Lesley Judd, and therfore possibly John and Peter as well. My first definite team were Simon Groom, Tina Heath and Chris Wenner. Simon Groom was this DJ who apparently came from a farming background. And even though she was quite young, Tina Heath always reminded me of a stern looking school mistress! I remember the Mike Oldfield episode, talk of Cambodia, the summer holiday to Egypt and Joey Deacon. I'm afraid Percy Thrower's garden used to bore me silly - though a bit of my childhood was lost when they announced it had been vandalised.

Remember the Blue Peter spin-off, Duncan Dares?

[Anita Bensoussane]

I hadn't heard of Duncan Dares, but I do remember Go With Noakes.

[poddys]

"Get down Shep"...

[Stephen]

I hadn't heard of Duncan Dares, but I do remember Go With Noakes.

This sort of thing probably wouldn't be allowed now, but it involved former presenter Peter Duncan continuing his daredevil persona by doing some incredibly dangerous stunts. I remember one episode where he learns to tightrope walk. It starts with him practicing in his garden about a foot off the ground to the end, a few months later where he's actually performing in a circus. There's a bit where he's standing in the middle of this high wire, and he's describing his legs turning to jelly at that moment.

Terrifying!

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

I can just about remember Christopher Trace as a presenter with Valerie Singleton.

I even got a Blue Peter Badge for entering the 5th Blue Peter book competition (small round button badge with a red ship on it).

Overall I liked the mix. I wasn't allowed pets, so enjoyed all the animals. I liked the out-and-about reports, and the history stories told with drawings. I didn't like the things to make (I never have liked making things, and couldn't afford sticky back plastic!)

I know that the BBC were always worried about "what to do about" Blue Peter and its middle class sub-plot (whatever that is), but I never liked the ITV version Magpie.

I do wonder what kids TV has to offer a child like me nowadays. But I do enjoy Horrible Histories!

Viv

[Francis]

You're just a middle class girl, Viv - nothing wrong in that. The
Famous Five personify the best in middle class values - decency,
honesty and responsibility. Of course plenty of working class
families and children have the same values and enjoy Enid's
writings.

[Icecream342]

At the moment, Helen Skelton and Barney Harwood arethe presenters. Plus Barney the dog too.


They still give away badges and I got one today- Yay. It was a purple one

[Stephen]

I never saw Magpie, though I'm connected with it in that Jenny Hanley is exactly the same age to the day as my mum!

As for Crackerjack, I'd watch it though it wasn't a huge favourite of mine. The thing with the cabbages and the shouting kids ("Crackerjack" - "CRACKERJACK!") were a bit too raucous for my liking. But I liked the 'Don and Pete' films with Don Maclean and Peter Glaze. I've got a distinct memory of one where a car drives out of a petrol filling station, but the pump nozzle is still attached in until it catapults out and hits someone on the head! And this might sound very random, but I do remember when Don Maclean was no longer in it and Bernie Clifton was. According to Wikipedia, Don left in 1976 when I was only three. But even at that tender age I thought they had replaced Don with Bernie because they looked very similar!

[Icecream342]

I saw a clip of crackerjack on another cbbc program- 12 again.Aparently, you went away with a pencil.

[Stephen]

I've just been watching an entire episode of Crackerjack on Youtube. I don't actually remember Stewpot compering the show, he was that unmemorable! Watching it now, it's so charmingly awful. But I have to admit laughing out loud at the "Call the Police!" joke!

I'm more of an 80s kid when we had the likes of Stu Francis, the Krankies and the Great Soprendo!

[Lucky Star]

I used to love Crackerjack especially in the mid to late 70s. I remember it being compered by Stu Francis and Kid Jensen. I think it was Francis who had the phrase "Ooh I could crush a grape". As Stephen said I also used to love the antics of Don MaClean and Peter Glaze, they were very funny.

And yes, lots of people won Crackerjack Pencils. Prizes were a lot simpler in those days.

[Anita Bensoussane]

I used to love Crackerjack especially in the mid to late 70s.

I don't think it was an absolute favourite of mine but I used to watch it quite regularly. Another similarly loud and lairy programme was Cheggers Plays Pop, hosted by Keith Chegwin.

The thing with the cabbages and the shouting kids ("Crackerjack" - "CRACKERJACK!") were a bit too raucous for my liking.

Ah yes - Double or Drop. I used to like that game!

What did you do to get your Blue Peter badge, Icecream?

[Icecream342]

I reviewed a program Anita.