Blue Peter's early years

[Matt79]

I have been reading about the first few years of Blue Peter, I watched the programme from the mid 80s to early 90s. I know the earliest surviving episodes are from 1963 and the only surviving earlier footage is the original opening titles showing the Blue Peter flag on a ship.

I read recently on YouTube that the closing Blue Peter theme, which is called Drums and Fife was only recorded in 1961 when Blue Peter started in 1958. I am assuming the opening theme Barnacle Bill was also used for the closing in the early years.

Can any members remember early Blue Peter from 1958-61? From what I have read in the Radio Times archive it was a very different programme from the more familiar version when Biddy Baxter took over and introduced the changes like pets and badges. For example, a nunber of episodes from 1959 features stories of American children called Jean and Frank. I am going to see if I can find out where these films originated from, I know in the late 50s it was rare to see American culture on the BBC as I know they didn't like American imports at the time in contrast to ITV

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[Barbara Fan]

Sorry that era was way before my time but i loved Blue Peter, Mon and Thursdays and John Peter and Val line up was the best for me

When I see some of the stunts now and how they were done I think how was that allowed!!!???? Especially John Noakes climbing Nelsons Column tied to a bit of rope!!

 

[Matt79]

Although John Noakes was before my time, I have seen a lot of clips of him and he was probably Blue Peter's best presenter. He had something the presenters I remember didn't have, although Peter Duncan came close with some of his stunts.

I never liked the rearranged theme used from 1989, the Mike Oldfield version was the best to me and I think they rearranged the theme again in the early to mid 90s, but I stopped watching soon after then, I don't think I saw Blue Peter much more after the famous Tracy Island was made

 

[bluepeterman]

I like you Matt have a great interest in the early years of Blue Peter. My first memories of it date from 1968 when it was still in black & white and Valerie Singleton John Noakes and Peter Purves were the presenters seeing it today in essence it is no different, but as you say before Biddy Baxter. Took it over in ,1962 it was a different programme. For one in the beginning in was only once weekly in black & white and lasted just 15 mins. I like you would like to know more about the early years there was lot more more foreign material in it but basically in the beginning the presenters made their things interviewed people told stories showed dolls the model railway, in the studio and showed film clips from new films both English and from overseas.

 

[bluepeterman]

Kaleidoscope publications published THE BLUE PETER ARCHIVE with details of every programme from the first programme to the 50th year which although laborious to read is a fascinating incite into the early years before there are recordings of the programme to what Chris Trace and Leila Williams got up to on the very first Blue Peter's including singing in costume 'We're a Couple of Swells' from the film Easter Parade 1948 which should have been recorded. and Richard Marson 50th anniversary book published in the programme's 50th year. I personally have a very rare (So I'm told) telesnap of Leila presenting a January 1960 episode of the programme about a viewers doll's collection.

I have been reading about the first few years of Blue Peter, I watched the programme from the mid 80s to early 90s. I know the earliest surviving episodes are from 1963 and the only surviving earlier footage is the original opening titles showing the Blue Peter flag on a ship.

I read recently on YouTube that the closing Blue Peter theme, which is called Drums and Fife was only recorded in 1961 when Blue Peter started in 1958. I am assuming the opening theme Barnacle Bill was also used for the closing in the early years.

Can any members remember early Blue Peter from 1958-61? From what I have read in the Radio Times archive it was a very different programme from the more familiar version when Biddy Baxter took over and introduced the changes like pets and badges. For example, a nunber of episodes from 1959 features stories of American children called Jean and Frank. I am going to see if I can find out where these films originated from, I know in the late 50s it was rare to see American culture on the BBC as I know they didn't like American imports at the time in contrast to ITV

Search - BBC Programme Index

genome.ch.bbc.co.uk

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